Earth Bound by Avril Sabine

these exercises.” She watched as he lit a candle before joining her.
    When the first rays of morning light struggled into the room, they were still going. Brianne stared at the pain and fatigue that etched Talon’s face. “How about we try and get some sleep now?”
    “No. Not until I get these right.”
    No wonder she’d known what to say to convince him yesterday. They were far too alike. “Well maybe if you weren’t such a slow learner we’d be done by now.”
    “Show me,” he growled.
    When he did the exercise more accurately, she was barely able to hold back her grin. Yes, they were very much alike. Another couple of attempts and it was close to perfect. “Now can we get some sleep?” She waited for him to answer. When the silence dragged out and he continued to stare at her, she asked, “Well?”
    “If I get hold of some penitent robes for you, do you think you can get into the House of the Lord and Lady and find proof?”
    She didn’t hesitate. “Yes.”
    “Are you certain?”
    She’d make sure she was. “Of course I am.”
    “I’ll get robes for you during the day and when it’s dark I’ll lower you out the window. Guards never bother patrolling the back of the fortress because there’s no way into it unless you have help from inside.” He stared at her a moment longer. “You better return.”
    “Unless I’m caught I’ll return.”
    “Don’t you dare get caught.”
    Brianne looked away from his gaze. That wasn’t something she could promise. Her eyes fell on the bed. “Sleep now?” She turned back to him and when he nodded, crossed the room to drop onto the bed, keeping her boots on in case she needed to make a quick exit. She watched as he walked towards her, his wings cloaking him. How she ached to have wings. It wasn’t right that a Tersten should have them when she didn’t.
    Once he blew out the candle, Talon stopped at the edge of the bed. “What?”
    “They’re so beautiful.”
    “They’ll be my death.” He lowered himself onto the bed, lying on his stomach with his head turned towards her.
    She reached out and ran a finger across several feathers. “They’d be worth it.” With her hand resting against his wing, she closed her eyes and drifted off to sleep.

Chapter Twenty
    Talon
    Talon waited until his father left his office before he entered, having pottered around in the corridor with one of his paintings, pretending to find the perfect place to hang it. The only attention his father gave him when he strode past was a look of disgust mingled with disappointment.
    Seeing the office was empty he opened the door to the right of the entrance and stepped into the small room, lit only by a barred window, closing the door of the storage room behind him. An old desk, trunks, and several stacks of paper and books filled the barely used room. Talon headed straight for the desk, sliding open the bottom drawer, relieved to find the old key still there. He dropped it into his belt pouch, smiling slightly as he recalled the prank he and Marshall had planned for the laundry years ago. It hadn’t turned out exactly as they’d expected. They’d made a copy of the key and when they’d tried to sneak into the laundry late one night, about six years ago, someone had been in there. Running back to the fortress, they’d hidden the key in the storage room, planning to try again another night. It had never happened. Each of them had made excuses until the key was forgotten when more interesting things came along.
    About to leave the room, still holding his painting, Talon froze as he heard a sound in the office. He pressed his ear against the door. It was quiet. Should he open the door and check? He reached for the handle.
    “Are you sure this is what she looks like?”
    Talon pulled his hand away from the door at the sound of the Supreme One’s voice.
    “The soldier I had draw her likeness is a talented artist and he’s seen her a few times, Elden.”
    Talon frowned. Who else