The Traitor A. Lombardo (best thriller novels to read TXT) 📖

No, this was something he needed to do himself—but for once, he would ask for help. There was no weakness in admitting that he could not do this alone, no shame in admitting he was wrong.

He turned to face Kendra and Sabastian. “I need your help. If I am to save Rayna, I need to reach the ship before dawn. The storm is subsiding, and the clouds are fading. Will you carry me over Baden Lake and drop me in the water near the ship?” His voice sounded distant to his ears, and he felt outside himself.

Kendra nodded. “I am out of practice carrying people; there is no way I am strong enough. I think Sabastian is your best choice. While you save Rayna, and I will begin to search for Iver. I will start with Thade Mountain and the surrounding farms until Sabastian returns.”

“Thank you both for believing in me and helping me correct this mistake.” He looked between Kendra and Sabastian, and then he confessed, “I have no idea how to ride an eagle.”

“You have the easy part,” Sabastian said. “Lay against my back and maintain your balance. But I am more concerned about the distance you need to go. I cannot carry you the entire way. Eagles typically fly a little over one hundred miles in one go—a Katori eagle, double that. Alone, at top speed, I can make it across in about four hours, but with your added weight, I must rest before returning.” Sabastian shook his head. “I am no dragon; I can only carry you so far and still make it back to shore.”

Baden Lake was massive, he knew that firsthand, but he had not considered the limitations of an eagle against his dragon. Flying across the lake to rescue Rayna and escape would not be possible for an eagle Beastmaster. “Understood,” Kai responded.  “If you can get me close, I will do the rest. Take me as far as you can before you need to turn back.”

Sabastian raised an eyebrow. “Should I be concerned? You cannot use your dragon. Do you plan to swim the rest of the way?”

Kai shook his head. “I can become other animals. The eagle design and other birds of flight elude me, but water and land creatures feel very natural.” Given they had little time to argue, he was thankful they did not push because he had no idea what he would do once he fell into the water.

A brilliant white light seeped through Sabastian’s fingers as he drew on the magic within his stone. Kai watched with amazement as feathers erupted over his friend’s changing form. The speed of the transformation was quick, but Kai’s Katori Beastmaster eyes noticed the ripple of change, and for the first time, his senses felt the subtle draw of power raise the hair on his neck.

“Time to go.” Kendra wrapped an arm around his shoulder and squeezed. “We will see you in two days; I promise we will find a way out of this. Do not give up hope.”

He nodded and stepped up behind Sabastian. Excited and nervous, he took hold of the wings close to the eagle’s head. As Sabastian fell forward over the edge, treetops rushed by. Soring down the mountainside under other circumstances would be exhilarating—this was not. Kai did his best to stay centered as he clung to Sabastian’s eagle. He knew the risks his size posed. Sabastian’s eagle was only a foot taller than Kai and not much wider. There was little room for error if Kai shifted in flight.

Focused on remaining calm, he thought of a creature, a construct which only existed in his mind, a beast born of fiction. He needed something nobody would see coming. It needed to be dark, it needed to be swift, and it needed to be strong. With no such animal to emulate, he risked being lost in a new creation.

Ryker once reminded him about the first dragons, and how dangerous it was to create a novel beast from nothing but one’s imagination. His snow wolf was not original, not really—it was more a blend of Smoke and Anjo. The experience remained fresh in his mind, along with the memory of nearly getting lost in the attempt.

Of all the creatures Kai knew, the dragon was the strongest, the snake was the fastest, and black was the color of night. To go unseen, he would need to blend them into something new. As they flew over the lake, Kai started to sense the flow of magic. He would need power if he hoped to transform, but he did not want to take anything friend required. The wind flowed into Sabastian, restoring him and prolonging his ability to carry a passenger. Collecting moonlight, he pushed his strength into the eagle’s wings and felt them lift higher.

Kai, you will need all the magic you can collect for yourself, he heard Sabastian speak to his mind.

His friend did not know how right he was. As they continued, he took magic from the moon and the clouds and the star-filled sky; from the depths of the lake, he drew power. His skin began to tingle with anticipation, and his mind detailed the creature he needed. Power flowed freely, and Kai felt it build faster than he ever remembered before.

Wind-driven waves reached for him in the night; the tiny mist of water told him they were flying lower. Sabastian was getting tired from the hours of flight. They had flown a great distance, and with each beat of his wings, they flew a little lower. His friend had reached his limit. With no land or ships in sight, Kai said goodbye.

Thank you, Sabastian, Kai thought with his mind. You can let me go alone from here.

Good luck, Kai, he heard back just before Sabastian rolled over midflight.

Baden Lake swallowed Kai whole. Her bitterly cold waves greeted