Page 49 of Only Flames Remain

“Yes, go with you. You are going after her to spy on her, are you not?”

I tapped my fingers against my leg in annoyance. “And if I am?”

“Ren is in the Wraithwood on guard duty tonight.” He pointed at me. “You need a wingman. Pun intended.”

I pinned him with a stony gaze.

A long moment of silence passed between us. I didn’t need anyone to go with me, but Valerian had been right to assume Ren would be my next stop. My expression must have given my musings away.

“I know that you and Ren plan to use her against Kallias Ashbourne, and I wish to help.”

I pursed my lips. “And how, exactly, do you know that?”

His rose-tinted lips simply curved into a knowing smile.

“Have you been spying, Valerian Blackwater?” I asked in jest.

“Don’t get me wrong, Brother.” He placed a hand over his heart in a demonstration of honesty. “I love women, love to drink, and love to piss off Father. But it is always the one that everyone underestimates that can be but a fly on the wall…completely unnoticed. A wraith among dragons.”

My nostrils flared.

“I was on my way to Ravenwood, anyway. That sweet little thing I met last week, Fantome…”

“Fantine,” I corrected, a muscle ticking in my jaw.

“Fantine, right. She will be at that little tavern by the bluffs. You know the one, the thatched roof and the rowdy company. Anyway…I will be going with you. With, or without your permission.”

I released a slow breath. I didn’t trust Valerian, not as far as I could throw him. Which, incidentally, was pretty far considering I was the strongest of us. But this conversation did nothing to bolster my trust in him.

I brushed past him, checking his shoulder in the process. He was almost as tall as me, but he was leaner. I was all corded, hard muscle. He was long, gangly limbs.

“I trust you will stay silent about this?” I called over my shoulder, not stopping.

I gazed back at him and his answering grin spread from ear to ear, showing off his pointed canines. Where I was a half human bastard who could pass as human any day of the week, Valerian was thoroughly Vireth.

He reminded me so much of Father.

I marched down the hallway, pressing open the double doors across from the grand staircase and casting a glance over my shoulder at Valerian. I wanted to wipe that shit-eating grin right off his perfectly pale little face.

I stepped up onto the balcony railing, spreading my wings out behind my back with marked force. Valerian took a step back beneath the pressure, the air stirring heavily behind me. He joined me at the railing, his copper wings flapping at his back.

I let out a harsh breath as my shoulders tensed. I vaulted off the railing, allowing my black wings to spread wide and beat against the tepid, summer air. Despite the cool breeze, the climate was still more balmy than I preferred.

I heard Valerian lift off behind me to follow. The only noise filling my ears was the soft hum of our wings beating against the night as we disappeared into the darkness.

CHAPTER 15

Aveline

We had gone to three different shops and at least six market stalls, and I still hadn’t been able to find belladonna, hemlock, or jimonsweed.

Godsdammit.

I did locate a small harvest of moonflower, but it wasn’t nearly enough to craft the tincture I needed. I was going to run out; it was as simple as that. What would happen when I stopped? I cursed under my breath, knowing I would need to start dosing all over again. I would quickly lose the tolerance I had worked so hard to build up.

Ravenwood at night was beautiful, if not a little eerie. The buildings had streetlamps that illuminated the tan cobblestones, the shadows lurking with Vireth. They seemed friendly enough, but we didn’t stop to find out. The streets were mostly empty, the darkened Wraithwood forest looming in the distance.

We were told to never enter the Wraithwood under any circumstances. I wasn’t sure what awaited whomever dared enter the thick tree cover, and I didn’t intend to find out.