Page 88 of Ignite
We landed in a forest, not much different from the one we just left.
In fact—it looksexactlythe same. Dense woods in front of us, the trees thinner and the ground covered with small rocks and pine needles instead of mossy grass.
Did the portal even work?
I bolt up off of the ground, shooting to my feet and spinning around in a circle. One thing is for certain: there’s not a castle in sight. No market or army camp. There are no signs of civilizationat all.
Thirty-Six
Lapis Lazuli
Wind slapsagainst my face like it enjoyed punching me over and over again. Something I might typically enjoy, but not from a thousand paces above the thrashing sea. But not when I can’t punch back, andcertainlynot while Lunaria’s absurd creature is hurtling us out of the skyagain.
Zephyr’s wings shoot out, leveling us in the air, just above the restless waves. Finally.
The wind dulls to a soft breeze brushing along my cheeks, and I don’t dare scold Zephyr because I know she’s getting far too much amusement out of the squeal that leaves me each time she flies like that.
I shift atop her, feeling an ache in my chest at leaving alone.
We all agreed to this plan—and it’s a good one.
Lunaria, Graylen, and Adrian go to Crea in search of the Dagger, while I find Iris and Cyprian’s convoys and help keep Penyth safe in the meantime.
But that doesn’t mean I like how far she is.
Our mother likely knows where Lunaria is and where I’m going by now—the hawk I sent her would’ve taken my letter straight to her. I didn’t tell Lunaria I was doing it, but then again she doesn’t need to knoweverything.
I’m still the eldest—still in charge of making sure we both make it out of this alive. Lunaria might be reckless with her life, but that doesn’t mean I won’t be right there to make sure the repercussions of that aren’t deadly.
But it’s kind of hard to do that from the other side of Zenovia.
I release a tense breath, my shoulders remaining tight as I keep my back straight. Lunaria will get Nightfall, and I’ll lead our soldiers.
A golden eye peers at me as Zephyr looks over her shoulder. While she scares the ever-loving shit out of me most of the time, I will admit that these beasts are brilliant. She’s both skilled in battle and attuned to fae emotions—even those that aren’t their Rider.
“What?” I mutter.
She makes a tittering noise, one I can’t decipher.
“I don’t know what that means,” I grumble.
Zephyr’s golden eyes roll before she turns her attention back to sea. She’s almost as grumpy as I am. I kind of like it.
“Look, Lunaria has her duty and I have mine.” My words are almost lost to the wind, but Zephyr glances back at me briefly, so I know she heard. “Just because I’m here doesn’t mean I’m not protecting her still–it’s just different right now.”
My stomach twists.
I know myself well enough to understand the feeling of fear when it creeps in. Because the truth is, it’s hard to let Lunaria go back to Crea. It’s the place I lost her to the one time I didn’t protect her the way I was supposed to.
She was alone withmewhen she was taken from us.
And now I’ve let her go back.
Zephyr tilts back and forth, pushing me around and causing me to launch forward.
“Seriously?” I ask, my hands clutching her neck to avoid being pushed off. Zephyr huffs—something akin to a shrug. “I don’t like her going without me.”
The beast looks back at me as if to say,Me either.
