“To break the curse on the Sanguis, Cade needs to die in Cavamyne.” Archer held up his hands when Bridget glared at him. “We were all there the first time Quinn tried. Obviously, we don’t want that to happen.”
“Then all we have to do is keep him away from there,” Alexia said.
Stellan slammed his fist against the cabin wall. Books from his shelf tumbled to the ground. “You don’t understand. It’s not that simple. All three curses are connected. When Cade and Bridget were born, the veil shielding Iegorus from everything else weakened, but just slightly. That’s probably why Quinn could communicate with the Sanguis.”
Narrowing her eyes, Alexia spat, “Or why creatures covered in black ooze with a thirst for blood suddenly arose from the sea?”
“Now that the curse on the humans is broken, it’s probably much worse.”
Stellan’s dark statement silenced Alexia. The girl paled, then slowly sat down in the chair she’d been using like a lifeline.
“Yep. That’s two out of three,” Archer muttered under his breath. “I would say life in Elyria isn’t a picnic right now.”
“If Vega hasn’t figured out she has a real foothold between worlds now, she will soon… not enough for her to come through completely, but probably strong enough for her to do some real damage,” Stellan said.
“Vega isalive?” Bridget sputtered. Ice filled her veins. She rubbed her neck, unable to stop herself from imagining the sensation of bloody claws digging into her carotid.
I don’t want to be around for what she has planned.
Quinn… the fear in her eyes. She hadn’t learned from a random Sanguis Witch, but from Vega herself.
“Time in Iegorus doesn’t work like it does here.” Stellan crossed his arms, then almost to himself, mumbled, “We might already be too late. She won’t stop until she gets what she wants.”
“Which is what?” Bridget asked.
Taking a deep breath, Stellan locked eyes with her. The guilt swirling there brought her stomach to the floor. He didn’t know.
“Please tell me you havesomekind of idea,” Bridget growled.
An ear-splitting scream pierced the air.
Heart stuttering, Bridget whirled around and ran to Archer. On the ground, he writhed on his back like electricity was burning every single part of his body. Blood poured from his nose and his ears. Beneath his closed eyelids, his eyes moved rapidly back and forth. “What is this?” he croaked.
“What happened?” Bridget demanded, trying to get him on his back. He screamed again, his arms contracting into his chest.
“You have to help him,” Nylah begged.
Bridget followed her gaze. Above them, Stellan stared at Archer in absolute shock.
“Stop,” Archer pleaded, his entire body shaking. Red liquid sputtered onto Bridget’s jacket as he continued to speak. “Of course, she’s fine. She’s standing right in front of me.”
All of a sudden, Archer stilled. Bridget flinched when his eyes popped open. Except they were no longer his eyes. The foreign orbs glowed a bluish hue she’d only seen once before… the night a possessed Shaman had stopped her from crossing the gate. She gasped.
“Cade?”
It washim. She knew it. In confirmation, Archer’s hand floated upward. A half-sob escaped Bridget's chest. Seconds before his fingers reached her cheek, it fell to the ground as Stellan slammed his hand against Archer’s chest. His eyes and tattoos radiated a bright blue as he confronted Cade in Archer’s mind.
“What did you do?” Stellan demanded.
Tears blurred Bridget’s vision as she wrapped her hand around Stellan’s wrist, hoping it somehow would connect her with them. Moments later, a blast of fire zinged up her arm. For a second, she heard Cade’s screams as Stellan tried to help him control the magic surrounding them both. The sound rattled her bones. She recoiled, flying back into Nylah with a smack. Her sister, eyes wide and horrified, tried to copy her movements. Bridget pushed her away and caught Alexia’s gaze. “Take her.”
For once, Alexia listened and pulled Nylah to the corner with her.
“Of all the stupid, idiotic things to try…” Stellan growled. He stiffened, then pressed harder on Archer’s body. “Stop fighting it. You have to let go of the spell…”
Blood continued to escape Archer’s nose. Panic shot up Bridget’s spine. Any longer and he might not…
Stellan sucked in a breath. “Marin, no!”
