“Good,” I said.
“And thank you.”
I raised a brow. “For?”
“For—” He blew out a breath, laughing. “Dammit, I didn’t want to admit it. But thank you for making me take the position of Second. For waiting for me to accept it.”
“I pushed pretty hard.”
“You wouldn’t beyouif you didn’t push us all, though,” he said, and I rolled my eyes. “But I mean it. Thank you, Ophelia. I realized when Vale and I were dealing with Titus that I may actually like it. That I could be good at it.”
Cypherion had always been an asset in meetings and strategy sessions, but there was a marked change since he returned. Like he now understood those strengths within himself. How he’d organized Vale’s entire rescue with Harlen, how assertive he’d been. Sure, it was because her safety was at risk, but those dire circumstances only brought the qualities he always had to the surface.
I didn’t add aloud that he’d come to these understandings without the knowledge of who his father was.
“You’re perfect for it,” I swore, gripping his arm. “We’re only getting started, Cyph, but you and me…we’ve got quite a partnership ahead of us.”
“Taking the Mystiques to new heights.” He chuckled. “I suppose that’s literal with Sapphire.”
My warrior-horse-turned-pegasus born from the stars herself would certainly help us soar.
A thought struck me then. “We have a while until we head out, correct?”
At the mention of tonight, Cypherion nodded minutely, fidgeting with his ale.
My brows drew together, but when he didn’t comment, I downed my water and said, “Vale and I will be back before then.”
The cavern wascold compared to the dunes we walked to get there, a welcome chill cooling the sweat beading down my back.
“As much as I love the cryptic nature of this all, Ophelia,” Vale whispered, voice still a touch hollow, “I hope there’s a reason you’re bringing me to this dark cave.”
I laughed. “I promise, nothing nefarious. I owe you too much to wish any ill will against you.”
We rounded the final bend, and Vale let out a small, awed gasp.
“You were gone for so long, and then the way we’ve had to stagger our travel times for secrecy, you’ve yet to see Sapphire.”
My pegasus stood across the pool, flaring those magnificent white wings. The gold woven among her feathers glinted in the mystlight lanterns set up throughout the cavern.
I nudged Vale. “You can go closer. She’s as docile as ever.”
As she took an eager step around the pool of water, the shadows in the depths of the cavern shifted, and Zanox emerged.
No—it was Dynaxtar. The quieter of the two beasts, a bit smaller and timid. Zanox stood behind her, almost a shadow against the dark rock as he observed Vale with an approving snort.
Dynaxtar, though, came to stand across the water, wings relaxed at her sides.
“Curious,” I said.
“What?” Vale asked, without looking away.
I shrugged. “Dynaxtar usually only cares about Jez, and Erista by extension.”
Vale considered, watching Dynaxtar’s silver mane tumble over her neck as she shook her head. “She’s beautiful.”
“She is,” I agreed. I’d once thought the beasts fearsome, but these weeks with them had taught me to look beneath the armored scales, beyond the unfamiliar. “They’re incredibly smart and patient with us, too. All three are.”
“Mystical beasts tend to understand us better than we expect,” Vale said.
