Her Reckoning(shadow series)

Chapter 12

Early the next morning, before the sun had fully risen and before anyone else stirred for school, I made my way two hours into the woods. The dense trees loomed around me as I walked, careful to avoid the patrols I knew would be making their rounds farther east. Once I reached a secluded spot, far from Thornridge's watchful eyes, I quickly released Monstuta from his ink form. The familiar sting of the transformation briefly made my skin burn, but soon enough, he was free.

I climbed onto his back, feeling the ripple of power beneath me as his muscles tensed. Without hesitation, Monstuta launched into the sky. The wind rushed past, and my heart soared with him. He wasn't in any hurry to get me back home, and I was more than fine with that. As we flew higher and farther out of range from Thornridge's scouts, the world below seemed to disappear, replaced by endless skies. The ride on Leader Dan's Marwari tiger had been exhilarating, but this... flying felt different. It was like I was part of the wind, like I was meant to be here.

The sky was still a deep shade of blue, stars faintly twinkling overhead as Valencia sat perched on Monstuta's back, feeling the gentle rise and fall of his breath beneath her. The cool morning air brushed against her skin, carrying with it the scent of pine and damp earth. They had flown far beyond the boundaries of Thornridge, soaring over the endless stretch of woods, but now they hovered in a small clearing.

Monstuta circled lazily in the sky, allowing her to savor the sensation of weightlessness. Up here, it felt like the world fell away. No expectations, no secrets, no judgment—just her and him. The sky was their own, vast and endless, and for a moment, Valencia felt like she was in control of something in her life.

"Monstuta," she murmured softly, running her fingers over the smooth, ink-like scales at the back of his neck. "This feels... right. It feels like home."

His deep, rumbling growl resonated through their bond, a quiet acknowledgment of her words. He didn't speak often, but when he did, his emotions were clear—protective, fierce, and somehow understanding in ways that no one else in her life was.

They drifted lower, the tops of the trees brushing against Monstuta's talons. He extended his wings wide, catching the morning breeze as the first rays of sunlight began to pierce through the canopy. Valencia leaned forward, pressing her cheek against his warm, scaled skin, feeling the rhythmic thrum of his heart beneath her.

"It's strange," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "How you're always there. Like you've been with me all along, even when I didn't know."

Monstuta's golden eyes glowed in the dim light, and though he didn't respond verbally, she felt a rush of warmth in their connection—a deep, ancient comfort that wrapped around her like a protective cloak.

He lowered himself gently to the forest floor, allowing her to slide off his back and land softly on the ground. Valencia took a few steps away, turning to face him fully. He stood tall, his muscular frame silhouetted against the rising sun, looking every bit the fearsome creature he was, yet somehow familiar—almost like a part of her.

Without a word, Monstuta leaned his head down, nudging her shoulder gently with his massive snout. The gesture was unexpected, and for a second, Valencia stood frozen, surprised by the tenderness. She reached up and rested her hand on his face, feeling the smooth warmth of his scales beneath her palm.

"I don't know what I'd do without you," she admitted softly, her voice catching. "You're the only one who's ever made me feel... not alone."

Monstuta made a low, rumbling sound deep in his chest, and Valencia could feel his agreement resonate through their bond. His wings shifted, wrapping around them both like a protective cocoon. In that quiet moment, as the forest began to stir with the sounds of the waking day, Valencia realized that no matter what came next—no matter the danger or the uncertainty—she wasn't truly alone. Not anymore.

They stood like that for a while, Valencia's hand on his snout, and his wings sheltering her from the world. It was a rare moment of peace, a fleeting reminder that despite everything—despite her bloodline, despite the chaos that waited for her back in Thornridge—there was still this. Still him.

As the morning sky brightened, Valencia reluctantly broke the silence. "We should head back," she said softly, though part of her wished they could stay here forever. "I've got to get to school, and you know how the scouts are if they find me missing."

Monstuta huffed, his golden eyes narrowing slightly as if he found the whole concept of school absurd. But he gave a small, almost imperceptible nod before lowering himself again for her to climb on.

With one last look around the peaceful clearing, Valencia swung herself onto Monstuta's back. As they ascended into the sky once more, she felt lighter somehow. More connected. And for the first time in a long while, a small smile tugged at her lips.

We soared over the familiar woods of Thornridge, the towering trees passing below us in a blur of green and brown. As we flew closer to the ceremonial clearing, the scene from last night came into focus. Scouts and trackers were scattered across the ground, examining the area, trying to make sense of what had happened. I felt a twinge of unease watching them. They were still investigating, and it wouldn't take much for them to connect the dots.

"Monstuta, fly above the clouds. We can't risk being seen," I commanded through the mind link we shared, hoping he would listen this time.

But of course, he did the exact opposite, dipping lower instead. My stomach churned with frustration as we hovered dangerously close to the treetops. "This is not the time for you to be hardheaded. I said, fly up!" I urged him more firmly, knowing full well that even from up here, the Riders could pick up on any noise. Our hearing wasn't as sharp as vampires', but it was close enough. One misstep, and they'd hear the quiet, rhythmic beats of his wings. It was a good thing none of the riders had their syncs in physical form. they for sure wouldve hard us.

Finally, Monstuta relented and rose higher, disappearing into the thick clouds. Up here, the air was thin, and I found it harder to breathe, but I didn't dare complain. It was better than being spotted.

We flew until we were just on the outskirts of town, as close as he could get without drawing attention. But landing was another problem. Monstuta's massive wings struggled to navigate the dense woods below us. The trees were too tightly packed, their branches too close together for him to land smoothly.

"Get as close as you can to the treetops," I suggested, "I'll climb down the rest of the way."

He hesitated for a brief moment, his golden eyes flickering with concern, before lowering himself toward the shortest tree he could find. Even then, it was still a good thirty feet down to the ground.

"I'm always hanging from somewhere high," I muttered under my breath as I slid off Monstuta's broad back and onto his massive talons. My hands barely wrapped around his sharp claws, and if I wasn't dangling precariously in midair, I'd have taken a moment to admire how powerful they were.

"Be careful," he growled, his deep voice vibrating through our bond. Despite his usual stoicism, I could sense his concern. It was strange, almost tender in a way, but I didn't dwell on it.

I swung my legs, trying to catch hold of a nearby branch, but it was harder than I expected. Every beat of Monstuta's wings sent gusts of wind whipping through the trees, causing the branches to sway just out of reach.

With a grunt, I managed to hook my foot onto a branch, steadying myself as I slowly released my grip from his talons. I let myself drop, catching the tree trunk with my hands and sliding down until my feet touched solid ground.

I let out a breath I hadn't realized I was holding. "Thanks," I muttered up toward Monstuta, who was still hovering above. He gave a soft growl in response before turning into that black misty form as he took place onto my skill.

Now, I just had to make it to school without getting caught