Like a yellow ocean, the tiny grains stretched from one point of the horizon to the other. The land wasn’t flat, as Octavia had expected. Dunes rose like small golden hills, reflecting the brilliance of the sun. Though she didn’t see any creatures, she knew they were there. She could sense them, just as much as they could probably sense her.
The difference was that in this form, Octavia was the biggest predator around. No one would bother them… at least until she shifted so they could deal with the thugs who had Flynn’s sister.
That could potentially be a problem.
Hopefully, the gods would be on their side.
What will you do if the witchling isn’t there?the dragon asked.
I don’t know.Octavia banked her wings, turning to the right.Hopefully, she is.
She was invested in this now. Not just because she’d given Flynn the money from the rose and her hoard but because she was intrigued. What kind of woman must Amyla be to inspire her brother to go to such lengths to help her?
It wasn’t long before the landscape shifted. Structures rose from the sand, dotting the horizon. Long, tall buildings withwooden roofs stood like sentries among the golden ocean, their presence incongruous with the never-ending desert.
A city in the sand.
Flynn gripped Octavia’s neck and shouted for his voice to be heard over the flapping of her wings. “There! The tallest building on the right.”
At the edge of Sandhaven, visible even from here, the building he pointed to stood out like a sore thumb. A beacon of darkness and trouble, it was a giant among its peers. Even from here, an aura of wrongness surrounded it.
Of course, that was their destination.
Tilting her wings, Octavia let the air guide her closer to the ground. They’d already decided that she would shift before they got too close to town. After that, they’d approach the rest of the way on foot. It would be safer that way. They didn’t want to spook the people holding Amyla.
Landing inside a grove of palm trees, Octavia waited until Flynn slipped off her back before she pulled on her shift. Returning to herself was easy, the pain barely there as she slipped out of her dragon form and into her two-legged one. By the time she was back on her feet, Flynn had withdrawn her tunic and leggings from the messenger bag.
He handed them to Octavia, but he didn’t let go. Instead, he drew her in for a kiss. “I stand by my earlier assessment.”
“Oh?” She raised a brow, not minding that she remained naked.
“You are gorgeous,” he murmured against her lips. “Amazing in both forms.”
Blood rushed to her cheeks, and she grinned as she dressed. “Thank you.” She studied him, her gaze sweeping from his wind-kissed hair and sword hanging on his back. “You don’t look so bad yourself.”
A deep laugh rumbled through him as he handed her the messenger bag, and the coins clinked together as she slid it over her shoulder. Then, he gave her the walking stick he’d strapped to his back before they left.
“Ready?” He laced their hands together, the movement so natural it was as though they’d been together for years.
Her chest hummed at their closeness, and she tightened her grip on her walking stick. “Ready.”
Walking in the desert,even for a short period of time, was far less enjoyable than flying above it. By the time they reached Sandhaven, sweat was pouring down Octavia’s flesh in rivulets. Not only that, but the bottle of water they’d filled in the spring before leaving was down to its last drops.
They needed to find Amyla and get out of there quickly. The only good thing was that Octavia’s ankle wasn’t bothering her today. It was a small mercy, but it did make the rest of the conditions a little more bearable.
At least Flynn had his sword. The closer they got to Sandhaven, the more thankful she was for the weapon. Though Sandhaven appeared warm and welcoming for the most part, they were headed to a part of town that reeked of danger. Businesses didn’t grow here, markets didn’t flourish, and people’s lives weren’t happy.
The sooner they could leave, the better.
Flynn’s grip on Octavia’s hand tightened as he led her through increasingly narrow streets. Earlier, children’s laughter could be heard as they passed happy family homes and businesses, but that was no longer the case. This place was too silent. The air was too dry. Their footsteps were too loud.
Death resided in this place.
We shouldn’t linger here, the dragon warned Octavia.
She wholeheartedly agreed with the creature. The sooner they got out of here, the better.
Octavia’s skin crawled, and she was on high alert as they strode through the empty streets of Sandhaven. It was midday. People should be here. The streets were like graveyards.