Page 101 of Heir of Broken Souls

Knox

Returning to my body is a jolt to my system.

My senses become overwhelmed within an instant as I’m hit in all directions. The screams from my court as they yell out my name and Delilah’s. Zephlyn’s roar of panic. The wind that’s pushing against my wings and the heavy rain pelting my skin.

Coming to, I realize I’m somehow no longer atop Zephlyn, my body being swept up into the eye of the storm. No wonder everyone was panicking.

I flare out my wings, gritting my teeth and fisting my hands as it takes everything within me to come back down.

I ready my body, tightening every muscle, then stop fighting the wind and allow it to take me, right onto Zephlyn’s back. He jolts from shock when I clench his fur, and I push through, ignoring his warning growl to get off him and lowering my head to his ear.

“She’s safe.”

The exact same words that Delilah uttered to me, and like it did to my nervous system, it does to his.

Zephlyn calms.

His body grows lax, his hackles lower, and the fangs he was exposing retract behind his lips.

“You have to trust me and follow my lead,” I command, infusing every word with as much authority as I can muster.

My court still cling to the ship, their eyes squinting through the pelting rain now beginning to crawl up the ship.

“Knox!” Lenox booms, his eyes wild and frenzied as they land on me.

“I’m all right!”

His chest heaves but the relief he feels is short-lived as the ship drops again.

“Hold on tight!” I scream.

Elysia cries out in such a fearful shock my gaze snaps to hers. I find her clinging with all her might, her body trembling while Axel roars in agony beside her, his fingers turning white from the grip he has on the ship. He’s unfurled his wings—they all have, except for Elysia. They’re practically horizontal now, gravity trying to take them to the sea.

Before Zephlyn can doubt my abilities, I raise my hands, clenching my legs around his body to stop the wind from ripping me off his saddle. I roar as my shadows blast the storm, aiming directly for the clouds surrounding me.

What my court don’t know is that while I’m appearing to try and tame the storm with my magic, Delilah is working above, weaving those gorgeous golden tendrils.

The ship hits the ocean. Wood flies in all directions and water sloshes over the ship, drenching my court and taking them under. It steals my breath until the ship levels out once more and I find my court still clinging to it.

My court gasp for air, lifting their gazes to me. They’re waiting for an order, but there’s nothing they can do now but live.

“Keep holding! Your wings won’t be enough to keep you stable in the air!”

Already, Zephlyn, the beast that he is, is struggling against the winds. The thought of my court trying to fly through this has me grimacing. They wouldn’t last a moment before being blown away.

And that’s no doubt whatshewants.

She wants us to suffer.

She wants us isolated.

She wants us to lose one another.

And I refuse to give her that.

“Keep holding!” I bellow through the storm. “Another wave is coming. Hold, hold, hold!”

They need to stop looking for her and instead focus on their own survival.