“Astrid?” Skylar gently prizes her hands apart. “We’re going to be alright. We’re all going to be alright.”
Astrid swallows. Nods. Checks on Bastet. Now that he’s rested, she can tap into her Gift. She reaches for that connection between her and Skylar, though she doesn’t have to seek it out like she usually does, it’s just—there. Waiting.
“Hold on to your butts,” Skylar says, and punches her hand into the force field.
Skylar goes rigid. The barrier begins to spark around her fist. Her arm vibrates with the effort, her face is screwed up tight, and Astrid can see it. The energy flowing into Skylar, flowing through her, as she draws it inside her. Feeding on it.
Easy, Astrid says.Take it easy.
Almost. Finished.Skylar gasps, then wrenches her fist back and the barrier fails completely. Now that it’s not there, Astrid can feel it—or the absence of it anyway. And as it drops away, so does the illusion. Before, where there had been only the canyon wall, there’s a large crevice and a passageway set between two huge stone pillars, as tall as Mjolnir. They’re standing at the foot of the pillar on the right, and they poke their heads around to peer down into the tunnel.
The guards.Skylar jerks her head toward two soldiers standing at either side of the tunnel entrance, gripping a spear each.
Stars, they’ve not even noticed the barrier’s down. Some guards.
I almost feel bad killing them.
Don’t.Astrid doesn’t mean to sound so sharp.Don’t kill them. Just knock them out and we’ll tie them up.
With what, exactly, Little Witch?
Astrid stares at her, because she’s right. They only have the clothes on their backs and the few weapons they had in the arena.
It’s them or us, Skylar says more gently.It’s them or Zryan.
Astrid closes her eyes briefly, then nods at Skylar. This is no game, this is war. This is the fate of her queendom and of the people she loves. This is for the future.
I’ll make it quick, Skylar says, and she does. They’re dead within seconds.
“Bastet, can you hide the bodies?” Skylar asks.
IAM NOT SOME GRUNT TO PERFORM YOUR MENIAL LABOR, EVEN IF YOU ARE MY SOUL-BONDED’S MATE.
“Menial labor? She’s asking you to cover our tracks, not scrub the Hel-damned floor, you buffoon.”
He harrumphs and skulks over to the two men, dragging them one at a time behind a boulder.
Skylar’s eyes unfocus. “I’ve told Mjolnir. It’s time. Let’s go.”
Astrid doesn’t need telling twice. She takes off at a run, Skylar’sfootsteps falling in sync with hers. The tunnel becomes pitch-black within moments. She rotates her wrists, whispering, “Lys,” casting witch lights above them. “Tell me if more guards are near and I’ll lose the lights.”
“Why are we running?” Skylar says, not even a little out of breath.
Because I’ve had enough of waiting, Astrid replies.
It’s only been one day and one night since Zryan was taken; but so much can happen in that time and the closer she gets, the more urgency she feels. The more anxious. Mjolnir hasn’t been able to reach him mind to mind, even when he’s been close enough to the Heart. Astrid remembers what Jelani said about a Nullifier and wonders if they affect a rider’s ability to communicate with dragons as well as their power. It’s been a whole day since Zryan kissed her goodbye, and over her dead body will it have been the last time they ever get to.
“Stop,” Skylar hisses. They skid to a halt. “Up ahead.” Skylar looks at Bastet.
ANOTHER TWO, he says. The guards don’t stand a chance. Skylar’s gaze shifts to Astrid and she sighs.
“Do it.”
Skylar watches her, then says, “It’s done.”
Goddess, Astrid can’t even see where the two guards are, and Skylar was able to kill them without taking her eyes off Astrid? She realizes then just how easy it would have been for Skylar to end her in that arena.
ICANNOT SCENT ANYONE ELSE. AT LEAST, NOT THE USUAL SMELL OF HUMANS.
