React. Fight. Wait. React. Julian’s chest heaved, his muscles tight as cables beneath his scales as he faced the night. Francine clung to his claws, ice clawing into her heart at how helpless she was. Howuseless.
She should never have tried to help. She’d only made it worse. She’d given Julian false hope where there was only death waiting for him on the frozen continent. She’d tricked him. Pretended she was more than she was, better, a better person—
Whump!
For a moment she thought they’d hit water. That the storm had finally won, and the icy water would pull them down. Then the clouds parted, and thin moonlight painted the world white.
They were on land.
“How—where are we?”
Julian opened his claws, and Francine stumbled to the ground. Her legs gave out.
There was a rush of air, and Julian knelt by her side.
“Where are we?” she repeated.
“Home.”
Francine looked around. There was nothing, endless moon-bleached white nothing, in all directions. She swallowed back a panicked laugh.
“You’re half frozen,” Julian growled. She felt an odd pressure around her chest, and then the world swooped around her. It wasn’t until she looked down that she realized Julian had lifted her to her feet.
More fool him. Her legs buckled again as he tried to steady her. Pointless.
It should be cold. The fact that she couldn’t feel it was a problem.
“Whatever—this thing they’re after.” She had to make him understand. “The … Soul-Eater. That’s what you’re after too, isn’t it? What you were hiding from me. That’s why you’re really here.”
Julian gave that shorthmmthat meant yes. She leaned against him. He was smaller now, but just as warm. Just as…
Francine shook herself. “Go.”
“Don’t be ridiculous.” Julian’s cool tone made Francine’s jaw clench.
“I don’t know how far it is, but … you can get there faster without me. Get there before them. Element of surprise. Before they send a message from the ship. Tell your family—” Why wasn’t he understanding?
“And leave you here to freeze?”
“Yes!”
Julian turned her around and stared at her. She couldn’t unpick the expression in his eyes. He looked horrified. He still didn’t understand.
“Look.” She tried to put her hands on his shoulders. They slipped down and rested against his chest, her fingers curved into bone-white claws. “This is what has to happen. Don’t you see? All of this is my fault. If I can’t help, if I can’tfixanything, I can at least get out of the way.”
Julian’s eyes hardened. “That is not an option I am willing to entertain.”
She could have screamed at him. “Didn’t you hear what Eloise said? This was all part ofherplan. I thought I was free. I thought I washelping, and the only person I helped was her. To hurt more people. To—to—” Her voice faded. “I’m not meant to be here. And I can’t survive in these temperatures, I won’t be any use—”
Julian cut her off with a kiss. His lips were hot against hers, andangry, possessive, and demanding in a way that made her want to fight back.
The gray fog disappeared.
“Don’t you dare give up on yourself,” Julian growled against her lips. “I chose to be here with you. I won’t see you die because of my decision.”
He pulled away and shielded them both so hard the world seemed to turn to smoke around them.
“I said we were home,” he said, and there was a tightness in his voice that made it hard for Francine to breathe. “Here it is.”
