The light burns white and spreads from his hand, jutting up from the grassy circle. I hear gasps of surprise as the whole ring lights up. My body braces for an attack, my hand gripped around the hilt of my sword.
Out of the corner of my eye, I see Argo launch into the air, flying toward us in a panic. A roar tumbles out of his throat just as he crosses into the illuminated ring.
Then the world dissolves in fracturing light.
I suck in a breath as something seems to lash out and grab hold of me. It wraps around me with invisible, spindly fingers that have no true touch and yet keep me hostage anyway.
Nausea roils through me, and my panic makes me break out into a cold sweat. I try to call out to the others, but I can’t breathe. I feel like I’m being squeezed. Like I’m tipping over an edge.
Anger rushes into me.
Thisisa fucking trick. This fae iskillingus.
I can’t take in a breath. I can’t see anything but this blinding light. We’re going to die grasped in this constricting magic that won’t let go.
Suddenly, hard ground slams against my side as I land, no more bodiless fingers squeezing, and I’m able to yank in a breath.
We all topple over each other, just a tangle of limbs, and my eyes swing around.
Then, I hear ascream.
CHAPTER 69
COMMANDER RYATT
I don’t even have achance to get my bearings.
At the sound of her scream, I instantly leap to my feet, head still spinning from the vertigo. My eyes find Friano, and I see that he’s somehow snatched a dagger and is swinging it down at Emonie.
My body moves so fast evenIdon’t track what I’m doing.
Pure wrath has taken over.
Just before the blade can plunge into her, I slam into Friano’s side with all my strength and tackle him to the ground. There’s a shout as the fae and I roll. Teeth bared, I yank the dagger out of his clutches and then stabhimin the chest. His shocked face stares up at me for a second, and then his entire body goes lax.
Dead. In an instant.
I stare in shock, looking down at the blade and his unblinking eyes, breathing hard.
Shit.
I lurch around and see Osrik yanking Rissa out of the ring…just as the circle of grass withers and dies.
Everyone looks at me as I race over. “Fuck,” I whisper as I stare at the ring. Then I tear my hand through my hair, voice rising. “Fuck!”
My shout echoes, and I flinch when I hear Argo let out a growl in response.
He got through.
I spin, gaze frantic. But I see everyone. Os and Rissa, Lu, Digby, Emonie. Everyone made it here.
Here…
I take in the sights. Just ahead of us is a sheer cliff, and at the top of the flat plateau is a colorful, glittering palace looking down at us. The surrounding landscape is lavish greenery, and above us is a purple sky.
“Is this…” Lu begins shakily.
Emonie nods with a relieved smile through swollen and split lips. “Annwyn.”
