“It’s going to be all right, Jessy,” Viri said in a hushed voice. “I won’t let anything happen to you.”
She had no way to promise that, and they both knew it.
“If—If I don’t make it—” Jessalyn started.
“Youwill.”
“—tell Soren I love him.” Jessy hiccuped. “Tell him I w-want him to be happy.”
He would never be happy without his sister. He would never forgive himself if she didn’t survive. He would never forgiveViriif she didn’t do everything she could to save her.
“You tell him yourself,” Viri said firmly, “as soon as we get out of here.”
A dark, amused voice interrupted before Jessalyn could respond.
“I don’t know whether it’s admirable or pathetic that you still believe that’s possible.”
Ice and fire filled Viri simultaneously as the Reaper Lord appeared, striding casually between the pillars until he stood before where she sat against the cracked marble. She hated having to look up at him, but her magical bindings didn’t allow any wiggle room, let alone enough to stand.
“The comet will be appearing any minute, and youstillthink you can stop me?” He chuckled. “I knew you were stubborn, but this is ridiculous.”
Viri strained against the magic holding her, pain lancing along her wrists as if blades were slicing into her flesh, but she didn’t care, just continued struggling.
“Don’t bother,” the Reaper Lord said, watching her pitiful attempt. “There’s nothing you can do now anyway.”
His hooded head turned toward the dais, where his reapers waited obediently. He made a satisfied sound, then snapped his gloved fingers, causing Viri to flinch as ellixen overwhelmed her senses. Magic swept through the room in a fiery wind, lighting candles scattered amid the debris all the way up to where they bordered the stone slab, and behind it—
Jessalyn gasped and Viri’s eyes widened as the firebird seemed to come alive, flames leaping along its feathers, blazing from the crown of its head to its outstretched wings and down through its fanned tail. It was even more beautiful and terrifying now, like an inferno made flesh.
“That’s better.” The Reaper Lord hummed his pleasure. “I intended to make tonight’s ceremony more of a visual spectacle, but your friends have proved themselves to be surprising little pests and have managed to figure out where we are, so this will have to do.”
Viri sucked in a breath, hope blossoming within her.
“Don’t look too excited,” the Reaper Lord said with a menacing laugh. “The Magistratus was notified of this location by her daughter, of all people—”
Viri sucked in another breath, since if Wynter had told Sarielle, then she would have also told Meera and Darik. Reeve and Braedan would know, too, plus the rest of their friends. That meant there was still a chance—
“—but I’ve strengthened the wards enough that they’ll nevermake it through the doors,” the Reaper Lord finished smugly. “An entire army could be amassing outside, and none of them can lift a finger to help you.”
Viri’s hope vanished like smoke, leaving her slumping against the pillar.
The Reaper Lord laughed darkly again. “I’m sorry to disappoint you, Viridia. If it helps, imagine Sarielle Starling’s surprise to learn her precious daughter has been studying forbidden magic beneath her nose for years.” Hetsked. “Loyalty is so hard to come by these days.”
“Wynter has more loyalty in her little toe than you do in your whole body,” Viri spat. “And Sarielle loves her, so she’ll understand.”Eventually,she added with a mental wince, wondering what, exactly, Wynter had been forced to reveal to her mother in order to share what she’d learned about the comets. Viri hoped her friend was all right—just as she hoped to survive long enough to find out for herself, even if that was looking less likely with every passing second.
“Love is a lie that only fools believe in,” the Reaper Lord said in a disgusted tone. “How the Magistratus feels about her daughter is irrelevant—unless, of course, she can be used in some way. Power matters. Love doesn’t.”
“Said by someone who has clearly never been loved.”
“Or perhaps said by someone who has been betrayed by love, in all its wretched forms,” he countered sharply, before waving a dismissive hand. “I’m not discussing this with you. The time has come to say your goodbyes.”
Another snap of his fingers beckoned a burly reaper who reached for Jessalyn, her magical bonds dissolving as she was yanked to her feet.
“No!” Viri cried, struggling anew.“No!”
“I have to start somewhere.” The Reaper Lord gave a heartless shrug. “Would you prefer another child take her place?”
Yes,Viri thought, revolted by her own thoughts.
