Breathing became more difficult with every step we took. Gale winds that spat ashen powder at us, and an intolerant edge to the back of it that made my insides feel like they were being boiled, it quickly became clear that I wasn't the only one suffering. Lumen whined and wheezed, sniffling, but seemed to have no tears left to cry, and out of the corner of my eye, I watched Cyrus flinch every time a fresh gust smacked us in the face.

It was hard to say if fear incapacitated him, or if he was submitting to my authority as Alpha, but he didn't question me. Not about the...