“Then, how do we get through it?”
My father shrugs. “That is the question. It is built to keep everyone out.”
Taking a stone from the path, I toss it at the shield. Because that’s what this is—a shield to keep the outsiders away from the plague. But the disease should be done, or rather, not able to infect anyone.
The stone shoots back at us and we all drop to the ground. Reid lifts his head, glaring at me. “Please don’t do that again.”
How do we access it?Slowly, I rise, dusting off my knees. If a small stone cannot enter it, how do we expect to get through?
Aoife knew this barrier existed and no one could cross it. But there must be a way if it’s in the spell book. How?
“When you were sent away,” I say, turning toward my father, “what did they say to you? Your parents?”
Baris shifts his weight, wings fluttering behind him, and crosses his arms. “When my parents took us here, they gave us each a kiss, a bag of essentials, and said we would never be able to return.”
There has to be more.“And?”
My father rubs his chin. “They told me when the true ruler is shown, the barrier would fall. And since I am here, and have tried many times to touch it, I am not the true ruler.”
I exhale, wrapping my arms around my body. His bitterness is overwhelming.
To be raised as a prince, just to be removed from the line and to watch his family die off, must have been heartbreaking for my father. He’s suffered so much in his long life. Yet, he’s here, helping me.
My resolve cracks a little toward him. He’s a grumpy old man, but he’s earned it after everything he’s endured.
“So, if we can find the true ruler,” I surmise out loud. “We can get in.”
It glistens in the sunlight. Maybe the ruler is me? I’m of Bari’s blood, Effy’s, and my grandparents were on the mountain who enacted the shield. Maybe it’s me.
Worth a shot.
Taking out my daggers, I twirl them between sure, red fingers. My magic hums in my ears, and I can pick up on all the beings around us, from the biggest wolves in the far distance to the Fae at my side.
Taking one final breath, I charge. Leaping into the air, I raise my daggers to slice the barrier. As soon as the silver touches the barrier a charge erupts, dancing from the metal to my fingers and higher. Everything stands on end and I’m frozen, stuck midair, pain so encompassing that I cannot shout out against it.
Then as quickly as I jumped, I’m thrown from the barrier into the woods. My back slams against a giant rowan tree and I collapse.
Before my eyes close, I see the three males charging through the brush to reach my side, the Hadeon in front of them. And there, in the shadows are the burning ember orbs that stare at me with worry, before I grow unconscious.
