Page 121 of Black Crown
“Why didn’t I just tell you we were mates back then?” he mused, studying my face.
The dark cocooned us, and I rose on my tiptoes, bringing my lips near his, intentionally teasing him.
“Why didn’t you tell me we should stop hiding from the world two months ago?” I replied.
Tyrrik pulled back and grinned, his white teeth gleaming in the dark. “Feisty. But I’m not telling you how long I waited.”
I’d get it out of him eventually.
His grin dropped. “Humans are coming.”
Probably not the time for aHeeeey, we’re baaackmoment. Following his lead, we blurred to the buildings bordering the courtyard and melded into the shadows in a crouch, watching as a woman and a young girl entered the clearing. I snorted as I pressed my back to the brick wall of the alley and reminded him,Phaetyn veil.
Two females crossed to the middle of the courtyard, to the fountain. One appeared to be in her twenties and the other no more than five or six. As I turned to pulled Tyrrik down the alley, my breath caught at the gleaming metal piece reflecting the light of the twin moons.My welded flower.
Tyrrik looked at me, and I sent him my memories of the flower. Of how my mother had lifted me to touch it each day.
I didn’t think it survived when Irdelron ordered you to burn Zone Seven. I swallowed the lump in my throat.
The woman spoke, and I blinked back the mist in my eyes to listen.
“Do you see that cluster there?” she said to the young girl sitting beside her on the edge of the fountain. “Those seven stars to the side of the moons?” The woman held the girl’s hand and lifted her arm to trace the constellation.
I didn’t bother looking up. Gazing at the stars and moons from the ground was kind of overrated after flying amongst them. Instead, I watched the young girl and her mother, thinking of the numerous times I’d sat on the edge of this very fountain with my own mum.
“Caltevyn named that cluster Ryn’s flame,” the mother said. “Because of her and Tyrrik’s sacrifice, we are free.”
Extra points to Cal for not calling me Tyrryn. Glad to see that one hadn’t followed me to the fake grave.
“The one on the top looks blue,” the little girl said, swinging her feet off the edge of the fountain as she pointed. The child stared up at the night sky with wide-eyed intensity. Her auburn curls had escaped her braid, and the wisps framed her face, catching the moonlight.
“Yes. That’s why our king chose it. Blue was the color of her fire.”
The young girl narrowed her eyes. Clambering up, she stretched, just managing to touch the stem of the welded flower inlaid in the middle of the stone pillar. “I thought Lord Dyter said Ryn didn’t breathe fire. And why didn’t Tyrrik get a bunch of stars?”
I’d like to know that too,my mate thought gruffly, making me snicker.
“I’m sure hehelped,” the mother muttered, “He kept her safe from Irdelron, so he wasn’t all bad. But he caused a lot of harm around here . . . for a very long time.” She took a deep breath and kissed the young girl’s head. “Come now, it’s time for bed.”
“That’s dumb,” the young girl huffed and slid off the fountain edge. “Ryn made tyrs. And that’s the start of Tyrrik’s name. She must’ve loved him a lot to make flowers for him.Ithink he was good.”
I like that kid,Tyrrik said.They’re not all that smart.
I bit my lip to stop from laughing. The girl’s mother ambled toward the opposite edge of the courtyard. The young girl scampered after her but stopped at the entrance of the alleyway and turned back to look at the night sky.
As she looked down, a sudden notion struck me, and I stepped from the shadows, dropping the veil as I dragged Tyrrik with me.
The girl startled at the sight of us, squeaking. I heard her gasp as she looked at the stars again and then down at us.
I held my finger to my lips and winked.
Her eyes widened.
Would it be cooler to shift and take off?I asked my mate.Or to blur out of here?
“Arwyn!” the girl’s mother called.
The girl glanced over her shoulder and half turned. But rotating back she lifted her hand and, with a shy smile, waved.