Trystan cuts off Vothe’s words with another storming kiss, fire and lightning exploding through them both as Vothe surrenders himself to beautiful, intoxicating Trystan Gardner.

The air around them splits with an ear-shattering boom.

Vothe flinches against Trystan and they break the kiss, shock racing through Vothe in response to the image he’s met with over Trystan’s shoulder. Trystan’s head whips around to witness what Vothe has already gained a full, horrifying view of.

The side of the Vo Mountains has exploded outward, leaving a huge, linear gash, a line of impossibly huge, gray-glowing runes marking its top, the mountain’s peak still intact. A flood of black smoke is pouring from the gash like a demonic tide, foggy gray mist rising from its maw toward the purple-mooned sky.

They grip tighter hold of each other as cries rise from the city and the shadowy tide rapidly inks down the mountain range, rushing toward the Vo River. Vu Trin alarm horns blare and dragons launch from the distant Wyvernguard, rune ships fleeing toward Voloi as the moon’s edge tints a dull, ashen gray.

Vothe exchanges a horror-filled glance with Trystan.

“He’s here,” Trystan says, his voice full of a terrible certainty. “Vogel is here.”

Vothe throws off his tunic, lightning flashing in his vision and over his skin as he sends his horns spiraling up from his head and his wings spring free from his back. He meets Trystan’s gaze, his power crackling with controlled ferocity. “I’m Changing,” he says, his Wyvern tail lashing behind him.

“Good,” Trystan replies as he unsheathes his wand. “Because we’re going to fly to our battalion, link our power to the Vu Trin and drive the godsforsaken Mages from our lands.”

CHAPTER TWO

IMPENDING DEATH

Tierney Calix

Xishlon night, twenty-second hour

An earsplitting explosion blasts from the mountains above. Tierney ducks toward the forest stream’s bank as Viger launches his dark form at her.

His hard body collides with hers, forcing her sideways to the forest floor just as a huge piece of the mountain crashes through the trees and lands with a concussive thud where she was standing, smaller pieces of mountain raining down.

Viger’s smooth forehead presses against Tierney’s, his strong hands holding tight to her arms, his chest rising and falling against hers as she clutches him, as well. She can feel his sharp claws biting through her tunic’s fabric.

Get hold of yourself, Tierney urges herself, her flash of panic reverberating. Wresting the fear aside, she forces herself up as Viger rolls off, alarm horns blaring from the direction of the runic border. Cautiously, they both rise to their feet.

“How did you know where we’d be safe?” Tierney asks, stunned and breathless as she eyes the huge pieces of stone cratered into the forest floor.

Viger’s black eyes glint in the debris-ashed light. “I can sense impending death.”