“Something is blocking me.” I looked up at the tower again, seeing a greenish glow overwhelm its interior.
The sight brought both alarm and recognition to Evie’s face. “I think the Warlock King is doing a dark rite with the Dragon ring to amplify its power, and in turn, his own. We need to get to him before he succeeds and becomes unstoppable.”
There was no way we were going in through the main gate now that a new battle raged there. “We have to find another way inside the fortress.” I glanced all around us, searching for options. “How were our people ever able to escape?”
“Some found a way out when he took them out of the Hollow… the Warlock King used to set them loose and have Azazel hunt them for fun.”
Evanna didn’t specify, but the gleam in her eyes said it was something unspeakable. Her words stirred a memory of Raithian telling me it had been a while since he’d given Azazel a “snack”.
“Maybe there is a back door,” I countered, not wanting to dwell on that thought.
“A back entrance seems unlikely,” she continued. “This fortress is ion clad. Our people built it that way, and building is our master skill.”
No. I couldn’t accept that. There had to be another way. “Come on, if our people built this, we might find something.” Joining hands, we ran along the moat, seeing the lava swell and burst as it flowed along the palace.
My steps halted when something over the molten river called my attention.
“What is it? What do you see?” Evanna asked beside me, but I just shook my head, not entirely sure.
The formation of rocks that jutted from the moat, seeming almost unnatural, gripped my attention. Unlike the rest, they didn’t float along with the lava, or sparkled with fire from the inside out. No. These were static.
My eyes suddenly widened, finally recognizing the formation. “Holy shit,” I gasped. “Dad left me a way in.”
“The Harbinger? But how?”
“The floor is lava,” I whispered simply.
37
Memories of my childhood slammed against reality, and I saw my dad and I jumping from a cushion on the floor to the sofa, then to the coffee table and chair, on our way to “the castle” to rescue the princess. When the images faded, the rocks before us replaced each piece of furniture.
Renewed appreciation for everything my dad had done sent a wave of powerful emotion through me. “Do exactly as I do.”
With Evanna’s firm nod, we ran full force to the edge and jumped. We landed on each step like Dad and I had when I was a kid, finally reaching the other side. My hand lifted to what had been the window above my head, and I pushed my hand into the stone, hearing a loud, rotating sound begin once the gears engaged.
A stone door built into the wall opened, and we rushed through it. We crossed the courtyard from the back, seeing our warriors slay sentries left and right before we burst through the double doors of the palace.
Evanna and I took the stairs two at a time, hopping over the missing steps and collapsed walls. The state of the Hollow now reminded me of the ruins of theCastle of Dragons, but those had been caused by the start of an evil empire while these marked its end.
Part of me hoped Tharion was okay, but yet again, I pushed the thought aside with everything else before we reached the last floor.
Raithian’s tower.
Swells of green magic swayed along the entire hall, coming out through the throne room’s closed doors, and expanding before circling back inside it. Raithian’s energy was growing, intensifying with whatever dark ritual he was doing. I could feel the raw power almost scorching my skin even from where I stood.
The tiny hairs stood on end along my neck, and Evanna and I exchanged a dread-filled glance. This fight was going to be worse than anything we had experienced with him, unless…
Taking a settling breath, I reached for the Dragon Crown on my belt, and gripped it tightly, knowing Skylar’s spell was already gone. Whatever expected me, I would have to overcome somehow, and use this power to end the Warlock King once and for all.
“Are you sure?” Evie asked, placing a hand over mine, thinking the same thing I had.
“It is now or never.”
Without wasting another moment, I placed the Dragon Crown over my face, feeling the bands lock behind my head. Scorching energy rushed through my being and the torturous screams erupted in my ears, the splitting shrieks bringing me to my knees.
My hands snapped to my head. Muscles jerking along my arms and back as I fought not to take it off… This time it was even worse. I not only heard their shrieks, but I actually felt their anguish, sorrow, horror, and desperation beating against my soul. It was like something had cracked open with Skylar’s influence, letting me in to feel their emotions fully.
“Stop!”I shouted at the voices through my mind.“I am not the one who stole your lives. I am not the one who killed your loved ones and disgraced your name! Just as I can feel you, feel your gifted magic running through my veins. Sense my power. Learn who I am.”
