Crown of Feathers by Nicki Pau Preto

Author:Nicki Pau Preto
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Simon Pulse

Surely my dear, sweet Onia knew I’d never bow my head.

- CHAPTER 23 -

TRISTAN

TRISTAN BRACED HIMSELF AS Rex hurtled toward the ground.

Any second his bondmate would ignite, and Tristan knew that everything depended on what happened next.

He had barely a breath to prepare himself, to reinforce the safe house in his mind, as Nyk had taught him. He’d been practicing for days, and the walls were already there, his fear ensconced within.

But that wasn’t enough. Tristan had to fill every gap and crack, ensuring his terror had no way of surfacing.

In some ways his fear was a luxury, just as his father’s favorite quote had always maintained—an indulgence he turned to in moments of weakness. But putting it in the safe house made it unreachable, protecting him from himself.

It was sort of like separating thought from emotion. . . . His rational mind knew that Rex’s fire was no danger to him, but his emotions allowed the fear to take root, to overpower his logical thoughts and turn him into a mess of nerves and anxiety and hesitation.

Tristan knew he did not like fire, and that was okay—by locking his fear up, he took control over it. In time maybe he could eliminate it completely.

But for now he would do whatever it took to get through the exercise. He clamped tight on the wall in his mind and waited.

With a searing flap of his wings, Rex burst into flame.

Tristan marveled at the way Rex exalted in his fire, able to appreciate the feelings that rippled through the bond for the first time. Fire was sacred to a phoenix, a part of their very existence. . . . Fire was life and death and power and magic, and all of it barreled through Rex, crackling in his veins as he landed before Tristan, singeing the grass at his feet.

Tristan remained perfectly upright in his saddle, his mind calm. His fear was nowhere in sight.

Exhilarated, he checked in with the other animals, noting their fear and hesitation but keeping them steady and under control—until a surge of energy drew his attention to the paddock.

The horses inside jumped and tossed their heads—as they had each time a phoenix ignited—but somehow the latch had come undone, and horses were streaming from the gate.

Several of the stableboys tried to stop them, but Tristan could swear that Nyk was only pretending to join in, reaching a hand half-heartedly as the animals barreled past.

Ah. So, this was his reckless plan. Why had Tristan blindly agreed to this? With a calm he didn’t know he possessed, Tristan pushed a slow, even breath out through his lips.

One . . . two . . . three horses were freed before Jana closed the gate, and even as Tristan told himself not to panic, that he could handle a few extra horses, he noticed the half a dozen hounds that had snuck out with them.

He was going to kill Nyk.

Everyone was looking around at one another, trying to decide what to do.

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