“You coward!” I scream. I shoot a briar out, but it only hisses through smoke.
The last remaining pieces of her are her vibrant green eyes and a cruel smile. “Until next time, Princess. I’ve got a little birdy to find.”
Then she’s gone.
My chest heaves, and I stand like a statue, my arm still reaching out as if throwing another briar is any use. She’sgone.
Faustrius turns, his cape snapping in the icy wind. He looks to one of the underfae near him. “Kill them,” he says.
Then he’s gone too, swallowed by a crowd of his soldiers heading straight toward us.
Kel holds his sword up in a defensive position but casts his gaze at me. “Help him,” he says, then charges into the fray.
“Kel!” But there’s nothing to be done. He’s already clashing blades and sending sprays of ice daggers through the enemy.
I look up at the guard tower where Irahn is pinned. A choking wheeze escapes him.
“Irahn!” As gently as I can, I spiral my briars up to wrap around his body, easing him and the flagpole still embedded in his chest down to the ground.
His face is ghastly pale, blood running from both sides of his mouth, from his nose. His eyes are glassy and far away. Every breath sounds wet.
“Irahn, I’m here. It’s okay. I’m going to help you.” I stroke a lock of gray hair off his sweaty brow. The blessing of Spring thrums inside me. I saved Kairyn’s life. I can save his.
My hands press against his chest, just above the wooden pike jutting through his ribs. Oh god. This is so different from Kairyn. Do I pull this out? Leave it in? How do I mend the broken pieces of bone with this thing stuck through him?
Shakily, Irahn brings a bloody hand up and clasps my wrist, tugging it away from him. He shakes his head.
“No, I can save you,” I gasp. Tears stream down my face.
“I go to the stars,” he whispers. “Let my nephew know that when I greet his mother and father again, I shall tell them of the great man their son has become.”
A sob cracks out of me, and I clutch Irahn’s hand. He squeezes back. Then his grip releases. The wheezing rattle of his breath silences. There are only my pained gasps and the hum of Spring’s blessing within me, feeling the echo of his heartbeat seep away, like dewdrops on a leaf.
I can’t leave him like this. Fuck that an arrow could come for me at any moment. That an underfae could sneak past Kel and strike me down with one blow. Iwon’tleave him like this. Sira can take his life, but she cannot take his honor.
With a sickening squelch, I pull the flagpole out of his chest. I can barely see through my tears, but I won’t leave it inside him. Tugging the flag of Winter from it, I stare down at the sigil. The flag is huge, the color of sapphire and emblazoned with seven shooting stars. As fine a blanket as any. Slowly, I lay it over his body, closing his eyes before I cover his head.
“Thank you for believing in Kel,” I whisper.
Golden briars lace around him, encasing him in a coffin of thorns. Carefully, I ease them skyward toward the airship. They’re met by a tangle of purple briars that lifts them over the edge.
Rosalina.It’s Ezryn’s voice in my mind.Irahn…
He’s dead.It’s all I can manage.
I don’t hear any words, but I feel a wave of grief pouring through the bond. He wasn’t just Kel’s uncle but a mentor to Ez.
I can’t stop, can’t fall apart yet. I wipe my tears. Sadness can wait. I need to fight.
Rose, we’re almost out of arrows up here. The sails are shredded.Ezryn’s voice, normally so calm, matter-of-fact, wavers.We have to retreat.
Retreat?
I stumble back. Retreat. Abandon Voidseal Bridge to Sira’s allies. No, we can’t…
But how can we stay?
Eyes wide, face falling in horror, I look around. Truly look around. Every member of the Deep Guard left is hemmed in by underfae. Our arrow reserves are near empty. Hideous mole creatures barrel down the length of the bridge, their riders picking off our soldiers with a single swing of a spear.
