Page 97 of Heir of Broken Souls

“Aurora!”

I let go of the sail and push off Knox, crying out as I free-fall.

There’s no time to think of what I’ve just done. All my attention is upon my bonded griffin, hurtling for a sure death.

Falling faster than I thought possible, I reach my hands out for her as the ship hits the bottom of the wave. Water explodes in all directions, and then the ship rises again as a wave greets it once more. Lifting right toward Aurora.

Panic like no other consumes my entire body, pumping adrenaline throughout my veins. I tug relentlessly on our bond, screaming and flailing to wake her before she careens through the ship. A small sliver of reprieve slices into me as her golden eyes flutter open the moment my fingertips graze her fur.

But she’s run out of time.

“Delilah!” Knox roars from behind.

And then suddenly, we’ve both run out of time.

Chapter35

Knox

My wings unfurl, blasting out as my body propels me forward, ignoring the tumultuous winds trying to tear my wings to shreds. The rain assaulting the sensitive flesh is secondary to Delilah.

She was within my grasp but nothing would have been able to stop her, not when it comes to saving the ones she loves.

Delilah falls, practically flying through the air, dropping hundreds of feet below to the raging waters of the sea. Her hands are outstretched for Aurora, still falling in an unconscious heap.

In a blind panic, I throw out my hands and send gust after gust of wind, attempting to slow their descent but it’s no use, not against the dark power fueling the raging storm. Teleporting doesn’t work either. Every time I dart across space I’m blown right back. It’s as if Hazel watches from afar, my feasible attempt to save Delilah making her cackle with glee.

I think I’m screaming but I can’t hear anything past the erratic beating of my heart.

All I can see is her.

The love of my life falling toward an early death and I can do nothing but plead for her to unfurl those magnificent golden wings.

But she does not, and with every passing foot my heartbeat slows as if preparing to die right along with her.

I cannot lose her.

I cannot lose her.

I cannot lose her.

With each chanting word, the panic within me swells. Until it is pouring out of me with abandon as I bellow her name.

“Delilah!”

Her name tears from my chest right before her fingertips graze Aurora, their bodies only a few feet from hitting the rising ship.

And then she’s gone.

The pair vanish within the blink of an eye.

Crying out in shock, I pull back as quickly as I can as I had caught up to her.

I can’t pull up in time.

Forced to teleport, this time I’m grateful for the wind as I’m met halfway across the ship with a large gust, careening me right into Zephlyn and away from the turbulent sea. It’s as if I’ve hit a boulder. Rubbing the ache in my chest, I cling to Zephlyn’s mane with my other hand and hold on tight as we both search for our respective pair.

“Where did she go?” I cry. “Where is she?”