The rich yellow of the Tottori sand dunes whipped by beneath them, casting shadows in the setting sun. It wasn’t fast enough for Azura.
“How is Takeo?” she shouted to Lyra, the wind stealing the sound away.
“I don’t know,” Lyra replied. “I haven’t been able to contact Bako in a few hours.”
Azura’s heart twisted in her chest with pain so great it caused her to gasp for air. “Is he…” she couldn’t bring herself to say the word.
“I do not know,” Lyra said.
She squeezed her eyes shut, urging Tamae with her heels. She knew it was useless. The koumori was already flying as fast as she could. It was in the hands of the gods now.
The hours crept by as Azura’s mind played in an endless loop. Takeo will be fine. He’s strong. And smart. He’ll be fine. He was fine. Unless he wasn’t. Maybe he was already dead. She was too late. She failed him. What was the point of it all? Their meeting, their love? Surely Tsuki and Taiyo weren’t so cruel. They were fated to be together. Takeo would be fine.
In the middle of one of the endless iterations, Lyra stirred before her. Her head, which had been burrowed into Azura’s body as a shelter from the wind, popped up, the white tufts of her ears pricking.
“We passed them,” she said.
“You’re sure?”
“Yes,” Lyra said with excitement. “Just now. Turn around.”
Azura didn’t need additional prodding. She turned Tamae around so fast the koumori nearly stopped in mid-air.
“How do you know?” Azura asked as they descended.
“I felt Bako through our seishen connection,” Lyra said. “We were to the east of them, and then all of a sudden they were to the east of us. I think we need to head north, as well.”
“We’re pretty far into the desert here,” Azura said, trying to gauge how long they had been flying by the angle of the moon rising in the sky. “We are probably closer to Kita.”
“So find them and head to Kita?” Lyra asked.
“Yes,” Azura said. “I think its safer for us there. And I’m less likely to be recognized.”
They soared over the undulating waves of sand, searching for two dark forms against the dark sand dunes. She ground her teeth in frustration.
“Where is he?” she half hissed, half moaned.
And then Azura spotted something below, dully reflecting the light of the stars. She had found them. Almost before she registered her excitement, she was shouting “Da” at Tamae, instructing her to descend.
As soon as Tamae touched down on the cool sand, Lyra sprung off her lap and Azura was half jumping, half tumbling down Tamae’s flank. She struggled down the slope and fell to the ground next to Takeo, who lay still in the shadow of a grouping of boulders. She shook him. He didn’t open his eyes. Bako lay next to him, unmoving.
Takeo’s skin was sunburned and his lips were flaking. He lay pale and cold. She pulled moonlight into herself, desperately delving into his body for signs of life. His spirit was still and quiet, but the spark of life was there.
“He’s alive,” she said, relief flooding through her.
She pulled her pack off her back and ripped it open, pulling one of the flasks of water out. She dribbled some of the sweet liquid on his lips, trying to tilt his head back.
He didn’t respond. Her medical training took over, shoving her fear aside with its calm competence. She pulled a shirt from her pack and doused it in water, laying the cool fabric over his forehead. She felt his pulse, weak and erratic.
She put the water flask back to his mouth, letting a few more drops fall into his mouth.
“Come on, Takeo,” she said. Don’t let me get this close only to lose him, she prayed.
But then he coughed and stirred, parting his lips. She dribbled more water into his mouth with giddy excitement.
He didn’t speak for a long time. Then finally, he opened his eyes and gazed into hers.
“What…a good dream,” he said, with a crooked smile.
“It’s not a dream,” she said, a grin splitting her face. It wasn’t a dream. She had made it. He was alive. And they were together.
It was as if the whole world lay open before her for the first time, a vibrant canvas of possibility.
He lifted a hand and stroked his rough dirty fingers down the side of her face. She relished his touch, drinking it in. “My moon,” he said.
“My sun,” she said, the silly grin still on her face. “We did it.”
Thanks so much for reading Burning Fate! I would be truly grateful if you leave an honest reader review on whatever platform you use to read books! Reviews are an author’s best friend.
Burning Fate is a prequel to Moonburner, which picks up years after Azura and Takeo make their escape from Kyuden…
Keep reading for a Sneak Peek of Moonburner