Page 132 of Born of Starlight
My chest tightened.No.I needed to get to Fenris.When I stepped forward, my balance faltered. This body felt sluggish, and the ground seemed to tip beneath my feet, unlike walking through the starlight just minutes ago. Emmerick held my elbow firmly, not allowing me to topple over.
Amara, Sybilla and a dark-haired stranger stared at us. Strange shadows seemed to ebb from the stranger, edging around the young Queen as though they would suffocate her—or protect her?I couldn’t tell.
“Who is he?”Propriety be damned.I needed to find Fen.
This would all be easier if my vision would clear and my body would stop glowing.They were squinting just to look at me.
“Krait Darvanda, Chief Prick of the Wastelands,” Sybilla quickly answered. “But—he came to our aid, and for that, we are indebted. I’m glad to see you back, Asterie.”
“You came…for a price,” I mumbled to Darvanda, knowing all too well what I’d done. The domineering man’s brow quirked with curiosity. “We’ll come to an agreement later.”
The King of the Wastelands only grunted in response, and Queen Sybilla shot him a glare that would have raised the hairs on the back of my neck. He looked unaffected.
A powerful gust overhead drew my attention upward.
A single Griffith sailed gracefully through the air and landed just a few yards away. Its beak opened, letting out a cry. I winced at the shrill sound. Everything felt new,louder,brighter.
I couldn’t see her face, but only one person I knew had war leathers worn down so much they had holes in the knees. The rider’s brown hair was pulled back into neat braids.
Cassidee dismounted. Another woman slumped against the saddle horn on the back of the Griffith. My vision finally snapped into focus—chestnut hair, robes that matched Darvanda’s.Elsie.
She looked drowsy but awake and unharmed. She mouthed his name, “Fen.”
“Elsie, where is he?” I stepped closer to them, reaching up a glowing hand to take Elsie’s in mine.
“Shehas him,” Elsie groaned. Every nerve in my body sparked. The light under my skin flickered so bright that those around me winced.
I looked at Cassidee. “You helped her? She’s from the Wastelands.”
Cassidee shrugged. “I saw a pretty redhead in need of help.”
Emmerick helped pull Elsie down from the Griffith, lifting her easily with one arm under her knees.
“I can walk,” Elsie snapped at him, but he merely shook his head impatiently.
“You can barely keep your neck from lobbing back.” His words only showed a hint of annoyance.
Elsie mumbled expletives and a tear flowed down her dust-covered cheek.
“Where is Fen?” That ethereal voice was back…otherly, commanding and charged by whatever energy coursed through me.
Every star in the sky would rain down on Firose if she touched a hair on Fen’s head.
Emmerick gently lowered Elsie to the ground and propped her against the bailey wall, steadying her with a palm on her shoulder so she wouldn’t fall forward.
“She was leading him toward the east entrance,” Elsie choked out.
“Take me.” I was already stepping toward the Griffith at Cassidee’s side. Cassidee looked hesitant at first but then gave me a leg up to propel me into the saddle.How much different could riding a Griffith be than a horse?
“Asterie.” Amara approached and put a hand on my leg. “Be careful.”
“Something tells me she’s going to be just fine. I worry for Firose, though,” Cassidee said as she mounted the beast behind me. “You were always my bet. I knew you’d be the best of us. Now, you even sparkle.”
I wanted to be able to laugh, to be grateful that not every kind moment between me and my Sisters was a lie. My expression remained unaffected.
“Hurry,” I commanded.
When Cassidee kicked the beast into flight, my back hit her chest with force. The powerful creature pounded its wings around us.
