My heart seized. No more time for plans. No more time for goodbyes.
I looked over at the harpies who were watching us closely. "Will you come with us?"
They both nodded. I had a feeling they couldn't wait to get out of here—away from Alanna, away from the collars, away from the memories of captivity.
I studied them. They were strong, with powerful wings and sharp talons. "The harpies could carry a couple of people on their backs and possibly clutch someone in their talons."
"I will carry you," Darius said, clutching my hand. His tone left no room for argument.
Not that I had one. I couldn't exactly fly myself up there.
"Ari could carry one person," I added.
Ari scoffed. "I'm not a taxi."
"You are if you want to get out of here," Darius growled.
Bunny stepped forward, her sleeping child still cradled against her chest. "I'll stay behind." Her voice trembled, but her eyes were steady. "Just take my children."
"Bunny, no—" I started.
"Please." Tears spilled down her cheeks. "I can't leave without Rabbit. But my babies... they need to be safe."
I clutched both her arms. “Bunny, listen to me. I know what it’s like to grow up without a mother, without a father. Don’t do this. You must go.”
Her resistance crumbled. She nodded, tears streaming down her face. "Okay. Okay, I'll come."
Grump seized Ari by his shirt. "You will carry someone or I'll kill you."
Ari laughed—a cold, mocking sound. "You could try." But he didn't pull away. Even he knew better than to start a fight right now.
"If you don't help us," I added, "then you'll die anyway. You made the same oath."
Ari hissed. "Fine. But not a fucking twin."
Flint and Steel exchanged amused glances.
Grump released Ari and leaned closer to me, his voice dropping to a whisper only I could hear. "The words to open the portal:Peramorem, porta aperi. Say them while holding the lock of hair over his heart."
I nodded, committing the words to memory.
He looked at Darius. "You need to think—not say—where you want Alice to go. Picture it clearly in your mind."
Darius nodded. "I understand."
Grump turned back to me. "Once he has the destination fixed, sayAmore duce, via aperta est. The portal will open." Hiseyes grew serious. "Don't look back. Just go through. I'll close it behind you."
Another one of the Uncrowned—Shade—came running through the trees. "Her army is entering the forest. We need to move. Now."
Time had run out.
Chapter Forty-Five
Alice
The sound of horses galloping through the forest sent my heart pounding.
Let this work. Please.
