“Word?” My chest shivered. Oh, fuck. “What does that mean? What word?”
“Get up!” Taroc growled.
I flinched but took his hand. He yanked me to my feet. Then his expression softened. “I don't know what this is about, but we don't have time for your tears. Push them down. Deal with them later. Keltyr has been taken by the Corrupter.”
“What?” I swayed on my feet.
Taroc grabbed the front of my damp tunic and shook me. “You fucking get it together, Wraith Lord! You hear me? We need you. Keltyr needs you!”
Hands on his wrist, I took a shivering breath and nodded. “How was he taken?”
“Keltyr went to investigate the Corrupter's ward. He was trying to find a weak spot or a break in the shadows. Too close. He got too close to the damn thing. The Corrupter came through the mist and took him.”
“What?!”
“That's what the Lords on duty told me, but they saw it from the fort's lookout tower, so they're not certain what exactly happened.” Taroc released my tunic and shook his head. “The Corrupter came out. Before the other Lords could react, he took Keltyr. Just grabbed him and pulled him through the ward.”
“Fuck.” My hands clenched. “Fuck, how do we get him back?”
“I don't know. I was hoping you might have an idea.”
“The only thing I can think of is to go out there and do the same as Keltyr. Go too close to the ward.” I straightened, squared my shoulders, and lifted my chin. “And that's what I'll do.”
“No! We can't lose you—”
But I was already gone.
Chapter Forty-Two
I knew the location of the Corrupter's castle. Knew it well. I couldn't get through his ward, but I faded right up to it. The Wraith Lords on watch at the nearby fort would doubtless see me, but I hoped to have a plan by the time they approached. As if it knew I was about to challenge its master, the dark mist roiled. Perhaps it was sentient. Death Magic powered it after all. It powered everything the Corrupter did.
“Death,” I whispered in epiphany.
“Ah, so you've finally realized that you need me,” Death drawled.
Could I do this? Could I compromise myself to save Keltyr? I hadn't been willing to do so for the children. It was kind of fucked up that I'd do it for Kel. Or was it? The Corrupter wasn't hurting the kids. He had them locked up, but he wasn't torturing them. There would be no point. Kel, on the other hand, was a Wraith Lord. The Corrupter would hurt him just for giggles. He was probably hurting Keltyr even as I spoke to Death. As I wavered over what to do.
“Tell me what to do,” I said.
“Just let me in, Ember. I will guide you through this first time. You won't have to worry about mastering the magic with me inside you,” Death said.
Inside me? Great. Another man inside me. Isn't that what got me into this mess?
I took a deep breath, let it out, and with it, I exhaled my reluctance. I let go of my doubts. This was what I had to do to save Kel. I owed it to him. So, I'd do it. Whatever it took, whatever it cost me, I would do it for Keltyr.
Instantly, I felt a rush of sensation roll up my arms. The two streams collided in my chest, and my head fell back on a shout as the magic burst up my throat. I had expected Death to feel cold or maybe oily. I expected to feel the evil sinking into my soul. Invading me. Corrupting me. There was none of that. The magic was as bright as any other, just more. More powerful, more bright, more tenacious. More of everything. It was so great that I could see a shimmer riding my skin.
Now,Death said, his voice stronger. Resonant. Or maybe that was because it registered in my mind instead of vibrating in through my ears.I shall show you what we can be together. Step forward, Ember. Walk through the ward.
I didn't hesitate, not even when I heard familiar voices shouting—Taroc, Xae, and Rath. I stepped through the frothing wall of darkness without fear, only determination. And the shadows let me pass.
Through the darkness, I went. Several feet of it. Then I came out into the late afternoon light. It seemed so odd that the land on this side of the ward existed under the same sun as that on the other. This soil was cut off from the rest of Varr to the point where it felt like another world. But it wasn't. It was merely a fenced-in property, and ahead of me was a home. A massive, foreboding home, but still just an abode.
I strode across the expanse of grass, spotted with massive trees. In the distance, the castle rose, a leviathan of dark wood, rock, and iron. I'd never seen the outside of the Corrupter's castle, had been faded in, then brought out dead, but it didn't surprise me that it was grand and guarded by the Corrupted. They'd see me coming. If they hadn't already.
They haven't,Death said.I have covered you in my magic, made you invisible. Now, focus on the room you once inhabited therein, and fade there.
I focused and faded, shocked by how calm I was. Or I should have been. I was too calm to feel shocked. I suppose it was more of a fascination. Curiosity. Fear didn't bind me. With Death on my side, I knew I would succeed. But was it on my side? Was it truly under my control?
