Vanish (Firelight #2)(52)

Flight during daylight hours.

Contact with hunters.

His voice bites the air, hard, emotionless. I can’t stop the bitter thought from entering my head: Of course he won’t mention that he’s the one who set Miram to spy on me.

“We have these rules for the safety and preservation of our pride. For the protection of our race. When one of us holds herself separate and above the laws of the pride, that draki endangers us all.”

I stand with my shoulders back and stare out at the crowd of my brethren. Their expressions are so rapt, so . . . expectant. Something big is about to happen and they know it . . . salivate for it. All of them. I scan the familiar faces, my old friends, neighbors, teachers. Suddenly they seem very unfamiliar to me. I long for someone who eases my heart. Someone who has no place here. Will.

Severin continues, “That is precisely what has happened. Miram, my own daughter, is lost to us forever. Even as I stand here, she is at the mercy of the enkros, suffering untold atrocities. Jacinda must pay for her fault in that.”

There is a slight sound in the gathered crowd at this . . . a general murmur I take as assent. I swallow painfully, staring straight ahead, avoiding looking to my family, at Tamra and Mom, at Az . . . Cassian.

I hold myself as tightly as stretched wire and wait for the final verdict, knowing it has come to this. There will be no sparing me. Not this time. Not again. Severin has decided my fate.

I make a sound, a tortured half-laugh. Who am I kidding? His decision was made the moment I returned without Miram.

Still, I jerk at the announcement:

“There is no choice but to clip the wings of any draki whose continued insubordination puts us all at risk.” He motions to me with a sweep of his hand. “In accordance with ancient tradition, any draki who risks the pride forfeits the gift of flight for however long is necessary.” A hush falls, the silence so deafening I can actually hear the rush of blood to my head.

However long is necessary. Meaning however long it takes my wings to mend. If they ever do. Sometimes damaged or injured wings can’t heal properly, leaving a draki permanently crippled.

The air comes alive with a sudden shout from Tamra. Her shrill voice reverberates over the humming silence. “No! No! You can’t do this!” Her face burns with more color than I’ve seen on her since she manifested. “It’s barbaric! Leave her alone! There is nothing just about this!”

Mom’s face leaches of all color as she wraps an arm around Tamra, holding her back when she looks ready to charge up the steps. Tamra struggles a moment before burying her face against Mom.

Mom’s eyes are no longer dead, no longer empty. But I almost wish they were. Better that than this. So full of anguish and pain.

Severin ignores the outburst, only the slightest tic in his cheek showing he even heard Tamra—or disapproved. It’s Tamra. He still needs her, will tolerate her disruption.

His next command slices through me, cutting deep.

“And Zara must bear responsibility as well.” Severin glances to the elders, as if they might object to him dragging my mother into this, before adding, “Zara is found derelict in her role as a mother and her responsibilities to both child and pride.”

This I did not expect.

“What?” I shout, looking wildly to where my mother stands, her eyes awake, alert and snapping.

Severin continues in a dull monotone. “She is banished and must leave pride grounds at once. From this day hence, she shall no longer be considered a draki and must make her way in the human world.” Severin’s lips curl back from his teeth in a sneer. “As was always her wish.” He adds this with decided relish, and I know he’s enjoying this.

“Wait,” I cry. “I’ll go with her! Banish me, too.”

Severin’s lips bend in a slow curl. “You have no choice in your punishment. Besides”—he looks me over coldly, and I feel torn open and bare beneath the thoroughness of his measuring stare—“you will still serve a purpose.”

Curses fly from Tamra’s lips. Az clings to her arm, helping restrain her.

I don’t know what’s worse. The implicit threat that he’ll breed me, my imminent wing clipping, or losing Mom. Each is horrible in its separate way.

All will kill a part of me.

This—combined with letting Will and the dream of us go and bearing the guilt of Miram’s fate—it’s all too much. What else can happen? What else can I endure?

I freeze, stilling unnaturally as everything whips past me in a blur. Life out of control and me in the center of it all.

I glance around me, up into Nidia’s swirling fog, cloaking our pride. I fantasize about flying into it, escaping with Mom and Tamra.

Only it’s just that. A fantasy.

Severin motions and a pair of guards with their loathsome armbands arrive to escort Mom away. “See that she takes nothing but clothes with her. No gems may leave on her person.”

“Mom!” Tamra screams, then looks desperately to Severin. “Wait! Please let me talk to her. Just a moment alone—”

“So that she can tell you how to contact her?” Severin shakes his head. “I’m sorry, but no. As I said, she’s a human now, and draki don’t consort with humans.” His eyes fall to me as he says this and I don’t mistake the accusation there. With a flick of his fingers, Mom is dragged away.