Chapter 27

Evangeline

EVANGELINE’S GAZE NARROWED on the two Aerians approaching the house. They weren’t dressed in all black as she’d originally thought. They certainly weren’t dressed as guards. Their shirts were tucked into dark leather pants, and their full-length soil-colored coats flapped in the wind that had beaten away a few of their feathers—a mix of orange, white, and red dancing in the sky. They were either young or both had a birth defect, because their wings were on the smaller side. She guessed on the former.

Evangeline didn’t need to warn Xilo about their intruders when the purple-winged Aerian came from around the house, his footsteps gliding across the snow. He kept quiet, not even acknowledging Evangeline’s presence, and waved his hand at the two Aerians. They paused and marched back the way they had come, with Xilo on their trail.

Evangeline didn’t wait for an invitation. These Aerians had to be involved in how Ceven planned for her and Lani to escape.

Close to the house, a small shack stood with parts of the foundation caving in. She stepped over crumbling planks of wood resembling stalls, and the second-story loft looked sturdy enough to hold only a wicker basket. Like the building they had crawled out of after the west wing, this was an old barn house.

The two strangers flicked their wings, shaking off the snow. Vibrant orange feathers caught her eye, the tips melting into red. Similar to Petri’s, except his reminded her of when the sun was almost set, the darkness of night softening its rays, whereas these wings were akin to its initial descent. The Aerian’s friend’s, in contrast, were starkly white, but equally beautiful.

But still not as beautiful as Ceven’s, she thought with a tinge of yearning.

Evangeline slid in next to Xilo, arms folded. Partly from the cold, but mostly to appear more intimidating than she knew she looked.

“I was wondering where my coat went,” Xilo said, narrowing on the fur-lined coat that brushed past her knees. The other two Aerians pulled back their hoods, and they were younger than she’d thought. Maybe her age or even younger.

“You weren’t using it.” Her own boldness surprised her. It was getting easier talking back to Nytes, or maybe she just didn’t care anymore. Probably the latter. “What’s going on?”

The Aerian with the fiery wings grinned at her, his sloppy smile matching his messy blond hair. “A human with some spitfire, that’s a quick way to meet your end, miss.”

His friend didn’t smile, and with his black hair tied into a neat braid behind his back, he reminded her a bit of Xilo if he were decades younger. He also stood half a head taller than Sir Sunset, but Xilo still had a good hand’s-length over both. 

Young Xilo smacked his friend on the shoulder. “Pipe down, fool. This is Ceven’s girl you’re talking to.”

Xilo didn’t react, but she was starting to pick up on his subtle body language. His hand, sliding into his belt loop, was equivalent to impatience. She also thought she heard him sigh but couldn’t be sure. “Evangeline, meet Taryn,” Sir Sunset waved. “And Ed.” The other gave a half-bow.

Two more Nytes that didn’t seem to mind her humanity, or at least didn’t sneer or spit at her—or maybe, as Ed had said, it was only because she was “Ceven’s girl.”

“They’re here to help you and Lani leave the city,” Xilo said, his eyes scanning their surroundings. It made her aware of where they were—and the fact that Quan wasn’t here or a part of this conversation.

“How?” Evangeline swayed from foot to foot. It was freezing. 

Taryn thrust his hands on his hips, a cockiness that could’ve been hers, maybe, if she’d been born Aerian. “We got everything geared up. I did a fantastic job of persuading the gatekeepers to let us slip some horses and supplies through.”

Ed snorted. “You nearly gave the whole spitting plan away. If it wasn’t for me convincing them it was a trade shipment to the nearby army brigade to the north, we’d be dead human.” He shot her a look. “No offense.”

She was offended but shrugged it off. “I’ve heard worse.”

“If Ceven doesn’t return by the morrow,” Xilo said, “we will leave that night. The tunnels are already cleared out, courtesy of someone in the ranks who owed Tarry and me a favor. They will provide us cover, and when we get to the other side, Taryn and Ed will be waiting with others to take you two to a trusted friend in the mountains.”

Evangeline rolled the plan over in her head. It sounded solid, except . . . “But we still don’t have a cure for Lani. And what would happen to Ceven?”

“This friend is resourceful and has seen her fair share of the world. If anyone would be able to help Lani, it would be her. As for Ceven, either he found it more important to stay where he is, or it’s too dangerous to return here.”

Evangeline didn’t feel reassured in the slightest, not when Kel had already produced results and seemed closer to a cure than this stranger, who may never have even seen these markings. Not to mention she hated the thought of Ceven staying inside the castle. Especially now that she knew Sehn’s real identity. She had to tell Xilo, but she thought it wiser to wait until they didn’t have company. “I don’t like the idea of leaving Ceven behind.”

“You should focus on saving yourself and Lani. He’s more capable than you think.”

That wasn’t what she was worried about. It would be like her Aerian friend to take it upon himself to save others besides her. It was a worthy trait, one she admired and saw a bit of herself in. But she saved that for her friends, for people who mattered, not strangers who’d done nothing but scorn her.

You’re the kindest, most selfless person I have ever met.

She wasn’t. Everything she’d done had been to help herself.

“And Quan?” she asked.

Xilo shifted, the only sign of his unease. And that was just her guess; the man was the most closed book ever. “We will take care of him when the time comes.”

Alarm rang in her head. “You’re not going to kill him, are you?”

“I hope not; I actually like the Rathan,” Taryn informed the group. “Just a shame he’s playing for the opposite team.”

“We’re all on the same side, just currently have differences in opinions.” Ed gave her a look, almost retracting all his earlier friendliness. “Just hope a war doesn’t happen over one human girl. No offense.”

Evangeline returned the look and said, “Offense taken. Nobody’s forcing you to do this.” Actually, she didn’t know that for certain, but she wouldn’t stand there and have him accuse her of something she had no control over. It wasn’t a crime for her and Lani to want to live normal lives.

Ed frowned but said nothing.

“We’re going to discuss in further detail, if you’d like to join, but we’ve told you everything you need to know.” Xilo peered down at her. It was clear he was dismissing her, and her stubbornness wanted to stay just to prove that she could, but she was cold and tired, and Raiythlen’s words still weighed on her.

“I can take a hint.” She grimaced, then glanced at Xilo. “I also have something important to discuss with you. Later.” Xilo’s brow pinched for a moment before he nodded. With that, she turned and marched back to the much-warmer house, all the while thinking—should she follow through with Ceven and Xilo’s plan? Or take her chances with Petri and his crew?