Odette follows behind me, her steps almost matching mine. The whirlwind Ban has created is hard to stand against, but she doesn’t seem to be getting blown over as we get closer.
Ban’s voice is cold, almost lifeless, when he speaks. “This time, when she hates me for killing one of her parents, at least it will be justified.”
Chapter 21 Ban
Ronnie’s grinning when she dies. It pisses me off, and I have the urge to drive her through the wall, out into the open, and tear her to pieces.
But Neve takes a weak breath in my arms,clingingto life, and I can’t chance taking that away.
“Good job,” Ronnie says, her voice slow and heavy as she fights to get her words through the blood leaking from her lips. “You were the final piece.”
I don’t understand what that means, but it’s too late to ask. Ronnie’s breath ghosts out of her one last time before her spirit appears, and blinding rage hits me.
I need her to no longer exist. Not in this life, or any other.
“Ban!”
I know I’ve begun to lose my mind as I cling to Neve, because I swear, that sounds like Zarev.
“Goddammit, Ban, you’re going to freeze us to death!”
Scratch that, ithasto be Zarev. When I turn from Ronnie’s lifeless body, ignoring her spirit, I glare down at the floor.
Where did Davina go?
Below me is Zarev, his dark shadows spinning around in lazy circles. Behind him stands Odette, who appears to be having a tough time with the cold, her teeth chattering and arms wrapped around her body. They are trying to stand against the wind, and it occurs to me, belatedly, it’s my fault.
My grip tightens on Neve, and I can’t tell whether she feels it or not. She doesn’t seem to react at all.
Slowly, I sink toward the ground. The shadows that suspended us are dispersing, and the icy wind lessens as agony strikes me in the chest.
Neve.
When I reach the ground, instead of landing on my feet, I collapse to my knees. A pained cry escapes my mouth, and the two of them hurry over.
Maybe I really am losing my mind, because these two don’t belong together.
“Ban,” Zarev says, crouching beside me. Other than the extreme amount of worry in his eyes, he looks fine. Odette kneels next to him, arms still wrapped around herself, and stares in terror at Neve.
I can’t focus on her, not with the life fading from my queen. “She’s dying.”
“Yes,” Zarev says carefully, his gaze flickering between myself and Neve. “Who is this?”
“The Queen,” I choke out. Neve’s eyes peer unfocused between us, but Iswearshe’s breathing. “We have to save her.”
Zarev’s eyes shoot back to mine. “Ban–”
“It’s not up for discussion,” I growl. “Help me–”
Above us, a cracking sound erupts through the space. I look up at the same time they do, as the ceiling of the palace caves in. A huge piece of ice breaks away, crashing into the far side of the room, the walls groaning with protest as the floor gives.
“Help me move her,” I hiss, turning to Zarev again. I can feel the kick in my magic waning; I’ve used too much of it in a short span. “We have to go.”
He only hesitates for a moment, and in that second, I hate him. Then Zarev makes his scythe disappear before cradling Neve’s side, gripping her skin. “Odette. Hold on.”
The princess practically throws herself into him, and not an instant too soon. Zarev nods, and we slip into the shadows together as the ceiling gives way above us, the entire room crashing down.
Zarev lets me lead us through the shadows, his magic following mine as we leave. I don’t have it in me to go far. If he’s helping me move Neve while bringing Odette along, he won’t be able to travel far, either.
