Page 82 of Exquisite Monster

“Only one of his soldiers escaped,” Endre said. Lena had told us about the brief battle below the world and how she’d had to kill. “Especially with the chaos we left, I doubt he’ll spare men who might not come back.”

I felt the way his thoughts shifted from the rumbling of brooding and indecision to full intent. Our bond with Lena had strengthened the one between the three of us. “You want to go see her.”

“Yes. And it can’t wait. If I leave now, I can make it there and back within two days.”

Not hindered by others, he could fly at incredible speed. All three of us could. “And Lena?”

A pang of anxiety struck him. And fear. “Do you think she’ll be angry?”

“No. She might be sad that you didn’t say goodbye.”

He scrubbed his hands over his face. “Will you tell her? Make sure she’s okay? That I’m not abandoning her, I’m just?—”

I held out a hand to stop him. “Yes. And she’ll understand.”

He nodded, looking back out to the ocean. “I don’t think she can, but if there’s any chance Gleym could lift my punishment, I’ll ask.”

It was possible. Being at the bottom of the world didn’t lessen Gleym’s power. She had enough. She’d been the most powerful of the Elders before they turned on her.

“Go before you think yourself into the ground,” I said. “The sooner you leave, the sooner you can return.”

Endre said nothing. He strode away from me and shifted, his beast breaking through.Take care of her.

We will.

I watched until he disappeared.

Mesene, Belleo, and Ravi appeared down the beach, all three of them hand in hand. We hadn’t seen our companions very much. Thankfully, they understood. I knew some of them had made trips toSythal Iturthemselves.

They waved as I approached. Then bowed. I shook my head. “Surely you don’t think you need to bow after you helped rescue us.”

“It’s a hard habit to break,” Belleo said. “Furthermore, I don’t want to break it. Once you are finally the Elders, I can bow to someone and mean it.”

I smiled, but I didn’t feel it. Lena was right in that respect. It was hard to have hope when everything was stacked against us. I still hoped, but it came with an ache that didn’t seem to fade.

“I haven’t had the chance to thank you. For all of it. There isn’t anything any of us can say that would be enough. Especially knowing you want to continue. None of us would blame you if you returned to Skalisméra. Where it is safe. You are not safe with us once we leave Syrsi.”

Mesene looked straight at me. “We would rather be in danger than hide. Idroal is right. This has gone on for far too long. The world is unsettled, and it will only get worse. Whatever happens, we are with you, Your Highness.”

“Thank you.” Then I stepped back. “I won’t intrude on your time together. Do you know whereVaríis?”

“He was with Lena last I knew.”

“Thank you.”

When I looked back at them from the entrance of the house, they sat on the sand. Belleo laid across both Ravi and Mesene. Their legswere entangled. There wasn’t any doubt of their love for each other and the fact that they were a unit. I hoped that we looked the same when we were with Lena.

I foundVaríin the top bedroom of the tower, curled under a blanket, resting. “Sleeping?”

He chirped softly. I smiled and leaned back against the wall. The idea had appeared, and I wasn’t sure where it came from, but I wasn’t going to question it.

“Would you like to train with me?”

Varíblinked open his eyes and lifted his head. He growled softly, asking me what for in our native tongue.

“I know better than to think you will abandon Lena, even in the midst of battle. I hope she won’t be anywhere near another fight, but we both know that’s not likely.” I summoned a small curl of air and tossed it his way. “Anything could be coming at you from any direction. I could help you prepare.”

He pressed himself to his feet and shook out his wings. The blanket fell off, and his scales turned from blue to purple to a bright, fierce red. He launched and landed on my shoulder, growling in anticipation.