Ryn

Chapter Eleven

A captured Ryn cannot control their fate. They are at the mercy of the whims of those who would purchase them. Let this be proof of a Ryn's strength. If they were weak to fall in battle, they may regain their glory by suffering and enduring.

This is Our Law.

~ From the Dragonling Grimoire

"I don't want to go," I said as I stubbornly clung to a rock. My heart was still racing from the whirlwind of emotions this day had brought and I didn't feel like facing imminent doom at the moment.

Dmitri was trying to pull me off by my wings. "Ignoring orders from the queen is treason. And treason is punishable by death."

"Too many people have promised to kill me anyway," I grumbled. "I don't wanna go."

Professor- no, Aleksandr approached me from the side warily, but he didn't say anything. I watched him with careful eyes, my heart twinging uncomfortably every time he moved closer. He wasn't who I ever expected to be my mate and I still wasn't sure I was comfortable with it. But it wasn't like I had a choice in the matter - fyns choose the mate, not wyks.

"Anita." Dmitri tugged on my wings again. "We have to go."

"No."

"Yes."

"No."

"Anita!"

"Dmitri."

Before we could continue bickering, Aleksandr approached me and used a single claw to slip between the scales on my neck and press on a nerve. Immediately, my entire body went lax and I collapsed. For a few moments, I was too stunned to speak or move. Dmitri took the opportunity to gently bite my neck and drag me out of claws' reach of the stone.

"I'm sorry," Aleksandr said quietly, "but Dominika really doesn't like waiting. Prolonging this will probably make it even worse."

"Fine," I grumbled, feeling my ice begin to run cold as the realization that this problem wasn't going away finally settled in. Wriggling out of Dmitri's grasp, I stretched out my wings carefully as I prepared to fly. My entire body was sore from fighting the wyverns - they didn't pose any serious challenge, but the sheer number of them had caught me off-guard. Stupid. I chided myself as I took off into the air. You should have known there was more than just four of them. When I'd seen the wyverns fighting over the carcass of the deer, a streak of meanness overtook me and I'd swooped in and stole it.

I could hear Dmitri take off after me, then Aleksandr. Their wingbeats were distinctly different - Aleksandr's movements were light and graceful while Dmitri had more practical maneuvers.

Circling back around, I flew beside Dmitri and let Aleksandr take the lead. We flew in silence for a candlemark, the peace becoming more crushing every moment before I finally broke.