The wind roared past Zarah's face as Lord Burrhen's massive wings carried them higher, slicing through the clouds like a blade through silk.
The sky above stretched endlessly, an ocean of dark clouds, while below, the world unfurled in a vast sprawl of dunes, storms, and shimmering rivers.
"What the heck…" she screamed, spreading her arms wide. "FLYING IS SO FUCKING COOL!"
Sett laughed.
Zainah was no better, looking down at the dunes below with her heart beating ten times the usual speed. Her heart raced, not just from the thrill of it all, but from something deeper—something unfamiliar. The rush of the wind, the dizzying height, the impossible freedom… It made her feel light. Giddy.
Happy.
And that scared her.
Happiness had been a stranger for so long. The feeling had become alien. It felt like a fragile thing, something that could slip through her fingers if she held it too tightly.
