Page 31

I scan the sky out of habit, expecting to see the dark shapes of anurois gliding overhead. But there’s nothing. No leathery wings, no diving forms, no shrill calls echoing from the cliffs. My brow furrows.

There are always at least two anurois left behind, circling just above the cliff like sentinels, guarding the nests. But today, there aren’t any. In the very far distance, I can just make out the dark shadow of an anuroi slowly gliding through the clouds.

A chill prickles across the back of my neck, cutting through the humidity like ice. Something scared them off. I don’t like this, and I like that Emily is here even less.

I glance at her. The expression on her face is tight, her jaw clenched, and her shoulders held in a rigid line as if bracing for a blow. She feels it, too.

The realization settles in my gut like a stone. We aren’t the first ones here.

“Stay close.” My voice comes out low and tense.

Emily nods, her gaze snapping to mine before flicking back to the cliffs and scanning the ledges.

I wish I could send her back. Just until I know what we’re walking into. But she wouldn’t go, and part of me doesn’t want her to.

We move forward, slow and deliberate, moving from rock to rock, then into tall clumps of brittle grass as we draw closer to the looming cliffs ahead.

I feel my body instinctively adjust, my skin flickering to blend in with the terrain. We stop near the base of the cliffs. They rise above us, imposing and jagged, the silhouette cutting into the sky. High above, the nests are little more than dark hollows.

I turn to Emily. “I need you to stay here.”

My eyes scan the area until I find a crevice between a cluster of boulders, partially hidden by a thick clump of tall grass. The stones are close together, but there’s just enough room for one small human.

Pointing to the crevice, I say. “You can hide there until I return.”

“Vrok…” She hesitates. Her lips part like she wants to say more, but then she surprises me.

She grabs my arm and pulls me down just enough for her lips to crash against mine. Our kiss is fast, fierce, and desperate. Like a silent plea, a promise, and a warning all at once.

By the goddesses, she is like a fire burning out of control, but one that is all too swiftly gone.

Emily pulls back and her shoulders rise as she takes in a deep breath. “Come back to me. Please.”

I brush my thumb over her lower lip, letting it linger for a heartbeat longer than I should in a silent vow. Then I guide her toward the rocks, helping her slip into the narrow space. My hands hover as I make sure she’s fully hidden from any anurois that might return.

My instincts scream at me to stay with her. To protect her. To lay her down, press my body against hers, and claim her. But I can’t.

Instead, with one last look at her hiding place, I turn and begin the climb.

The ascent is brutal. My boots scrape against the rough stone as my fingers find small cracks and ledges slick with damp, slimy moss that clings to the rock.

But I push on. There’s a strange energy flowing through my veins powering me, giving me strength, and it urges me upward.

I don’t question it. I don’t have time to.

Finally, I reach the first ledge with nests, and breathing hard, I pull myself onto it. The full stench of the nesting grounds hits me. It’s a sharp, sour mix of rotting meat, damp feathers, and dried excrement. It smells like death.

Crouching low, I scan the nests. They’re massive and woven from thick, tangled branches, tufts of dried grass, bones, and scraps of leathery hide from anurois from the anurois’ own fallen. Most look to be empty, but I move to the closest one anyway, my heart pounding like a drum in my ears.

Let her be alive. For Emily’s sake.

I reach the edge and peer inside. At first, all I see are two large, bright blue eggs nestled securely in the center of the nest. But then my gaze catches on something else.

Caught between a mess of tangled sticks is a torn scrap of fabric, stained with dirt and streaked with something dark. Something that looks a lot like blood.

My stomach tightens as I lift the fabric before turning it over in my hands.

The material is a vibrant purple and finely woven.

It’s unlike anything my people wear, and it looks similar to the clothing the females wore when they first arrived in the village.

I bring it to my nose. A faint but unmistakable scent lingers on it.

It’s soft and familiar, like the fragrance that clings to the humans.

Recognition settles in my chest like a heavy stone. This was Lily’s.

I grip the fabric tighter, forcing myself to take a deep breath. She was here. Days ago, judging by how faint her scent has become.

A rustling sound from below draws my attention. My head snaps down just in time to see Emily shift slightly from her hiding place, but she isn’t looking up at me. Her gaze is locked on something just beyond the rocks and her eyes are wide with shock.

I follow the direction of her gaze, and then I see them.

Footprints.

Even from this height, I can make out at least four distinct sets pressed into the soil. One set is small, while the others are much larger, driven deep into the dirt.

A fresh surge of dread rolls through me. I bite it back and begin to descend, moving fast and silent, urgency tightening every muscle in my body. When I drop to the ground, Emily is waiting for me. Her face is pale and drawn tight with fear and rage.

“She was here, wasn’t she? But she wasn’t alone,” she whispers.

My hands curl into fists as I crouch beside the tracks, my gaze sweeping over them now that I’m close enough to see every detail.

The smaller set is uneven, like they were made by someone stumbling or being dragged away.

The two sets of heavier prints beside them are deep, booted, and unmistakably Tussoll.

But it's the third set that sends a cold weight sinking into my gut. They’re broader and spaced unnaturally far apart. Each impression ends in deep gouges left by thick claws. The kind meant for ripping apart flesh.

Pugj.

The tracks lead away from the cliffs and straight into the jungle in the direction of the Tussoll village.

They took her.

A growl rumbles low in my chest. The Tussoll were already traitors to our people by aligning themselves with the Pugj. But this? Taking a helpless human female? I don’t know what they want with her, but it can’t be anything good.

I glance at Emily. She’s staring at the tracks, her eyes glossy but hard with determination. Her cousin was here just days ago. And now she’s gone.

I will not let her lose the only family she has left. Not like this. Not while I still draw breath. If they’ve already made it to the Tussoll village, we may be too late, but I’ll burn the sarding place to the ground before I give up.