I just needed a little help reaching that crown on top of his towering body.
As my wings burst from my back, I lifted off the stones and reached for it. My fingers grazed the thorns. But as they did, a powerful hand wrapped around my forearm, wrenching my hand away.
22
ROWAN
Orion gripped my arm, his pale eyes gleaming. “You have been practicing.”
Fast as lightning, I shifted my arm out of his grip and grabbed his wrist. Snarling, I started to twist his arm behind his back—
Behind me, the sound of snapping bindings echoed off the stone as the Gothic king broke free.
Orion twisted out of my grasp, and I grunted with frustration. When I whirled to look for Alaric, the king was already gone.
Without another word or wasted breath, Orion and I lifted into the air, searching for the king. But clever Alaric had cloaked himself in darkness for now.
I turned my attention to the feel of the bond again as I soared over stone spires, over steep-peaked buildings that glowed with warm light. The sea-kissed breeze rushed over me, exhilarating. Gods, I loved flying.
At last, I felt it again—a strong tug between my ribs. The bond was luring me east, toward the sea. I glanced behind me, but I couldn’t see Orion. Either he’d cloaked himself as well or he was finding his own way to the Visigoth king.
No matter. Without the bond, all Orion could do was follow. I angled my wings to soar toward the water.
Alaric was hurtling through the streets like a meteor, using magic to give himself speed. At least he wasn’t sending the birds after me anymore.
With the marine wind whipping at my head, I soared after him—past the Abaddon Ward, the Luciferian Ward, the Tower of Baal. If he made it into the sea itself, I’d never catch him. A skilled witch like him would know spells for breathing underwater, and I didn’t have the first clue there.
Licking the salt off my lips, I angled my wings to land, hoping to head him off before he made it to the ocean. Here, on the city’s eastern shore, a few narrow alleys led to the sea. Once Alaric reached them, he could race down the ancient stone stairs, hiding in the depths.
My heart slammed against my chest as I glided downward.
I touched down hard in a little lane crowded with Tudor-style buildings, and I felt his momentum stop.
I turned to scan the little street, but I couldn’t pick him out. I could feel him nearby, though, and I stared at the space before me as I caught my breath.
In my chest, I felt the pull of my connection to him, urging me forward just a little. Warm light beamed from behind leaded glass windows, illuminating old books and displays of sugared cakes. But in the center of the alley, the shadows looked unnaturally dark, sucking up the light from the shop windows. There.
Quietly, I began to chant the binding spell. I kept very still, whispering under my breath, trying not to spook him.
But unfortunately for me, I could hear someone else whispering a spell—and the disturbing sound of slithering behind me made goosebumps rise on my skin. A loud hisss turned my head, and my heart stuttered.
A serpent as large as an ancient oak bough snaked up the stone stairwell, scales gleaming with iridescent light. The monstrous thing opened its mouth, showing off fangs longer than my hand.
I exhaled sharply and called up my flames at my fingertips, but the serpent darted for me, its teeth sinking into the flesh at my side.
“Rowan!” From a distance, Orion’s voice called to me.
With the excruciating pain racing through my body, flames burst out of me—a white-hot instinct I hadn’t quite thought about. The serpent didn’t quite catch fire, but the heat must have hurt it, because the creature unlocked its jaw. The air smelled of burning flesh, and the snake’s head swerved from side to side, mouth gaping. My blood dripped from its fangs.
From above, Orion landed on the serpent’s back while it reared its head. Orion’s silver claws shot out, and he plunged them into the back of the monster’s neck, starting to sever the head.
I gripped my side, doing my best to block out the pain. I didn’t think I could breathe correctly. Dizzy, I started swaying, staggering back.
Focus on the crown, Rowan. I whirled to scan the narrow road for the shadows again, but my vision seemed blurred.
I was pretty sure Alaric was gone already. Vaguely, I could feel him moving down the sea-slick stairwell. My wings burst out of my back, and I lifted into the air, above the serpent in its death throes.
With my thoughts on the crown, I soared above the stairs just in time to see Alaric waist-deep in the waves. I flew out after him, but I couldn’t quite summon my magic. It sputtered and died in my chest.