Chapter 13 · Black Wings, Bad Timing

"Don't you fucking move those things," Lyra hissed. The tip of her dagger was already kissing my throat.

I froze. Half-crouched in the dirt, with two massive black wings splayed out behind me like I was some knocked-over statue.

"I wasn't moving them," I said. "They're moving on their own."

"Well tell them to stop." Her knee hit my chest and shoved me back against the rock. "You just lit us up like a beacon. Every tracker in the Abyss saw that light. And now you want to stretch?"

"I didn't ask for wings!" The left one twitched and scraped the cave wall. Dust rained down. "They just — popped out. After I ate those eyes."

"Great. Fantastic. So you're welcome?" She pressed harder. Her eyes were locked on the feathers. Or whatever they were. Not feathers. Not really. More like shadow made solid, edged with this faint purple light. "You look like a target. A big, stupid, can't-miss target."

"Thanks for the pep talk."

"I'm serious, Kaelen." Her voice dropped. Cold. "Try to fly with those and you die. You hear me? You can't fly. You just glow."

I gritted my teeth.