Page 287 of Vasmora

With a glance over his shoulder, Zevander crossed his arms and shrugged. “Not yet.”

Lips forming a hard line, Corwin nodded. “Yes, well, that should make for an interesting ride.” He turned his attention toward me. “Before we head out on his cantering carnivore, can you come with me for a moment? I’d like to show you something.”

“Sure.”

Corwin clambered to his feet, and I followed after him as he led me to the spot where we’d found all the dead ravens. Not a single one lay on the ground. Only a mound of dirt where they’d once been scattered.

“I couldn’t bury them individually. It would’ve taken me ‘til morning. So, it’s one massive grave. But have a look.” He began digging at the dirt. “I heard a strange noise earlier. Unnatural. Like bones smacking together. So I came to investigate and found this.” He lifted a black scaled egg from the trench he’d dug.

I took it from him and studied the egg that resembled the one I’d found months ago. The moon glinted off its iridescent black scales as I twisted it around in my hands.

Shifting to the other side of the mound, Corwin dug again, unearthing a second egg. Then another, which he set on the ground before me.

“Three?” I asked, staring down at them. The one in my hand pulsed against my palms, and I closed my eyes, envisioning what hid inside of it, it’s heart beating in time to my own. A tiny creature wriggling around. My eyes shot open, and the egg slipped from my grasp.

Thankfully, it was caught by quick hands. “Oopsie,” Corwin said, setting the egg gently beside the others. “Do we leave them buried, or …”

“I can bring them with us, back to Eidolon. Will you be returning to Mortasia when Adira heals?”

Corwin sighed and shrugged. “I suspect so. But who knows? This world intrigues me.”

“Well, you’ll always have a home here.”

He smiled and nodded. “I appreciate that. Oh! And thank you. For saving humanity.”

“We all played a part. Some more tragically than others.” The rims of my eyes stung with the threat of tears. “Strange. It doesn’t feel like a victory, at all.”

Lowering his gaze, he shook his head. “No, I suppose it doesn’t. Except that those who perished didn’t do so in vain.”

Lips pressed together, I nodded. “You’re right.”

“And because of you and the others, I don’t have long, hairy legs sticking out of me.” He frowned and lifted the hem of his trousers. “Well, not the segmented variety anyway.”

I managed a tired chuckle. “C’mon,” I said, gathering up two of the eggs from the ground. “I’m exhausted, and we still have another couple of hours to reach Eidolon.”

“Yes, of course! Forgive my rambling.” He jerked forward, gathering up the last egg, and the two of us walked back to the campfire.

CHAPTER SIXTY-EIGHT

MAEVYTH

“Zevander!” I startled awake with a gasp, gaze darting through the dark for the mutations that I’d watched swarm him seconds ago. Dappled moonlight scattered across the wooden floor and furniture, illuminating the many weapons set out on a table. A calm breeze fluttered the long white curtains, the heavy drapes pulled back to reveal Zevander standing on the balcony outside.

I exhaled a trembling breath, dragging my finger across my temple.

Just a nightmare.

Throwing my feet over the edge of the bed, I watched him through the window for a moment, noting the solemn expression on his face and the weary slump of his shoulders. We’d arrived back at Eidolon late and were staggering with exhaustion by the time we’d dragged ourselves to his bed chamber. The two of us had bathed quickly, washing off the blood and grime, and I’d fallen asleep within seconds of my head hitting the pillow.

Donned in nothing but his tunic, I tiptoed across the room to the door. Didn’t matter that I hardly made a sound when I depressed the latch, the moment I stepped out onto the balcony, he’d already spied me from where he stood, mustering a half-smile, a drink in his hand. The weight of grief shadowed his eyes, though. The black veins that’d once darkened half his face had faded for contracted scars only slightly paler than his skin tone. The infection he’d lived with his entire life, sapped away.

“Would you prefer to be alone?” I asked.

“No.”

Light steps carried me across the cold stones, to where I leaned against the balustrade rail beside him. The air ran its frigid teeth across my skin, and while I’d intended to simply ignore the discomfort, Zevander raised his palm, casting an exhilarating heat that sank into my bones.

The yard below stood peaceful, the moons shining down on patches of slowly greening grass. Color had returned to the copse of trees that, only hours ago, had been white husks, though right then they appeared as dark silhouettes in the distance. It would be morning in just a couple of hours, but until then, not a single cloud dulled the thousands of stars twinkling overhead.