The Onyx Vial (Shadows of The Nine Book 1) Read Online Free PDF

fifth in command. It certainly hadn't taken long for his father to maneuver against him.
    He watched Magnus patrol the far side of the barn, then shifted his focus to the winged horse—the garnet-red Stoalvenger his father had gifted him at the start of his training—tethered to a pole in the center of the barn floor.
    “Fenix,” he breathed, heat rising to his skin.
    The Stoalvenger pressed her black wings against her body, turning her sharp, angular face to meet Killian's gaze with fierce, scarlet eyes. She was bait.
    Flames kindled in his palms. He itched to loose them. Instead, he curled his hands into fists and snuffed them out. Lighting the barn on fire would do him no good. Here, fire scared no one. It would only signal the whereabouts of a desperate, foolish boy—which he was not.
    He steadied himself, lifting a foot and running a hand over the sole of his boot. He formed a cushion of air around it, then repeated with the other. A quick, soundless shuffle of his feet over the hay assured him they were silenced properly.
    He waited until Magnus turned his back, then snuck through the door and darted toward Fenix. He didn't bother with the knot in the thick, aging rope; just grabbed it with both hands and channeled heat into it. The over-dry cords smoldered between his palms, then pulled apart. He dropped the new ends, ashes falling through his fingers.
    An angry shout sounded behind him.
    He jerked his head up. Magnus thundered toward him, arm outstretched, palm open. Killian shook his head and launched himself onto Fenix's back, maneuvering around the wings with precision. Why did the guard even try ? “Get out of the way,” he warned.
    But Magnus advanced.
    The guard was only a stride away when Fenix reared.
    Through the pop and fizz of the fireworks, Killian heard the dull, ominous thud of a hoof striking a chest, and Magnus's sharp, high-pitched grunt.
    Then Fenix charged forward, and they were out, taking to the air.
    Killian didn't need to look back. Magnus wouldn't be alerting anyone. Not until someone found his body.
    The smell of metal, soot, and sweat clung to every stone in the compound. The raucous sounds of celebration floated up to meet the smoke that settled on the red shale rooftops. In the distance, the fireworks reached their peak, shooting skyward, erupting into brilliant shapes and patterns in quick succession. Sparks rained through the spidery clouds of smoke that hid the first shades of dawn bleeding into the edges of the sky.
    Perfect conditions for escape.

Chapter 4
     
    Ariana checked the back of her hand anxiously, hoping to see a mark. After what she'd managed to do to save Hunter, she thought for sure it would've appeared. But there wasn't so much as an itch. She frowned, shoving a branch out her way as they rounded a bend in the little path.
    “What's that chiming?” Hunter asked.
    “The bells,” Tehya answered. “The city gates will close soon, and we do not want to be stuck outside when that happens.”
    “The bells are the warning," Ariana elaborated, feeling a stir of annoyance at Tehya's easiness with Hunter.
    He twisted his lips in a thoughtful frown. “Are we far?”
    “Not terribly,” Tehya said, pointing to the tips and spires of Eastridge peeking over the treetops. “But we're taking a bit of a winding route, just in case, so we'll be cutting it close.”
    “And if we aren't satisfied with your confession we're leaving you at the gates,” Ariana warned.
    Tehya stepped closer to Ariana and spoke softly so Hunter couldn't hear. "If a Mustang can trust him, why can't you? Have a little faith."
    Ariana pinched her lips together and exhaled through her nose before she responded, her voice low. "He's a liar, Tehya. It's dangerous to trust a liar."
    " You lie all the time."
    "Only when it's necessary. I'm Tieren. I have to."
    "But so is he."
    "There's more to it than that, Tehya, I'm certain of it."
    Tehya sighed and didn't reply. T he only sound was that of leaves