Rex’s back. The phoenix screeched and turned in midair, but his momentum was carrying him one way, while the wind carried Tristan the other.
Tristan was unconscious and falling helplessly through the air, and it was all her fault.
Ever since Veronyka discovered her birth certificate, ever since her world blew up around her and she reached for her once-sister without a second thought—without an ounce of hesitation—Val had been inside her head.
A whisper here, a comment there. Just enough to taunt Veronyka but not enough to give her anything she actually wanted or needed. What she needed was to focus on her audition and be made a Master Rider. What she wanted… that was harder.
Yes, she wanted answers, and Val promised them—at a price, of course. With Val there was always a price.
I’ll tell you everything, Veronyka, if you join me. I’m the only one who can help you.
I’m the only one who knows. Who understands.
Leave the Eyrie and join me.
Veronyka had tried to rebuild her walls, tried to keep Val out—but she had invited Val into her mind, and that had weakened her defenses. Then there was the part of her that wanted what Val was offering—the truth about her past—so desperately she thought she’d choke on the words when she refused.
You know I won’t abandon my place here. Leave me alone.
Your place? Veronyka, you are an Ashfire…. Your place is where you will it. It is your birthright.
As the day wore on, it was clear their connection was flickering and fading away—partially from Veronyka’s efforts and partially from the natural deterioration of the previous day’s link—and Veronyka suspected Val was doing whatever she could to maintain the contact. Her intrusions became more insistent, more pressing, trying to widen and restabilize the channel.
Your place is with me.
Leave me alone, Veronyka said, over and over again. And so Val tried a different tack.
I guess with soldiers on the move, she began idly, you’ll be flying out soon anyway.
Veronyka hadn’t responded to that. Val was baiting her, trying to pull her attention—trying to offer information Veronyka didn’t have. Information Veronyka would give up everything for.
Oh dear. I do hope they don’t plan to leave you behind….
How did Val know? How did she always know the way to Veronyka’s heart—and why did she always do damage when she got there?
And then, just as she and Tristan were about to complete their handoff…
We could do it together, you know…. We could save lives, save the world. You and I together could change everything….
There was power in Val’s words—they’d pulled and dragged at Veronyka. It was almost enough to rob her of her consciousness, but she’d been so preoccupied with keeping Val out of her mind and herself in the saddle that she hadn’t thought about Tristan, who shared her mind and was just as vulnerable as her but had no idea about it or how to protect himself.
Their hands had touched, the skin-on-skin contact blasting their connection wide open, and now he was plummeting from his phoenix’s back.
Veronyka didn’t think; she acted. Tristan had barely left his saddle before she turned in her seat and leapt after him.
She fell, the wind tearing at her hair and clothes and roaring in her ears. Fear gripped her stomach as the ground rushed toward her, but she kept her gaze focused on Tristan.
He was still unconscious, his limp body twisting and flailing in the air, catching the wind and slowing his fall. Arms pinned to her sides and head dipped toward the ground, Veronyka pelted after him like an arrow, catching up easily. When she was near enough, she extended an arm and reached, gripping his tunic and releasing a half gasp, half sob. Just as she wrapped her arms around his chest and her legs around his waist, Xephyra became visible in her peripheral vision, diving right after Veronyka had. Thanks to the bond, she’d understood at once what Veronyka intended to do and had hastened to play her part.
Xephyra caught up to them, then blurred past, slipping underneath in one fluid motion.
Their speed matched, Veronyka gripped the saddle and pressed herself and Tristan against it, eyes closed and heart hammering. Xephyra spread her wings, catching the wind and slowing their descent.
Only, they weren’t slowing fast enough.
The crowd below gasped, and Veronyka opened her eyes to see Xephyra trying desperately to pull back up again, but the ground was rushing toward them, and impact was seconds away.
We’re not going to make it, Veronyka thought desperately. The