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Chapter Twenty-Seven

MER

It was relatively easy to get into the nest.

She’d slipped down the stairway and ghosted through the halls until the scent of hay, animals, and leather reached her.

Mer had been expecting that the Methian’s most important resource would be guarded fiercely. And yet, she’d waltzed right into the nest without anyone stopping her. She looked left and then right. No guards here. Odd.

She stepped to the right and leaned against the curved stone wall, taking in the breathtaking view.

It was as if a giant sphere had been carved inside the mountain.

Stalactites hung from the ceiling like vicious rotten teeth.

A rectangular opening to the face of the mountain let in a weak shaft of light.

Stepping farther along the wide walkway, Mer slowly made her way to the abrupt drop.

A lump of fear lodged in her throat as she stared down into the gaping maw of the cave.

It was so deep that it seemed as if there was no bottom to the chasm.

Chills ran down her arms, causing the scales near her elbows to quiver.

There would be no coming back from a fall like that.

Fiilee nested in every nook and cranny, their eyes crawling over her skin. Several hissed, raising the hair along the nape of her neck.

Gently.

Feline eyes reflected back at her, and she spotted a few fiilee creeping a little closer. It was time to move back. Mer crept away from the edge, feeling a little dizzy. Leviathan’s bones, she hated heights.

And yet you plan to fly.

Mer grimaced and slowed her movements as not to spook the predators. Her back touched the stone wall, and she sighed with relief. No beasties would be sneaking up on her, and she was far from the drop. A leather strap brushed her right shoulder, and she glanced up.

All sorts of riding paraphernalia hung on the wall.

Harnesses, bridles, ropes, reins, and saddles.

She eyed the saddle, noting the metal notch at the front. Brilliant. She could only assume it was used to tie oneself to the saddle, negating any possibility of falling. That’s what she needed. But there was no way she was actually flying today.

“I’ll come back for you,” she whispered, not wanting to disrupt or agitate the fiilee that were observing her with interest. Mer pulled a sturdy-looking leather strap from the wall with stones knitted into each end the size of her fists.

A snare.

She was familiar with the tool. Mer gave it a couple of expert swings. If a fiilee attacked, she’d at least have the option of capturing one by its legs.

Mer crept down the wide stone walkway, flinching each time a flying feline circled above roaring or screeching. She clambered around the rough protrusions in the wall, ever watchful of the beasties, searching for a small place to survey the cavern.

Her plan was simple.

Find a spot to watch the felines.

Call one to her.

Bond with it.

While she was no great rider, even when it came to horses, bonding with a fiilee would be similar to a leviathan in her mind. They were both taciturn, fearsome creatures. She was just exchanging one of the seas for one of the sky.

She popped her head up over a rock and froze as a fiilee emerged from the dark, its lips pulled back, long ivory teeth on display. Mer’s eyes rounded, and she retreated quickly. She certainly wasn’t going to bond with that one.

A few more precarious situations led her to a high and deep ledge with a great view. She skittered back from the edge and checked the ledge above. No fiilee .

Perfect.

Mer plopped down with her spine pressed against the stone wall. She sighed, closing her eyes for a moment. She’d made it without falling to her death or being eaten. That was something.

Movement from her right caught her eye, and Mer cursed.

Another rider.

She maneuvered onto her belly and spied on the Methian.

The woman stood at the edge of the walkway, her toes hanging over the drop. A wailing sound burst from the rider like she’d been shot and then she leaned forward.

“NO!” Mer screamed, reaching her hand out as if she could help the woman.

But she was gone.

She began to shake, her mouth hanging open. Why had the woman done that? Why had she taken the plunge? Why had...

A fiilee burst from the chasm with the woman on its back. Mer gasped as the rider lay on top of her fiilee , hugging the beast lovingly as they flew out the exit of the cavern.

What the devil?

“They’re all mad,” she muttered. Who in their right mind would do such a thing? It was idiotic.

She backpedaled to the stone wall, breathing hard.

Her hands shook, and she fiddled with the lasso, learning its weight.

Her nerves slowly faded away, as did the shaking, and soon wonder took its place.

The fiilee seemed to lose interest in her presence.

Some bathed, others ate, still others napped or flew.

But her favorites were the wee fiilees .

The little flying felines were the cutest creatures she’d ever laid eyes on. Fluffy little bodies with stubby wings.

The creatures came in all patterns.

Dappled. Striped. Spotted. Black, white, brown, gold, orange.

A sense of peace settled over her. Mer unlaced the cloak and spread it out over the ledge before lying on her belly. She crossed her arms and pillowed her cheek on her bicep, just enjoying the experience. This wasn’t something she’d expected. The joy. The peace. The contentment in this moment.

But on the coattails of that was the guilt.

Guilt because her husband couldn’t be laid to rest until he was avenged.

Guilt that she hadn’t gained any new information on the missing girls.

Guilt over the fact that she was for a moment safe, and Ream’s child was not.

Guilt that she’d softened to the Methian king.

Guilt that girls like Phia and Sienna weren’t safe in their own homes.

Too much guilt. It felt like drowning.

The smallest whisper of a sound caught her attention.

Dread ran down her spine.

She slowly pushed to her knees, scanning the area. Nothing seemed out of place.

A small huff.

Right behind her.

She spun around, lasso in hand, as a fiilee lunged for her from above.

A blur of orange and white filled her vision as she was slammed against the ledge.

A huge paw pinned her in place, the other on her left arm.

Mer panted as golden eyes came into view along with very long teeth that snapped way too close to her neck.

Enough. You will not die like this.

Mer narrowed her eyes at the beastie and bared her own teeth in response. Predators never liked eye contact. She hissed, earning another growl from the fiilee . Its cream-and-light-orange ears lay back against its skull, the whiskers of its snout quivering.

Mer fingered her lasso. She’d only get one chance at this.

She swung the rope and released.

It did not wrap around the feline’s muzzle but around its chest. It skittered to the side, clawing at the rope snugly wrapped behind its two front legs.

Mer scrambled out of the way and rolled to her feet.

She eyed the distracted fiilee , so close she could sink her fingers into the caramel-and-cream lynx-like fur.

When will you ever get another chance like this? Claim your fiilee .

It was stupid and more than a bit reckless, but before Mer could think twice, she’d launched onto the feline’s back, wrapping her hands in the lasso.

The fiilee twisted, snapping its teeth at her, but missed.

Mer dropped down onto her belly, holding on for death as the beastie spat, hissed, and tried to throw her off.

“Not today,” Mer gasped, ignoring the bite of the rope. She couldn’t give up now.

The feline threw itself toward the ledge, and Mer’s eyes rounded as they dropped over the edge. A terrified scream burst from her lips as her legs lifted off the fiilee’s back and into the air.

Fear had her tightening her hold and scrambling to wrap her legs around the beast. She pressed her face into its fur, her arms trembling with adrenaline as they soared in the cavern.

Mer popped her head up and then ducked back down just as they passed a stalactite.

The tip caught the back of her leg, and she grunted in pain.

The infernal creature was trying to scrape her off.

“You have to do better than that,” she spat at the fiilee .

The feline banked toward the entrance of the cave, and they burst free from the mountainside. Bile flooded her mouth as they climbed higher, the trees looking like a smooth green carpet. The wind tore at her as the beast accelerated to incredible speeds.

A deranged laugh spilled from her. Part from terror, part from amazement.

She was flying alone on the back of a fiilee .

The feeling quickly fled as she felt the rope give a little.

Without any warning, the beast barrel-rolled. Mer’s body was tossed one way and then the other. Something gave in her right shoulder. She screamed in pain, still holding on. The fiilee righted itself, and Mer panted heavily against the back of its neck.

Tears streamed down her face at the intense pain. She blinked the water back, noting how her hands had turned an odd shade of gray where the rope dug into her skin. A large splash of blue pulled her attention, and she gasped as they soared over the largest lake Mer had ever seen.

The fiilee dove low, almost touching the water, and then back upward, dragging a groan from Mer. She’d definitely dislocated her shoulder.

“Is that all you got?” Mer shouted, high on pain and adrenaline. “You’re not going to get rid of me.”

The beast’s ears twitched as if it understood the challenge.

The feline dove, but this time barrel-rolled not just once but twice. Mer screamed in pain but managed to hold on the first time... but when the second roll came, the rope loosened, as did her grip.

Mer gasped, terror seizing up her muscles. A scream caught in the back of her throat as she was airborne.

Not again.