This is my chance to flee—but also the perfect distraction.
Condensing some of the water in the air, I create a cloud of mist, and hope I’m not fumbling my one chance to escape.
AZUR
Ihave her. I got her brother and Marlak too, except that the murderous prince is slipping from my grasp.
One more second here in this castle, and I fear my magic will weaken, fear the Witch King will find me. Meaning he will findus.Worse, findher. I have only one choice.
Right when I sense some other force about to pull me, I transcend us back to the river by the island. My head and upper body emerge from the water and soon I see Lidiane’s heademerging as well, her smile grateful, but her eyes stained with a pinch of worry.
“That was reckless, Azur.”
The nerve. “Yes, incredibly reckless to go to the castle controlled by Zorwal. I warned you it was dangerous.”
Her brother emerges from the water as well, and climbs to the rocks, while she swims in my direction and says, “Transcending, I mean. We could all have ended up?—”
“I know. The decision tore me apart. But it was that or letting Zorwal kill you. And it worked.”
Her smile is sincere now. “It did.”
I don’t know why there’s something so intimate about swimming, why seeing her wet does something to me, why I want to bring her close to me and wrap my arms around her. But I can’t. I shouldn’t even be transcending anyone. The look she gives me has so much yearning and affection that it feels like another dagger tearing through my chest.
I turn away from her and get to the rocks, my breath unsteady, my thoughts torpid.
Lidiane climbs out of the water after me, then asks, “Where’s Marlak?”
The question was coming.
The condemnation is going to follow, I know it.
Astra and the human prince stand by the shore. Renel too, whom I freed from the stupid, childish shackles his brother subjected him to.
His brother, who’s not here. And then there’s Lidiane and Ferer, all staring at me with eyes both curious and mistrustful.
“He slipped,” I blurt.
Lidiane frowns at me, reproach clear in her features.
“It’s the truth,” I insist, looking at Lidiane. “When I transcend people without holding their hands, I use magic to bring them with me, toholdthem, let’s say. But I couldn’t holdhim, and if I kept trying, you could have gotten hurt or all of us would have been taken to the Witch King’s cave.” I turn to the others. “He slipped, even though my intention was to bring him.”
Astra’s eyebrows are pinched in thought. “What happened?”
I cross my arms, my drenched gloves chilling my chest. “I sensed something wrong with Lidiane and saved her. It’s what happened. I tried to save her companions, but I failed.”
“Zorwal,” Lidiane explains. “He found us.”
Astra’s eyes widen and her lip trembles. “So he has Marlak?”
“Not necessarily.” I shrug. It wasn’t meant to be a dismissive shrug, but I guess it came out like that.
Lidiane glares at me. “What do you suppose? That Zorwal must have become a nice fae all of a sudden and decided to let him go?”
“I can’t see Marlak,” I say. “I don’t know what’s happening. He could be fighting, escaping. Who knows?”
Astra reaches out a hand to me. “Ican find him. Please. Give me a drop of your blood.”
That’s a witless idea. “No. Do you want to become a bloodpuppet like me?”
