Page 52 of Fallen Nocturne
“You know a lot about healing,” Landon observes after a while.
“I spent a lot of time in Anastarros’s temples, learning from the healers there.” I don’t mention Astefar though, or the nine hundred years I spent learning to survive in a place where weakness meant death.
“It shows.” Landon stands, moving to a cabinet in the corner. “Do you drink tea? I was about to make some.”
He pulls out a tin and opens it. The scent of jasmine and elderflower drifts across the room.
My favorite blend.
“I love that one,” I say softly.
His smile widens. “So do I.”
We’re perfect for each other. The gods knew what they were doing, pairing us.
He prepares the tea while I clear enough books from the desk to make room for the cups. When it is ready, he pulls over a second chair for me and perches on the edge of the desk. The late afternoon light paints everything in shades of amber and gold. The tea is hot and fragrant and the conversation flows easily between us.
We talk about books we have both read and healing techniques we have learned in different corners of the world. He understands the satisfaction of uncovering the cause of an illness and the helpless frustration when every treatment fails.
Landon gets it in a way few people do. He gets me…
This should be perfect. It should be everything.
Yet some small, ungrateful part of me still insists that something is missing. I want to seize that greedy little voice and crush it beneath my heel. Landon has given me nothing but patience and kindness.
“I’m so glad you’re here now,” I say eventually, setting down my teacup. “When I heard about the ambush, I was so scared that I couldn’t breathe.”
His expression changes. The warmth drains from his face, replaced by something dark and haunted. He stares into his tea for a long moment, jaw tight.
“Landon?” I lean forward, the sudden change in him sending unease through the bond.
“There’s something I need to show you.” His voice has gone flat and empty, stripped of all the warmth it held moments ago.
“What is it?” I set my cup aside.
He looks up at me, and the expression in his eyes makes my stomach drop.
“Come with me to the training grounds.” He stands abruptly, setting down his cup. “You need to see it.”
“See what?” I rise slowly, watching him.
He’s already moving toward the door. “Something that changes everything.”
The mate bond tightens. His dread bleeds into me through that golden thread.
I stand on shaking legs and follow him out of the room.
Whatever put that look in his eyes, I have a terrible feeling my world is about to break apart.
The training grounds are nearly empty at this hour.
Most of the wyverns have been settled for the evening, their handlers gone to supper. Only a few remain, massive shapes silhouetted against the darkening sky, their scales catching the last rays of sunlight.
Coral spots me immediately and comes bounding over, chirping excitedly. She presses her snout against my side, nearly knocking me over with her enthusiasm.
“Hello, sweetling.” I scratch behind her jaw ridge, the spot that makes her rumble with pleasure. “I missed you too.”
But my attention is on Landon, watching as he speaks quietly with the wyvern keeper. The older fae nods and disappears. He returns moments later, leading two wyverns.
