“My fault,” Roshan says, lifting his blade with the earth rune. “Earth magic is hard to contain.”
“It’s going to collapse,” someone warns from behind. “You won’t make it.”
Roshan looks to me, letting me decide my fate... and his. “I’ll do whatever you want.”
I glance toward the crumbling passage and swallow my grief. “No,let’s go,” I say hoarsely, unwilling to risk his life. “Laleh’s soul is already in a good place. Whatever’s up there isn’t her.”
His gaze searches mine. “Are you sure?”
I swallow against the tears rising in my throat, stinging my eyes. “No. But I can’t lose anyone else.”
Once we reach the bottom, we spill out into the bloodied courtyard. Behind us, the tower gives a huge groan and collapses inward, taking its remaining occupants with it. It would be a miracle if Morvarid survived that. Then again, she’s a death magi who practically invoked a fucking god in front of my eyes, so I’m not sticking around to find out if she did.
Frantically, I search for my father. He’s alive, I note with relief as he stumbles toward me, his clothes spattered with gristle and blood.
“Take Amma,” I say, embracing him for a scant second before we exit the courtyard with Roshan and the Dahaka, running toward a cramped wagon already pulling out and a group of waiting horses. I calculate quickly—five horses, more than ten of us. I fall back slightly, and my father swivels, a questioning look in his eyes.
“Suraya, what are you doing?”
Kneeling, I snatch a crossbow off the ground and throw the strap over my shoulder. “Don’t worry about me, I’ll find another way out of here.”
“I’m not leaving without you.”
“You need to get Amma to safety.” I pause and force a reassuring smile. “Morvarid was in the tower when it fell.” His eyes narrow, but I nod reassuringly, hiding my qualms. “No one could have survived that collapse. Get Amma to Coban while you still can. I promise I will find another way out, but you need to leave now.”
“No.”
I cup my palms against his bearded chin. “Please, Papa. Justgo. I can’t bear if anything happened to you or Amma. She’s been through enough. I’ll be fine, I promise.”
“I’ll stay with her,” Roshan says, striding to my side. “Make sure to secure the king. His kingsguard might come for him. There’s another stable on the south side of the palace where the Dahaka entered the city. We’ll go there and get horses.”
My father looks startled for a moment as recognition dawns in his eyes, his head bowing in immediate respect. “Of course, Your Highness. It is my honor.”
“The honor is mine.”
After a searching look at my face, my father nods at me. I watch as he helps Amma into the wagon. I don’t want to think that this could be the last time I see them alive. All I tell myself is that they’re going to be safe. Somehow.
The small convoy departs, taking the others out of harm’s way. The magic surges in my body as I turn, ready to face my fate. I look at the grim-faced prince at my side, and while his presence is bolstering, I can’t risk putting him in peril. I can feel it in my bones: this is far from over. “You have to go, too, Ro,” I tell him.
“I won’t leave you.” His gaze burns into mine, his brown eyes hot with emotion.
“If the queen is still alive, you’ll be in danger. She knows”—the words catch in my throat—“that you’re... a vulnerable point for me.”
“Then you’ll know why I’m staying.”
The admission makes something precious bloom in a secret corner of my heart. But the knowledge also brings fear. Fear of loss. Fear of losing him... for good this time.
“She’ll use you against me.”
“She will try. And I have my own score to settle with Morvarid.” He gives that familiar lopsided grin that makes the boulder of ice in my chest thaw slightly. “And for all we know she’s already dead.”
I haven’t forgotten what she did to Roshan’s mother, but this is more dangerous than he knows. “With a powerful magi like her, we need to see a body to know for sure. Because if she did invoke the god of death, she could still be alive.”
And whatever Morvarid is, she might not be human anymore.
“Then we burn it down.” Roshan’s face is fierce. “Together. I won’t let you do this alone.”
With a glower at his doggedness though my heart inexplicably warms, I sigh and then roll my eyes for effect. “Fine. If you’re going to go all gladiator beast-mode and muscle your way into helping out of some misplaced damsel-saving ideal, then take this.” I thrust the crossbow strapped to my back into his hands.
