“Behind you!” he yelled again.
Metal screeched, and I turned too slow when a soldier lunged.
But Ronan was faster.
Ash-veined air speared through the man’s chest, dropping him in a twitching heap at my feet.
His snarl burned hot against my ear. “Keep your damn wits sharp.”
I ground my teeth, slicing through the next soldier that came at me. But movement pulled my gaze to the tree line, where Reve stood in a flicker, sifting in and out. His sneer found me, eyes securing on mine before he turned, sprinting into the stone woods.
And so, my hunt began.
My breath tore, my blade slick in my hand as I rushed after him, then slowed, searching through the trees rising around me like petrified titans.
Until he appeared again, sifting right before me, that vain sneer still curling his mouth.
“How?” I asked, fury biting the edges. “Why are you so powerful?”
“Because we are not so different, you and me. I tried to show you that...” His voice dipped, oily, obscene. “But my fun was cut short.” He leaned closer, as if to savor my disgust, “Maybe next time.”
The world went red as I lunged—
And faltered.
At first, there was no pain, only confusion as I staggered, turning to the man behind me as he ripped the sword from my back.
One of his eyes was missing, the other alight with satisfaction.
I lifted my dagger, to carve out the remaining eye. Or maybe I’d tear him apart with my nails.
Before I could decide, he faded, right as the pain came.
Not Reve’s magic any longer, but a dull ache. Then fire, spreading like poison until my knees buckled. My fingers reached for the gash through my chest, my grip never quite securing as the world slipped grey at the edges.
Ronan and I were both wrong. Itwasmy rage that would kill me after all.
I smelled him before I saw him. His dragon smoke. His fire. The veracity of his fury.
The force of him tore past me, aiming for Reve where he had reappeared at the cliff’s edge. His rings flared, a void opening before them, right in Ronan’s path.
Ronan slowed, then didn’t move at all, knuckles fisted as Reve stepped to the sift’s brim, arms casually behind his back.
“Well, well.” Reve tilted his head. “You’re not where you’re meant to be, dragon prince.” He stopped just at the black pit. “I could have sworn the stench coming off you in the ballroom that night was disgust.” Chuckling softly, he smoothed his hair, then stretched his arm toward me where I clutched at my bleeding heart. “Go on, throw me her body, will you?”
Smoke surged at my feet in answer, swarming fast enough that Reve made an irritated click of his tongue and took two steps back.
A low, dangerous rumble carried across the realm as Ronan said, “You won’t survive the mistake of reaching for her.”
Reve’s jaw flexed. “Very well.” He nodded once. “I’ll come for her when her body cools.”
“No—” I stumbled forward, blood hot down my side, chasing the tear of power splitting the air where Reve stepped into.
His outline shimmered, provoking me and I lunged, dagger raised, only for the world to rip apart at the last possible breath.
He sifted away an instant before my blade found him, leaving nothing but a fading ripple of magic and a wink left behind like a taunt.
I pitched forward, toward the drop of the cliff.
