Chapter 5 Grave
GRAVE
As if I could ever say no to anything she might ask, I sent a message down the mental line to Zalzre, requesting not only he respond but Dysis too. They were likely curled up next to each other among the brood.
Every wyvern had an open connection to its rider.
It was useful not only in battle, but for daily tasks too.
The messaging worked both ways, and though my mount was fairly quiet, he’d occasionally sent a message back.
It was typically only complaints, but I welcomed whatever communication he offered.
“You need a jacket,” I said as the two wyverns landed. Dysis’s green eyes darted between Audryn and me, with Zalzre’s doing the same. The two of them were likely gossiping among themselves, like two friends over a beer.
“I’m fine,” she said, pulling the knitted shawl around herself.
I gave her a smile. “You know, my father brought wyverns from the Alden Islands, specifically when he came to court my mother. Hers even breathes—”
“Are we leaving, or not?” She shot an annoyed look at me.
“Yeah, as soon as you’re properly dressed.” I raised a brow.
“I’ll stay warm,” she said, tugging on the shawl. Her gaze turned to Dysis. “Am I not riding with you on Zalzre?”
I walked up the stairs, leaned inside the doorway, and found my spare flight jacket on the hook. “Here.” I threw it out to her. “You’ll borrow one of Amalee’s tomorrow, but you can wear mine for now.”
She considered her options, running her hand over the thick black leather, before shrugging it over her shawl. I moved to stand in front of her and held it out, gesturing for her to push her arms through the sleeves. She complied and kept my stare, letting her body relax slightly.
I stepped to her and zipped the jacket up, urging my fingers not to show my nerves. When I made it to the top of the metal teeth, my stomach tilted as I gazed at her lips. Slowly, my stare trailed up and our eyes connected; it would be so easy to lose myself in her.
“Why are there two?” Her tone was soft as she stared up through long lashes.
My mind was full of fog, and my belly filled with bees. “I don’t know.”
“If you don’t know, then who does?” Her voice cracked, bringing me back into reality. “Do they have to fly in pairs?”
I gestured to Zalzre’s partner. “I assumed you’d want your own. You wanted your own horse in Rivale.”
Walking over to Dysis, Audryn extended her arm toward the creature before taking another step inward. Her palm glided along the wyvern’s sleek skin, stroking the beast. Dysis lowered her head and their eyes met. I knew the creature was enamored with her, just as I was.
“I don’t know how to ride,” she admitted and turned. “Maybe teach me during the day before making me ride on my own at night? Unless you don’t want to take me with you?”
Of course I wanted her to ride with me; I only wanted to give her the choice Sutton refused to give her himself.
But Zalzre had taken a long flight, and with the extra weight, he was likely exhausted.
Dysis was the slightest bit smaller, but I had never ridden on her with a second person. I kept her only as my backup mount.
“We can take Dysis,” I started, but my wyvern huffed a breath at me. “Okay, I guess we’re taking Zalzre. Dysis can fly alongside us.”
My wyvern dipped low, taking every free inch of space between the townhouse and the building across the street. I went to help Audryn up, but dropped my hands immediately when she drew back, remembering her shouts the last time I had offered.
I braced myself for her sharp tongue. To my surprise, she said nothing.
Instead, she focused on the wyvern, struggled for a moment, and hauled her leg over the other side of his neck.
Settling into position, she looked more like a rider than someone who needed an escort, but I’d take advantage of the opportunity to sit behind her once again.
I settled into the saddle at the base of the animal's neck. Audryn shifted back without prompting, her floral scent tickling my nose. It had been a long two days, but I’d ride for weeks if it meant I could continue feeling her warmth in my arms.
From the moment I met her, I’d felt something between us. But when I saw Ryder hurting her, there was more than just my own desire. I knew there was nothing I wouldn’t risk to keep her safe, including the stability of my kingdom.
Zalzre flew into the air without hesitation as if he weren’t tired, though he definitely was. Wings spread wide, he flapped into the night sky and found the current to glide on. Dysis stayed at our side, stealing glances at Audryn.
We ascended the steep incline, and Audryn’s weight shifted back.
I wished the climb had taken longer, but we reached the summit quickly.
Zalzre landed while Dysis made large circles above.
There was barely enough room for one wyvern, let alone two.
It wasn’t even wide enough for the creature to sink down entirely.
“You’re going to have to let me help you.” I dismounted and extended my arms up, gesturing her down. She sat for a breath, staring at me … considering.
A few moments passed before she let out a sigh then dragged her leg over. “Better not let me fall,” she called.
“I promise,” I said, my heart skipping a beat.
I reached out, guiding her waist, as she slipped down the side of the wyvern. A smile broke across my lips as her feet reached the ground, safely landing in front of me. My hands lingered for a moment, not wanting to let her go.
“Excuse you.” She pulled away and shot me a glare over her shoulder.
“That’s a start.”
“Of what?” she asked.
I clicked my tongue and threw my hand out. “Allowing others to help.”
“Yeah, well, the alternative was falling off the cliff, but I guess you can claim it as a win if you must.” Her eyelashes fluttered.
Zalzre darted into the air, and the two wyverns flew to a lower peak in the distance. I took a seat on the cold stone and patted the area next to me. I brushed small pebbles from the palm of my hand and waited for her to sit.
“What’s that in the distance?” Audryn pointed towards the shadows flying around the island across the sea. “Are those wyverns out there? Gryphons? Something else?”
“That’s Alden Islands and, yes, wyverns.”
“Witches?” She sat next to me.
I tugged off my jacket and balled it up. My skin prickled from the chilly night air. “Yep. And all the other dangerous things you’ve read about, I’m sure.” Slowly, I laid back on the ground, putting my jacket under my head like a makeshift pillow.
“I haven’t read about them—heard stories, sure.” She turned her legs away from me and laid back on the edge of my jacket. “It’s too cold to take my jacket off, and I’m not putting my head on the gravel, so deal with it.”
I hadn’t thought to question her; I wanted her close to me. “You mean it’s too cold for you to take my jacket off.” I chuckled. “Aren’t you glad you wore it?”
We stared up at the sky in silence. At that altitude, not a single animal roamed. Three shooting stars darted across the coal backdrop. Absent of lights, it was the perfect place to easily spot them passing by.
“Did you make a wish?” I asked, watching another star skid across the sky and burn out.
She scoffed. "I'm not a child. I know better than to wish."
A cold gust of air sent a shiver through me. Had her life been so terrible that she no longer had any hope to throw onto a shimmering star? What did hope really cost?
My life was far from perfect, but I’d never waste the opportunity to wish for something. I closed my eyes and drew in a breath as I silently sent my hope into the air.
“Why did you bring me to Kuroden?” she asked, her voice cracking. “Was Ryder correct? Are you only using me for my magic?”
I shifted, letting the minutes drag.
When I first saw her conjuring the single pink peony in the Sutton’s garden, my intention was solely about the crude and her ability to repair the seeps. It was selfish to think of only my kingdom. But when she turned around, and I laid my eyes on her, everything shifted.
“I’m not mad if that’s the case, you obviously need to take care of your people.” She paused. “But Ryder does have people better skilled to do whatever you need. So why am I here?”
I didn’t want to lie, but answering her question was dangerous, and though I valued honesty, I also understood the importance of not giving everything away all at once. It was only a matter of which truth to tell.
“Our oil seeps are slowing,” I admitted, hoping I could trust her with the information.
“I was hoping you might help.” Audryn’s strands of hair brushed against my fingertips as I put a hand under the back of my head.
“Though, I’ve also wondered if you’d consider helping us establish a large garden.
We haven’t been able to do much with the ground here, and we’d be less dependent on other kingdoms if we could grow our own food.
” I paused before continuing. “You can refuse. It’s just, I’ve never seen someone use Divine magic as easily as you had in Rivale. ”
Silence fell between us, and my stomach dipped. She could easily send word to her prince about our dangerous predicament. While it wasn’t a huge secret within our kingdom, I worried about it getting back to the other areas of Crofea and what might happen.
“I would have helped.” Audryn’s voice was nearly a whisper. “All you had to do was ask. You didn’t need to bargain me into the situation.”
“He wouldn’t have let you.” I inhaled deeply and blew out a steady breath to calm my nerves. “I had to get you away from him.”