Chapter 38

Onyx nuzzled Deon’s hand, the griffin’s fiery gaze meeting mine in silent agreement. It would look after him, guarding Deon with a loyalty that could only come from the bond they shared. I knew Deon was in good hands, but it still felt wrong to leave him behind, even if it was the only way forward.

The healers assured me that Deon would be well cared for, and I spent the rest of the evening gathering supplies for the next part of my journey. I packed light—only the essentials, a few weapons, and the amulet Cassandra had given me, which still glowed faintly, pointing me toward the Air Kingdom.

It was a place I had hoped to avoid. The Air Kingdom was vast, a sprawling land of mountains, turbulent winds, and ever-shifting skies. It was beautiful but treacherous, and it was also the last place Meara had been seen, the night she disappeared during the Elemental Games. The thought of her being lost somewhere within those unforgiving winds twisted my gut. I couldn’t afford any more delays.

Before I left, I checked on Deon one last time. He was propped up in bed, still pale but more alert. Onyx was by his side, the griffin’s feathers glowing with a steady, calming warmth.

“ I’ll find her,” I promised, my voice low but resolute. Meara wasn’t just my mate, but their future queen.

Deon managed a weak smile. “ Bring her back, Kaden. And don’t get yourself killed in the process.”

I nodded, clapping him on the shoulder before turning to leave. As I stepped outside, I took one last look at the fiery landscape of the Fire Kingdom. The heat was intense, even for me, but it was a familiar comfort. I could see the outline of Onyx watching me from the window, its fiery eyes tracking my movements as I mounted my horse and rode away.

The journey to the Air Kingdom was long, but I moved with purpose, driven by the amulet’s faint glow. The landscape changed as I traveled, the air growing cooler and the skies more turbulent the closer I got to the kingdom of winds. By the time I reached the outskirts, the sun was setting, casting shades of pink and orange of the mountains, their silhouettes shifting in the ever-moving sky.

The Air Kingdom was unlike any other. The towering mountains and bridges of wind and magic connected the pathways that required skill and knowledge to navigate. The winds here were alive, a constant force that shifted unpredictably, making travel a challenge for anyone unfamiliar with the kingdom’s ways.

I followed the amulet’s arrow as it pointed towards the mountains and into the forest beyond the Air Kingdom, its glow steady and bright now that I was closer. The Air Kingdom was bustling with activity—markets, homes, and airships all suspended above the vast drop below. But my focus was singular, my mind only on finding Meara.

I passed through the crowded streets, scanning the faces around me, searching for any sign of her. The air was filled with the sounds of bustling merchants, the whoosh of passing airships, and the constant whisper of the wind. I kept my cloak pulled tight, the hood shielding my face as I moved through the crowd. I couldn’t risk the people seeing me. If they knew their king was in the city, they would want to confide in me, and there was no time for that now.

The ride out of Valtor was lonely, and the weight of leaving Deon behind was heavy on my shoulders. I pushed my horse harder than I should have, trying to make up for lost time. Each step closer to the Air Kingdom only served to heighten the tension coiling within me, the kind that warned of a storm brewing beneath my skin. Meara might be out there, somewhere and every second that passed felt like a lifetime wasted.

The amulet around my neck pulsed faintly, its arrow guiding me through the treacherous paths of the ever-shifting winds. But as the hours passed and the landscape around me began to change, I felt an all-too-familiar sensation creeping in—an icy, sharp edge clawing at the edges of my mind.

Not now.

My breath hitched, and I tightened my grip on the reins. The darkness I’d fought so hard to keep at bay was stirring, clawing at my insides, threatening to consume me. It felt like a beast trapped in a cage, restless and angry, waiting for the first crack to break free. I dug my heels into the horse’s sides, urging it faster, desperate to outrun the shadows lurking just beneath my skin.

“ Not now,” I muttered to myself, the words barely audible over the sound of thundering hooves. “ Please, not now.”

But it was no use. The more I resisted, the stronger it grew, feeding on my fear, my anger, my desperation. I could feel it in my bones—a cold, relentless force that tightened like a vice around my heart, threatening to snuff out every shred of control I had left. My vision blurred at the edges, the colors of the landscape bleeding into each other as the world seemed to tilt.

I clenched my jaw, fighting the darkness with every ounce of willpower I had. But it was like trying to hold back a tidal wave with my bare hands. Pain rippled through me, sharp and searing, like claws raking across my chest. I doubled over, nearly losing my grip on the reins as the horse faltered beneath me.

Meara needed me. I couldn’t afford to lose myself now, not when she was depending on me to find her. But the darkness didn’t care. It twisted inside me, digging deeper, sinking its fangs into my soul. I felt my control slipping, the edges of my consciousness fraying as the shadows pressed in, hungry and relentless.

“ Damn it,” I growled, pulling the horse to an abrupt stop. I dismounted, stumbling a few steps before collapsing to my knees, the world spinning around me. I gripped the dirt, my fingers clawing at the earth as if grounding myself could somehow keep the darkness at bay.

Pain shot through my head, sharp and blinding, as if something was trying to tear its way out of me. My vision darkened, and I could feel myself slipping—losing the battle I’d fought so hard to win. I was on the brink, teetering on the edge of that abyss where nothing mattered but the raw, unfiltered rage that simmered beneath my skin.

I slammed my fist into the ground, the impact sending a jolt of pain up my arm. It was a desperate attempt to feel something—anything—other than the shadows clawing at my mind. But it only served to remind me of how close I was to losing myself.

I pressed my forehead to the dirt, breathing heavily, trying to focus on the one thing that mattered. Meara’s face flashed in my mind—her sky-blue eyes, her fiery spirit, the way she never backed down from a challenge. She was my anchor, the one thing that kept me holding on to reality, even when the darkness threatened to pull me under.

I couldn’t fail her. Not now. Not ever.

Slowly, painfully, I forced myself back to my feet. The darkness was still there, lurking just beneath the surface, but I managed to shove it back—at least for now. My hands shook as I mounted the horse again, my knuckles white from gripping the reins too tightly. I couldn’t afford to lose control, not when I was so close.

The wind picked up as I rode toward the Air Kingdom, the sky above churning with dark clouds. I focused on the amulet’s faint glow, using it as a guide, a lifeline to keep me moving forward. Each mile was a battle against the shadows clawing at my mind, but I refused to give in. I couldn’t. Meara was counting on me, and I would burn the entire kingdom down if that’s what it took to bring her back.

As I approached the outskirts of the Air Kingdom, I pulled the horse to a stop at the edge of one of the larger mountains, taking in the sight of the bustling city before me. The market was alive with vendors and airships, people moving through the streets with a hurried energy that mirrored my own. But I had no time to waste. I needed answers.

The amulet’s glow pointed me toward the forest at the far end of the island, a place long abandoned and forgotten. As I made my way through the crumbling arches, the darkness within me pulsed, a constant reminder of the battle I was fighting. It was getting harder to keep it contained, the beast inside me restless and furious.

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