I narrow my eyes, lift my bloody hand, and slap him in the nose with it. “Get out of my way, you idiot. Go find the angel.”
He takes one step back, then two, before stomping down the hall. Low, menacing snarls leave his mouth with every step.
I grab Celine’s hand and drag her in the opposite direction. “Quickly,” I whisper. “He won’t fall for it for long.”
“Where are you taking me?” she mutters, keeping pace with me easily.
“Somewhere safe.”
She yanks her hand free and stops. “That’s not good enough, Riven.”
“Listen.” I face her, my breath fogging visibly in the glow of the floor lights. “Your father orchestrated some kind of coup. I can’t guarantee your safety anymore.”
Celine scoffs. “I’m sorry, is that what you were doing before? Because I hate to break it to you, but I haven’t been safe since I got here.”
“I was magically bound to honor the contract with your father,” I say.
“Of course.” She rolls her eyes. “I hope he paid you well?—”
“Will you listen to me for five seconds?” I grab her by the shoulders. “S’lach broke the contract, I felt it dissolve.”
“That’s wonderful for you, but you can’t honestly expect me to forget that you dragged me away from a game of Twister and sent me to die... hmm, what was it? About an hour ago.”
I glance at the toes of my boots. “A lot can change in an hour.”
“Then let me go,” Celine says. “Help me get the guys and we’ll do the rest.”
I shake my head. “The other veydran are in on your father’s plot. They’ll be dead by now. I’ll get you to the portal, but if you go back for them, you’ll only be wasting your time.”
Celine lifts the sword and presses the tip to my throat. “I won’t leave them behind. I’ll carry their bodies out of here on my back ifI have to.” Anger, pain, and fear are etched in the lines around her mouth, but there’s not a single hint of indecision on her face.
Something twists inside me.
“They don’t deserve you,” I say. “Your loyalty will get you killed.”
She shakes her head. “There are worse things to die for.”
“Fine,” I snap. “I’ll take you to the cabin, but I’m warning you, we may not even make it there. The entire realm is crawling with beasts.”
Celine drops the blade from my throat and smiles grimly. “I’m good in a crisis.”
I shake my head, then keep moving. Screams and growls rend the night as we weave through the corridors. We encounter no one else inside, but when we reach the rope bridge, a sinking sensation consumes me.
Their cell is engulfed in flames.
TWENTY-SIX
Monster Realm Survival Tip #38:
When there’s fire, someone burns.
LUCA
I shove past Alistair and slam into the locked door again. My shoulder dislocates, but the wood doesn’t budge.
“Luca, please.” Ciprian slides between me and the door. “You’re only hurting yourself.”
“Move,” I snarl. “I’ve got to get to her. Something’s not right, listen to those fucking noises.”
