The witch whispered words of a spell. “Bone to wing, blood to air, sword to claws, find your true form.”

Peta cried out and there was a thump of pure power that sent out ripples through the air. I blinked, the injury was gone. Had they healed me? Yes, that much was true.

I was seeing the world from a different view, and I struggled to understand. My vision was sharper, clearer, no longer fuzzed with pain. I stretched my arms out . . . not arms. Wings, covered in tawny brown and gold feathers.

I opened my mouth and nothing but a high-pitched screech came out. I clamped my mouth shut with a click.

Beak. Wings. I flexed muscles I didn’t know I had, digging my talons into the ground below me.

“What have you done?” Peta cried out. Raven put a hand on her head as she made a move to bite into his thigh.

“You will forget all this. Ash is missing, Peta. He was banished and visits the Rim here and there. You will believe this. You must go now, before Talan finds you. You must be there for Lark when she comes from her banishment.”

Her green eyes clouded with sadness and she whispered, “Ash is missing.”

My heart sank. There was no real power against Spirit.

He sent her away with another word and I watched in despair as she left me there on the mountain. Yet . . . she was safe. In his own way, he’d saved her. I twisted my head around to stare at Raven, and let out a screech.

The witch stood and wiped her hands on her cloak. “That is powerful magic you have, Raven. Together we could be unstoppable.”

He winked at her. “Perhaps.”

Norm howled to the moon and Raven went to him next. “Take your people and move to the Eyrie. The Sylphs await you.”

Norm shook his head. “You turned my friend into a bird. That is not a nice prank.”

Raven startled. “So, you cannot be influenced? Norm, you must trust me. You will be safe with the Sylphs. Your family will be safe.”

“What about my friend?”

Raven glanced at me. “He will be safe for now. He is doing what he came to do. He’s saving those he loves.”

The Yeti let out a sigh. “Okay, but I don’t like it.”

We watched as Norm gathered the few remaining Yeti and left the rest to burn.

Raven shook his head, speaking as though Norm had never interrupted him. “I cannot explain it all to you, Ash. But . . . Peta needs to be there for Lark when she finally is free. Needs to be. That cat has as much a role in our world being saved as you and I do, but Talan is blind to that.” He held out a wrist to me and I launched into the air from the ground, my wings beating desperately.

If I could get far enough away, I could find someone to undo this curse on my body. I was no shifter, I was not meant to be . . . whatever it was he’d turned me into. I climbed into the low-hanging clouds before it felt as though a chain tightened around my neck. I fought the pull, fought the bonds dragging me to earth once more.

I fell as if I were a stone, my wings suddenly buckling under the pressure. This was not happening.

I was in hell.

Two big furry hands caught me, softening the blow. “I got you, friend. Here, you stay with Raven,” Norm said. I trembled as he handed me back to the elemental who’d done this to me. Unable to speak, unable to break free, I didn’t know what to do.

Where to go.

“I know this is confusing.” Raven bent over his mother and ran a hand over her skin. Her wounds healed, though she didn’t move. “I have to go, Ash. I leave you in her care.”

I struggled then, thinking he had to be kidding. This had to be . . . a prank.

Raven shrugged. “You don’t have a choice. You will go with Cassava. I will take Lark to her when she is ready.”

When who was ready? Cassava?

Or Lark?

Was this some sort of test, or was I just part of an elaborate scheme to place Lark where they wanted her? That thought rolled through my head and I realized that it was true. That all of this, from the moment I’d stepped foot into the king’s throne room and demanded that he set Lark free from her banishment, to my journey through the mountains, to the separation of Peta and me . . . it was all an elaborate setup.

Raven put a hand over my clawed feet and pulled me upright, then set me on his shoulder. As if I were his pet. I wanted to peck his eyes out, claw his face and . . . I could do none of that. Whatever bond he’d put on me held me still. He didn’t speak another word to me. Instead, he and his witch, Cassandra, discussed the possibility of merging their powers. How they could bend the elements to them, how they could accomplish great deeds.

I bowed my head, finally accepting the truth. He’d bested me.

The hours passed. Cassava rose and asked about me. Not Ash, but the bird. Raven said he wanted to give her a way to communicate with him, and handed me over to her.

She cooed softly to me and stroked a hand down my back. “Beautiful. Golden eagles have always been a favorite of mine, Raven. How did you know?”

“I took a guess.” He sounded tired, and I looked over my shoulder at him. He shook his head.

“You are not the only one bound. Remember that when the time comes.” He turned and walked away, his footsteps echoing into the darkness.

“Now,” Cassava bent and picked up the chakram from the ground. “Where shall we go, pet? Somewhere warm, I think. You know, Raven thinks I don’t see you for who you are. I find that amusing. My son has underestimated me again. I know you, Ash. And I think I will like you like this.”