“Come back to us whole,”Liana had told me upon leaving.
That is exactly what I am doing.
King Arion had used dark magic to twist my fate to suit his desires. The curse inside me is a leash, yanking me toward a master I never chose.
I am tired of being a tool.
A would-be wife to a king I hate. A vessel to bear something I cannot create.
So I will sever any connection between us.
I grit my teeth as the wind slashes against my skin, but I don’t lower my head. I don’t shrink back. Let it cut me. Let it freeze me. I will not be molded by their will.
The gods can demand. The kings can claim. The curse can pullbut I will not bow again.
I lift my chin, defying the wind that howls around me. I want to rip the sky apart. I want to scream.
I want to befreeagain.
Eventually, the golden brilliance of sunrise washes over the clouds, spilling in great waves of radiance that bathe everything in shimmering warmth. Below us, the world stretches impossibly far, above oceans that crinkle and ripple like fabric carelessly thrown over a table.
“It’s beautiful!” I shout over my shoulder, my voice barely carrying over the wind.
The arms around me tighten, a firm and steady anchor as the air rushes past, trying to steal me away. My head tips back, caught in the sheer expanse of it all—the vast, endless sky, and the golden light spilling over the clouds like molten fire.
“I will be if you stop squirming,” Vann growls, his voice warm despite the gruffness. “You need to be careful!”
I laugh, remembering the way he held me last night. Bound me. Freed me in his care. It was the sweetest gift I’ve ever been given. Being around him now makes me feel bolder, happier.
Relievedthat this will all be over soon.
“Vann?”
“Yes?” he calls, his voice rumbling through my ribs. His hands tighten just a fraction around my waist as Seraph crests another cloud, her great golden wings cutting through the endless white.
“We’re just having fun, Vann. This is good!” I shout over the wind, my voice light with exhilaration.
Vann hesitates, his grip tightening for a moment. “It will be good when we land.”
I laugh, feeling the rush of the air. “I don’t want it to end.”
He doesn’t respond, but I can feel his tension behind me. Then, without warning, I turn slightly to face him, grinning.
“Will you help me with something else?”
His eyes narrow, studying me for a moment, concern flashing in them, but I can see the spark of trust too. “Hmm.”
He shouts back, “What do you have in mind?”
“I want to feel the wind through my arms. To feel like I am really the one flying.”
There’s a beat of silence, then he nods slowly.“Firelocks.”
“Please?” I ask. “We’ve been flying for hours without problem. Seraph is safe. She’s excellent at flying.”
Something grumbles against my back.
“Fine.”