And the entire world froze. Theron stopped moving. Calista was still as a statue, eyes gleaming as she eagerly watched me. Between my fingers was the delicate blue thread of Theron’s life.
His life.
Shivering bones…He was still alive.
“Theron,” I breathed. With slow, careful movements, I released the thread one finger at a time, worried if I jerked too hard, I would accidentally snap it in two.
Still alive. Still alive.The words resonated in my head like they had their own pulse.
When I let go of the thread, the air shifted once more, and Theron moved. His body jolted, and he let out a strangled choking sound. His chest seized, and the knife hovered midair.
For a brief moment, his eyes flew open, and that familiar onyx gaze fixed on me.
In a flash, it was gone, his face going slack again. But that was all I needed.
He was still in there. He was still fighting.
The thought lifted my heart, giving me the energy and motivation I needed.
He wasn’t dead. I could still save him.
With his next strike, I grabbed his wrist, then rammed my knee between his legs.
Theron moaned, and I ignored how the sound broke me as I swiped the dagger from his loosened grip. I stepped toward him and dragged the blade gently along his palm. Hehissed in pain, jerking away from me. His eyes fluttered open again, regarding me with confusion and horror.
“Eira,” he groaned.
A relieved smile split across my face.
But it was short-lived.
The moment he said my name, he collapsed, crumpling into a heap on the ground.
“No!” I screamed, racing toward him. I touched his face, his shoulders, his hair, trying to rouse him. “Theron.Theron! Wake up!” I shook him, but his head only lolled onto my lap.
With a screech, Calista hurled the glass vial onto the floor. “Useless idiot!” she roared, her expression venomous. “I need more blood!” Her eyes darted to the crimson liquid still dripping from my arm.
A wild, animalistic sound burst from her. Her lips pulled back from her teeth with a feral snarl, and she pounced. I dived to the floor, covering the puddle of blood with my body. Calista slammed into me, and we crashed in a pile of limbs. Her claws tore at my clothes. I shoved her face away from my throat before she could rip it out with her fangs. My foot connected with her stomach. Hissing and spitting like an enraged animal, Calista roared, the sound making my ears throb.
I managed to kick her hard in the temple, and she fell backward, toppling to the floor. After ensuring I had mopped up every drop of my blood with my clothes, I scrambled to my feet, angling myself away from her.
I didn’t know if she could somehow siphon the blood staining my clothes and use it to control me. But I didn’t want her getting close enough to find out.
Her eyes were redder than death as she stood, backarched and claws extended. We faced each other, bodies poised for battle as we circled one another like vultures.
“You were always going to lose,” Calista seethed. “You never had what it takes to rule this court. Your weak bloodlinefailedthis kingdom.” She waved a hand toward me, her face twisting in disgust. “You may appear a queen, but your beauty is only skin-deep. In truth, you are nothing more than a cold statue, carved in ice and glass. Beautiful on the outside, but void of anything substantial on the inside. I alone am strong enough to protect the realm.”
“With what?” I snarled. “Your Demon Fae gifts? You’ve been lying to your people for years! Hunting those of us who aren’t full-blooded seelie fae, as if we’relessthan you. If the court knew that you were the very thing they were hunting, this entire kingdom would collapse!”
“If they knew what I was, they would still follow me over you!”
“Are you sure about that?” I reached into the folds of my tunic, intending to withdraw the hand mirror… and froze. My blood ran cold. With wide eyes, I stared at Calista in horror.
A slow smirk spread across her face as she lifted the mirror. “Is this what you’re looking for?”
Shit. I had forgotten she’d taken it when she poisoned me. “I’ll get it back from you. I stole it once, and I can steal it again.”
Her sneer returned. “Stupid, foolish girl. Ialwaysknow where the mirror is. If you take it, I will find it again.”
