watched her walk into the desert. The walk of shame was not lost on me; I’d done it more than once. A smile tugged at my lips. The defiance in her stride, the tilt of her head. Every part of her screamed rebellion. I liked her already.
Exiled into the desert . . . she would not have done it if she truly thought it would cause her or her loved ones pain. I had no doubt she went because for the moment, the threats had passed. Or so she thought.
“She thinks she’s safe, doesn’t she?” Tom whispered from my shoulder. I glanced at the fairy and then to the woman who’d more than captured my attention.
“Yes, she does.”
Tom hiccupped. “What you going to do about that? ’Cause I know you aren’t the nice boy everyone thinks you are. Eh?”
I couldn’t take my eyes from Larkspur, until the Pegasus flew overhead. I crouched, feeling my heart tug at me. Peta clung to the equine’s back, but she never looked my way. Lark lifted a hand and something sparkled in the air between her and Peta.
“I have to let her fall further, Tom. She has to be broken before I can help her. But I want to keep tabs on her. That’s where you come in.”
“Ahh, Talan. I don’t want to stay in the desert! My wings dry up and—”
“I saved you from having your wings removed. Samara was going to rip them from your back, if you recall.” I held a hand up to him and he stepped into my palm. “Go and keep an eye on her. I’ll check in with you at the edge of the desert twice a year. Summer and winter solstice.”
He grunted and lifted off from my hand in a drunken wobble. I put my hands on my knees and rolled my shoulders.
“You need to be shattered, little Larkspur,” I whispered. “And I will be the one to do it.”