The energy she’d given me—I was both engorged, and invincible. With barely a flicker of intent, I reached out with my awareness and found Lucas. He was also asleep, stretched out on the couch.
He stirred as I slid past, but I murmured, “Sleep,” to him, and he muttered and rolled over.
I slipped out the door and skirted the main building. Fifteen minutes later, with my body still vibrating with need, I used my power to talk my way past the guards at the front entrance.
I pulled up my hood and headed into the Sarti night.
33
Marcus
I was soaring.
Well, technically, I am soaring.
It was true. I had nothing to do with the fact that flapping my wings kept us in the air. If I was the one in control, we’d have face-planted a dozen times by now. But despite the drizzle and icy-cold night air, it was glorious.
I have missed flying,Iskar admitted.But you weren’t ready to try it. Might still not have been, if it weren’t for Isobel going after Riley. It was why Cara tested you—she wouldn’t have listened to me, and let you come on this mission, if you couldn’t embrace at least a part of who you’ve become.
And there was the truth of it. Until Riley was in danger, I’d fought what Isobel had put inside me. And it would have included any attempt to turn me into a Gryphon, just as it had for the Wyvern and for the freking Storm Drake.
On a very fundamental level, I’d rejected them.
It will destroy you if you can’t come to terms with it.Iskar’s voice was resigned.They are part of you now.
As are you.
Yes, my boy.
Even now, I longed to turn back time. To return to when my four strong legs could run like the wind.
Instead, I was soaring with it at my back. And it was incredible. If only it weren’t for such a terrible reason.
Isobel would kill anything that got between her and Rafael. And Riley would put herself there. I knew it.
The adrenaline that coursed through me at the thought had me attempting to seize control of my wings. To make them flap faster and harder.
Instantly, we lost lift and started to fall. A cliff projected on the left—and we narrowly missed plowing right into it.
Your control issues are going to make us go splat,Iskar stated in exasperation. Stop it. Let me fly. You can do the worrying.
I yielded to Iskar, and he leveled us off again.
“Whats the fucking hells are yous doing?” Havoc in pain was even more of an asshole than normal. He flew just off my tail, with Vali and Kiko behind him.
I refused to answer him as I let Iskar climb us above the next projecting bit of mountain. It was clear to me why most Dragons didn’t attempt this flight at night—with the heavy cloud cover and drizzle, the winding path was treacherous.
But Gryphon eyes could discern the infrared spectrum, and as such, I could now detect the cold stone of the mountains almost as clear as day. Which worked, so long as I didn’t try to fly.
How is Isobel flying through this?I asked.We can see, but only because of you.
I have no idea,Iskar replied.Dragon night vision is good, but not good enough. But she can do things with that cursed bloodmagic that I cannot fathom.
My gut twisted. “C-can you sense Isobel yet-t?” I called back to Havoc. My Gryphon beak added clicks to the words.
“Wes ares gaining,” the red Dragon said.
I glanced back to him—and ice traveled down my spine. My vision showed not only that he was warm-blooded—but he was lit up throughout by a brilliant pulsing heat that seemed to be spreading before my eyes.
