Crone’s head jolts up to glare at him, but he ignores her, striding toward us—quickly at first and then slowing down, eyeing Roman with caution. When Roman doesn’t immediately lash out, Koda kneels on the other side of Esta.
“I’ll take her to our mother,” he says, but he doesn’t make a move to reach for Esta until Roman gives him a firm nod.
Koda’s actions are surprisingly gentle as he gathers Esta’s body into his arms. Unlike me, his stature and uninjured state allow him to cradle her against his chest in a more dignified way. Her head falls back as her sightless eyes stare toward the ceiling. Every part of me wants to look away, to try to erase the last images I have of her from my mind, but I can’t. She deserves better than to be ignored and forgotten.
Given the chance, I might have even liked her, but thanks to Crone and Arga, that will never be.
I refuse to give them one more opportunity to take anything from me.
While Koda carries Esta away, I rise to my feet. Every bone and muscle in my body hurts, from my knuckles where I busted them against Arga’s body to my shoulders to my chest to my jaw… Everywhere I took a hit.
I take a few shaky steps forward, praying like hell that my legs keep me steady. I refuse to fall in front of Crone. Roman’s arms move, but all it takes is a glance from me, and he doesn’t make a move to help me. Just like Koda stumbling away from the cage fight, I have to walk away from this trial on my own. At least until I’m out of Crone’s sight.
“I’m coming for you, Crone,” I whisper in a harsh breath when we reach her at the door.
She lets out a laugh. “The final fight will be tomorrow night at dusk. You, Koda, and Arga—all three of you will fight in the arena. I look forward to hearing your screams before you die.” She leans forward, spitting as she speaks. “You’ll never be the daughter Jareth wanted.”
There’s no doubt in my mind that Crone didn’t expect me to survive this long. The fact that I have—particularly to live through Arga’s attack just now—must be worrying her. In fact, a small part of her glower could be fueled by fear, and I want her anxiety to fester.
I lower my voice, so quiet that she has to crane to hear me. “No matter what happens to me, Crone, I’ll make sure your worst nightmares come true.” I give her a cold smile, allowing my nightmare power to float around my torso, my eyes burning with violet light. “Even if I have to haunt you from my grave.”
I don’t yet know how to make this woman hurt, but I need her to believe that I will because I’ve come to understand how fear truly works. A small sliver of fear left to worsen can soon turn into a true nightmare. Crone has to face the possibility that I might win the next trial, and if that happens, her time here is done.
“In fact…” My lips form a smile, even if my stare is flat and hard. “Why don’t we see what your fears tell me? Right now.”
My hand darts toward her neck, ready to grab her, prepared for the bite of the dark energy that constitutes the rest of her body.
With a shriek, she leaps back from me. Her power rushes around her, tugging her clothing inward, folding in like paper, and then… she’s gone.
The air settles around us.
Roman remains silent at my side, but I feel his rage like a living entity, beating at both of us. My outstretched hand shakes, and this time, I allow him to take it. Slowly leaning in to his side, I permit him to support my screaming muscles and accept his help to walk to the elevators.
The entry hall is silent and eerie, the walls cracked, the soldiers gone, only a single weak light flickering above us. I cast a wonky smile up at Roman. “You scared them all away, huh?”
His response is a deep rumble, harsh and cold. “I made them remember why they fear me.” His expression becomes distant. “There isn’t a single demon in this building now—other than Carys and Koda.”
I close my eyes against Roman’s chest, relaxing a little to know that we’re nearly alone, but I tense again as I realize it’s time to face my own fears.
“I need to get my wolves and go to the prison, free my sisters, and find a safe place for them until the final fight. I need to know they have the chance to escape as soon as the gates open. No matter what happens to me.”
I sense Roman’s black eyes burning through me, but my neck hurts too much to tip my head back. He gently wraps an arm around me and pulls me closer against his chest. Warmth spreads across my back and down my arms and legs as a pink glow grows around his hands. A rune eases across my body, the edges of the writing expanding and floating over my skin. A light sheen of moisture comes to rest on my face, like the thinnest layer of healing material that he wrapped me up in after I’d been injured in the Forbidden Lands.
Finally, I can lift my head to see him clearly, realizing just how foggy and pain-filled my vision was until now. Arga has a mean right hook.
“I want to wrap you up in a healing cocoon and take you home,” Roman says, the lowest rumble.
Home.
I tell myself I’ll see his cabin again. That tomorrow won’t be my end.
“But this is the best I can do to ease your pain right now,” he continues before he presses his lips to mine while pushing the button for the upper level.
Taking this moment, I give in to his kiss.
Roman tastes like life and love and… well, right now…pure unadulterated fury, and I drink all of it in.
Every passing second brings me closer to the final elimination.
