Shadow Wings (The Darkest Drae Book 2)(75)

We passed over the range and left the Druman behind us. I redoubled my efforts, scanning the ground. Despite Tyrrik’s reassurances, I felt his focus on the skies had also increased.

The next grouping of luscious green emerged two hours later.

Do you think they’re just random patches? I asked. Maybe we were getting way too excited over patches of green.

He hadn’t spoken in a while, and by now I could feel him straining to keep going through the bond.

No. This Phaetyn is careful, just as your mother was when distributing your gift.

That was a nice way to say she’d sprinkled people’s gardens with my bath water.

Or your chamber pot, he added. But there is a Phaetyn down there.

I had to agree with him. From up here, the contrast of the otherwise barren land to the pockets of water was blatant. How long did you know there was a Phaetyn in Verald?

How old were you when you came to Verald?

Just a baby, I think.

Then eighteen years, he said.

You knew the entire time there was a Phaetyn and never told the king?

I didn’t have to. The presence of a Phaetyn posed no threat to his life or his rule. I wasn’t compelled to tell him through the Blood Oath.

My mother had eighteen years of peace because Tyrrik wasn’t the monster everyone, myself included, had assumed. Thank you.

No one is more grateful than I that I never had to divulge information regarding your presence.

Things would be a lot different if I’d been Irdelron’s prisoner as a baby. I never would’ve survived. My gaze slid to Tyrrik, and he shivered. I focused on him, eyes narrowed, and caught the words, had to wait eighteen years.

Wait eighteen years for what? I asked.

He jerked so hard, Dyter almost flew from his grip. In my old life, I’d never imagined seeing a sheepish Drae, but Tyrrik fit that description right now, confirming my suspicions his thoughts had turned back to dancing potential maypoles.

As the next two hours whittled by, the green patches sprung up in clusters more frequently. Not overly, but instead of every thirty to forty minutes of flight time, the lush vegetation appeared every twenty or so. Was that a sign the Phaetyn was in the area below? Or was Kamini’s elder sibling purposely misleading us?

Movement below put me on alert. More Druman, I said, already pushing up into the cloud line.

Tyrrik followed, much slower.

The scouting party was gathered around a cluster of the green growth again, and there were eight of them this time. That can’t be coincidence.

The Drae took his time answering. Two scouting parties around the green patches is suspicious, he admitted. But if they are hunting for her, they are spread out over a huge area. They have no more idea where she is than we do.

But what if they get to her first?

He sighed mentally, and I heard his weariness and frustration. If I was stronger, we could search for her right now. But I can’t risk an encounter with Druman. I wouldn’t be able to protect you.

Not being able to protect me bothered him way more than it should. But I could feel his strain. Moreover, he was right; two scouting parties over hundreds of miles wasn’t enough to get my skirt in a twist. Al’right. We have time. Let’s go to Gemond, and then we can go out from there and search, once you’re better.

He glanced back. Thank you, Princess. I’m sorry . . . I’m weakened.

I’d never heard a stupider apology in my life, and I told him so. His lack of response was real confirmation of his fatigue.

I’ll need to rest soon, Tyrrik said.

Only thirty minutes or so had passed since our previous conversation. He sounded exhausted in my head, and I blew out through my nostrils. This was taking much longer than I’d anticipated. Okay, for how long?

He bared his fangs and grudgingly answered, I don’t think I should take flight again today.

I scanned the ground for Druman, but I hadn’t seen any since the last group. I could take the opportunity of Tyrrik resting to scout the area for Kamini’s sister. You land, I thought, I want to continue searching for the Phaetyn.

No.

If I had eyebrows right now, they’d be raised. Excuse me?

You are not remaining in the sky without me. It’s not safe.

My tail twitched. Care to rephrase that? Really fast.

Tyrrik twisted to glance back at me. Princess, I’m tired, very tired, and I require rest. If you’re in the sky and I cannot see you, I will not be able to rest.

Sure you can. Just close your little ol’ eyes and have a kip.

He chuffed, a frustrated sound coming from his Drae lips. It’s exhausting to act against my protective instincts, and I’m far too tired to fight the mating . . . He faced the front. The thought of you in danger without me there to defend you will drive me mad. You have no idea how much effort it took to keep up the pretense while you were in the castle. When I said nothing he added, I was only able to do it because the alternative was so much worse. If you wish to continue, I’ll stay with you for as long as I can, but I cannot leave you alone and unprotected.

I took a final glance around.

Unless you wish to help me? he asked.

I growled, knowing he’d hear the sound despite the wind snatching the snarl away. And that won’t mean anything to you. To the bond between us?

Some of my Drae powers were instinctual like my sense of smell or talking with Tyrrik in my head. Shifting had been difficult at first, and I still struggled to control my body when my emotions were high. The energy between Tyrrik and me was something I didn’t understand.