“Good,” Anahima purrs. “Now, pour that into my portal like a good little Starkeeper.”
“Fuck you,” I seethe, longing to slam the cold power intoherinstead. My simurgh is raging to do just that, but I hold her back. As much as I dislike Helena, she doesn’t deserve to die when I can save her life. And Roshan’s...
Soon,I promise myself.
I focus on the portal that Helena’s life force is tethered to and pour Darrius’s magic into it, widening it slowly until it’s nearly the width of the valley. Helena slumps over, breathing hard when I snap her connection. My eyes widen with horror whenthousandsof Scavs pour out, and my hold on the portal wavers.
Anahima makes a disappointed noise. “You can do better than that. Think of your unfortunate lover and all those angry serpents.”
Rage bubbles at the threat, but I dig deep, and I draw on the bond again.Forgive me, Darrius.More power rushes into my veins, and the portal brightens and widens as I feed into it. But as fast as it comes, the power I’m drawing fizzles and the portal winks out. Something is blocking me. Not something,someone.
I feel my soul-fated before I see him, Indira’s terrifying screech echoing across the valley as he arrows toward the fortress. Razulek is not far behind them. A small group of Anahima’s followers attacks them in midair, and Razulek dives to blow a stream of fire at a griffin while Darrius sends a vortex of shadows to pulverize another. They continue toward me.
Suddenly, they both stop in midair, unable to come any closer. Dark purpose brews in my king’s eyes as he prepares to blast through whatever shield is in place with his magic to get to me. In a panic, I wave and shake my arms wildly, telling him to stop. I have no idea what Anahima will do to Roshan, but Darrius still can’t hear me.
“Stop! Roshan is here. He’s in danger!”
Darrius shoots me a quizzical look, then points to Razulek.
Raz, who is carrying the king of Oryndhr on his back... hale and alive andnottrapped in a cage of starsdamned snakes.
Chapter Thirty-Nine
Iblink and squint in disbelief. ItisRoshan, dressed in his royal armor with a golden crown on his dark hair. I watch as Razulek flies him down to where his army is marching.
Then who the fuck was that in the dungeon? IsensedRoshan’s blood.
I whirl as Anahima starts cackling. “Gods, you truly are fucking gullible. They say the weakest minds are the easiest to convince. I expected more, Starkeeper. My acting was truly spectacular—‘Don’t worry about me. Get to Darrius. Get away from here, Sura!’” She says the last in a desperate singsong copy of Roshan’s voice that makes me flinch.
That should have been my first glaring red flag. Roshan calls him Nightsong, not Darrius. But I’d been sucked in by Anahima’s complex illusion.Stupid, stupid, stupid.
“How did you get his blood?” I ask.
“A single drop is all it takes,” she says. “One nick on his pretty little face. Did you like the scar I left you?”
“I’m going to kill you,” I say, power rushing to my fingertips. Now that both Papa and Roshan are out of her clutches, she has no collateral.
“You can try.”
Anahima’s stare is taunting as I launch the hottest blast of starlight I can amass at her, screaming in rage... and it passes straight through her body. Another fucking illusion!
“Where the fuck are you, Anahima?” I shout. “Face me and fight me. Or are you too cowardly to do so?”
Her response is to set the entire spire on fire. I immediately conjure ice magic to douse it, but it only grows stronger and turns blue. I try a gust of air, and it doubles in size. It’s magical, feeding on counter-magic.
I hurry over to Helena, who doesn’t look good. “Let’s get you out of here.”
“I’m not going to make it, Suraya,” she whispers.
“You will.” I pick her up and hoist her over my shoulder, rushing to the edge of the parapet as the unnatural bluish-yellow flames grow bigger. I could try a portal, but my brain is too scattered and too many things could go wrong. Besides, I don’t trust that Anahima hasn’t spelled this entire tower in some way to fuck with my magic like she did earlier.
Razulek!
The now riderless azdaha banks on his powerful wings, soaring just below the spire that’s engulfed with fire.Jump, little queen. I will catch you.
Easy for him to say! Gritting my teeth, I close my eyes and leap as I feel the lick of flames on my neck, landing right on Raz’s back. Luckily, I have the wherewithal to use magic to stabilize us, especially since Helena has passed out.Thank you, old friend. You saved me.
From what?he rumbles.
