Page 7 of Fallen Nocturne

The title sounds strange on his lips, as if he’s tasting something foreign and hasn’t decided if it’s palatable.

“This is Theo,” Landon says. “My second in command. He rides Pyraxis.”

The copper wyvern lowers its massive head at the mention of its name. I fight the urge to step backward. One of its eyes is larger than my entire head, a molten gold that seems to see straight through me. Coral presses against my leg, a small comfort that I’m grateful for.

“Thank you for granting us sanctuary,” Theo says, though his tone remains guarded. “Our king’s betrayal left us few options.”

I want to say something gracious, but before I can respond, movement from the left draws my attention. Another warrior approaches, this one astride a wyvern of dark emerald green.

The rider dismounts without waiting for Landon to introduce him. “Glenn.”

His wyvern chuffs, sending a wave of hot air washing over us. Glenn looks back at me. “We owe you a debt, Elven Queen.”

There is real gratitude in his voice. I feel some of the tension in my shoulders ease. At least not all of them view me as just an enemy to be tolerated.

“Anyone seeking refuge is welcome in Völundr,” I manage to say, proud that my voice doesn’t shake despite the way my heart pounds. The words feel true as I speak them.

I think of what Landon told me, that some of his warriors never made it out of Avalon. The ones who couldn’t flee fast enough were swallowed by the fae wilds, a place where monsters and other dangerous creatures roam. I know what it means to have nowhere safe to go. Astefar taught me that. I remember the fear of being stranded in a strange land with no shelter and no certainty that I would survive another night. I cannot condemn anyone else to that same terror.

Coral chirps beside me. It’s a small, almost pitiful sound compared to the rumbling of the giant wyverns. One of them, a magnificent beast with scales of polished silver, tilts its head to observe her with what almost seems like amusement. Its rider, a grizzled veteran with more gray than black in his hair, actually chuckles.

“Is this your mount, Your Majesty?” he asks, not unkindly.

Heat floods my cheeks. I know how Coral must look to them, like a toy compared to these war beasts.

“She is,” I say, lifting my chin.

Another rider steps forward. “I’m Kieran, and this is Silverwind. We’ve been together for five hundred forty-three years.” He rests one hand against the silver wyvern’s jaw. “Your little one has heart. I can see it in the way she stands.”

I blink at him, surprised by the kindness in his voice. After the guarded looks from the others, I had not expected praise.

“Thank you,” I whisper.

The sound of wings draws our attention skyward. Two more wyverns descend into the courtyard, their massive forms blocking out the sun for a moment.

One of the riders is petite, with short black hair framing sharp features. I stare at her wyvern, unable to hide my awe. The creature is breathtaking. Its scales are so dark they appear black until the sun hits them just right, revealing an amethyst shimmer.

She dismounts and her ruby eyes lock onto mine instantly. I nearly step back from the intensity of her gaze. Those eyes shift to Landon and her entire demeanor changes with them.

“Alys,” Landon says her name with a note of warning in his voice. “This is Queen Rhianelle.”

The wyvern rider doesn’t bow. She simply stares at me, her hand resting on the pommel of a curved blade at her hip.

Alys studies me slowly, her eyes lingering on every weakness I cannot hide. She takes in the pallor that still clings to my skin and the way my dress hangs too loosely after everything my body has endured. Her gaze drops to the slight tremor in my hands as I tighten my grip on Coral’s reins.

“This is the Elven Queen?” she asks, her tone light with mockery.

“Careful, Alys,” Landon murmurs softly, his eyes narrowed slightly.

Alys performs an exaggerated curtsy that somehow manages to be more insulting than no gesture at all. “Your Highness, forgive me. I’m simply surprised.”

Her gaze travels deliberately from my silver hair to my boots. “When Commander Landon spoke of the person who broke into his house to assassinate him, I didn’t expect someone so delicate.”

Landon gives a low warning growl, but Alys only tilts her head playfully at him before turning back to me. Her smile widens, but I catch the subtle tension beneath her breezy manner. The flash of jealousy that darts across her eyes whenever she glances at my hand resting near Landon’s arm.

Heat floods my cheeks, but before I can respond, her wyvern lowers its great head toward Coral. My poor wyvern shrinks back, pressing against my side with a low whimper that breaks my heart. The beast’s lips pull back, revealing teeth the length of my forearm. It releases a dismissive snort.

“Nightshade, enough,” Alys commands, though she seems pleased by her mount’s behavior. “We shouldn’t frighten the queen’s... pet.”