“My money’s on Rooke staying ahead of schedule. And all of this—" He gestured to the island, to the castle walls, "—holding together through whatever ritual he’s carrying out inside.”
As if on cue, a deep boom rumbled from inside, like a heavy door slamming shut.
I kissed him once, fierce and quick, then pulled away before my resolve wavered. "We can’t let them reach the island or this is over. Let’s hope the ice is thinner than it looks, and the Grimbeasts ate all of their strongest magic-wielders. Or at least maimed them.”
Together, we started across the frozen expanse, the ice groaning beneath our feet, singing its dangerous song and that fast, my breath caught. My vision blurred—sudden and unwanted—and I was flailing in foaming, black water, ice chunks scraping my face, my backpack dragging me down into darkness?—
"Hey, look at me." Ryland's strong, muscled arm wrapped around my waist, steadying and safe. "I've got you. I won't let anything happen to you."
I forced myself to breathe, to focus on his warmth, the demand in his eyes…the love. "I know you won’t."
"Besides," he said, his tone lightening as we moved forward, "I’m looking forward to watching you go toe to toewith Gravelock. I have a feeling the pompous bastard has no idea what he’s in for."
Despite everything—the approaching army, the treacherous ice, the very real possibility that neither of us would see another sunrise—I laughed.
“You mean unlike us, who knowexactlywhat’s heading our way?”
“Yup.” His wink was like old times. “Let’s hope the bastard likes surprises.”
He bumped my shoulder, squeezed my hand and we kept walking toward that dark, thundering army.
47
ROOKE
Idove through the blood circle, fighting to reach the Thorn, Ariel’s ragged fingernails carving across my cheek like blades.
For a moment the world narrowed down to a mad scramble of desperate, clawing hands, thrown elbows and hissing breath, then Ariel was gone.
I swept the relic up in my hand, sucking in big gulps of air, cold fear washing through me as Varian hauled the girl away, her blank gaze wide, mouth open in an ugly sneer that somehow looked exactly like Gravelock’s.
“The Thorn ismine. Give it to me, youundeserving cretin.”
I straightened, spine locking into place. “Actually, by rights, this is mine.” I stepped back inside the relative safety of the circle, ears hollowing out from the pressing thud of magic, “you are the undeserving one, Butcher.”
“Sorry,” Varian panted, trying to keep ahold of her. “I only left her alone for a moment to…uh…to take a piss. One second, she was fast asleep and when I returned, she was already halfway down the hall…”
“Give them to me, give them to me,” Ariel chanted, fingers compulsively clawing the air. “Give me the relics, or I will kill you all, grind your bones to dust, drink your blood, takeyour eyes…”
Varian wrenched her further away, both arms banded around her stomach, her elbows pounding against his abdomen, driving the air from his lungs.
“I’d advise you to continue,” he grunted between blows. “Not sure how long I can hang onto her. She’s stronger than she looks and I don’t want to hurt her.”
“Get her out of here, Varian,” I hissed. “He’s watching everything through her eyes, and he cannot see what’s coming next.”
The process took far too long, but Varian wrestled her away, dragging her through the archway, then down the hall, until a far-off door slammed closed, cutting off her ranting.
48
LYRAE
We were nearly halfway across the ice when Varian appeared out of thin air, his eyes slightly wild, jacket flapping in the gale.
“What are you doing here? What’s wrong?” I shouted, turning back toward the castle, but he caught me by the shoulder.
“I know I shouldn’t leave Ariel, I know I promised, but I had to tell you something,” he looked miserable, his expression desperate. “Rooke’s starting the ritual, everything is in place like we discussed, but…I should be out here, Lyrae. Iwantto be out here.” Varian gripped my arm, as if he was debating flying me back to the island.
“We’ve just finally found each other again, and…gods, Ihadto see you one more time before Gravelock got here.”
