What Lurks Between the Fates (Of Flesh & Bone, #3)(92)

It didn’t rise to the sky above; instead, it floated ahead of me to light a path. I formed another, allowing it to rise and hover beside the other. They cast a warm glow upon the otherwise gloomy forest as that strange, otherworldly laugh spilled free from me once again.

I ran forward, delighting in the way they followed me, as if tethered to my soul. The path through the woods curved in a circle as I cast out one tiny star after another. I sprinted, dancing and spinning as I went, reveling in the feeling of magic upon my skin.

Reveling in the way I felt whole, my soul lighter than ever before.

Even the terrifying creature within me laughed, her smile illuminating the darkened corners of my heart. I leapt from one rock to the other, jumping over a crevice in the ground as my newly immortal body sang.

Freedom raced in my veins as a tear fell down my cheek, the moment so unlike anything I’d ever dared to dream of. I might have had to go back to my cage when it was all said and done, but for a single, bittersweet moment, I tasted the air on my tongue. I tasted the sharp crispness of moving where I wanted. Doing what I wanted.

Touching everything I passed.

Caldris’s joy echoed my own, thrumming down the thread to strike me in the chest. His response to my own happiness—to my moment of freedom—echoing my own elation.

I spun around a corner, coming to a stop as I approached a pillar. It jutted into the sky, a single flat slab of stone. There was nothing around it but the steps leading up, the surrounding ground in the clearing just as haunted and dead as the rest of the forest.

Symbols had been carved into the surface as I approached, then made my way up the half-dozen steps. The stars cast an eerie golden glow upon the marks I didn’t recognize as I reached the top of the steps, but I would have sworn they glowed from within as I stretched out with a single hand.

I was only a breath from touching the surface when lightning cracked through the air somewhere behind me. I spun, turning so sharply I nearly tripped over my own feet. My dagger was in my hand before I finished my rotation, finding glowing eyes of gold staring down at me from above.

They shone down from the ebony face of a horse, situated to the side of a single horn wrapped in blue light. It was twice as tall as any normal horse.

I shifted the dagger in my hand, but something kept me from stabbing it forward. Stopped me from slaying the creature where it stood.

I studied those eyes, only noting the pulse of blue light beneath his black hair in a distracted way. He flapped massive, feathered wings of black, shifting the air toward me and forcing me to stumble backward.

I caught myself, my hand touching the pillar behind me. A rush of warmth filled my hands, and the creature and I both turned to look at the symbols that glowed. They spread out from my palm, moving farther and farther up the pillar as if I were the apex of power.

I drew back suddenly, stepping closer to the creature in front of me. He made no move to harm me, tilting his head to the side as he leaned forward.

His hoof touched the bottom step, his head raising so that the end of his muzzle could press against my chest. It twitched over my armor as he smelled me.

I drew in a deep breath, shuddering as I sheathed the dagger in my hand. He didn’t miss the movement, watching me carefully as I reached out with that now empty palm.

I let my eyes fall closed as I stretched forward slowly, lingering just shy of touching. I couldn’t force myself to close the distance, couldn’t risk losing my hand. Fear thrummed through me, sending my heart pounding in my chest.

Stupid. So fucking stupid.

He closed the distance, leaning his head forward until he pressed against my open palm. My breath fled in a single sigh as my eyes flew open, finding his golden gaze gleaming down at me. There was a hint of amusement there, something far too human for a horse. He stepped back, moving away slowly as lightning cracked through the sky. It moved beneath his skin, as if it originated from him when he raised his horn to the sky.

I followed him as if in a trance, making my way down the steps.

He lowered himself, leaning onto a front leg that he bent. The other straightened in front of him, his head hanging forward into a bow.

I gaped at him, not understanding as I walked forward slowly. His wings lowered to the ground, feathers spreading across the grass and rock. The sight of them drew me forward, tickling at the vestiges of a memory.

The arrow thudding into his withers snapped me out of the moment. He reared back with a neigh, lightning erupting from his horn as I darted forward.

Another arrow came, heading straight for his neck. I drew my sword, arcing it through the air to deflect. The arrow bounced off as I grasped the one still planted in his withers and pulled.

The horse screamed as I tore it free, his furious golden eyes snapping to mine as Mab and her guards emerged from the tree line.

“Go,” I ordered, shoving at the horse’s side. I pushed against the point of his shoulder, shoving him away from the threat.

He whinnied, flapping those massive wings and taking to the skies. I watched in horror as Mab’s arrows flew for him, falling just short as they brushed against his tail.

“Stupid, foolish girl!” the Queen of Air and Darkness grunted. She strode forward, one of her arrows in her hand as she stabbed it down toward me.

Not a hit meant to kill, but to maim.

It came for my cheek, striking against a golden boundary that sent her spiraling backward. Lightning cracked through the sky once more, a reminder of the creature that had once stood in this spot.