Total pages in book: 210
Estimated words: 200096 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1000(@200wpm)___ 800(@250wpm)___ 667(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 200096 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1000(@200wpm)___ 800(@250wpm)___ 667(@300wpm)
“No.” Zander shakes his head firmly. “You will not be punished for Sofie’s mistakes. What about this horn? Did he tell you what it will do?”
I peer down at the token in my hand. If Zander learns what I’ve just done, that I’ve sacrificed myself for the realm, he’s liable to throw the horn into the rift so I can never use it. I can’t tell him the truth. I have to bear the weight of this on my shoulders alone, in his own words. “Just that the cost will be great.”
Jarek turns to Lucretia. “What does that mean?”
“My old masters do not explain themselves any more than the fates do.”
“It means we do not use this unless we are moments from death.” Zander takes the horn and tucks it into my satchel, and then collects my hands in his. His eyes shine with pride and something I haven’t seen much of lately—hope. “For now, we will claim this victory, and it is not a small one, if the Nulling is truly closed. You, Romeria, have just given us a fighting chance.”
I smile and nod.
But I don’t miss the way Agatha watches me, her eyebrows drawn together with worry.
66
Annika
“Tell me again why we are doing this?” I pant as we stumble and climb over the rock. Scrapes mar my knuckles and knees where I’ve slipped, the stone beneath our feet slick from a recent rainfall. We abandoned the horses long ago for this treacherous path, sending them galloping off to freedom with slaps on their behinds.
“Because it is the only way you will escape your fate, kal’ana.” Destry leads the way, struggling more than me, her legs too short for some of the boulders.
“We should stop for the night,” Tyree announces from behind, checking the sky. “The light is waning.”
“Over this ridge ahead, I saw a cave that will work. We just need to keep going … a little … bit … longer.” She wipes at her brow with the back of her hand, leaving a smear of dirt.
“You lead the way, Destrelia,” Tyree teases.
“Do not call me that,” she snaps, sparing him a glare before continuing, the four pendants dangling from her neck like trophies.
“Behave,” I warn. Clearly, there is much about her we don’t know.
“I will.” A comforting hand smooths over my lower back. “How are you doing?”
I groan in response.
His deep chuckle warms my insides. “Just a little bit longer.”
“And then what?” What are we rushing toward? Another attack by these Azyr and their guards? Or by one of those hideous beasts from the Nulling? So far nothing has gone as planned.
“And then I’ll give you some of that meat you love so much.” Diving in to press a kiss against my neck, he slaps my arse.
Weak laughter sails from my lips. It’s all I can muster. “You are a pig.”
“I thought I was a mongrel.” He grins. “Come on, you can do it, Annika.”
Together we climb.
“This will work,” Tyree declares, standing at the edge of the deep, empty cave, his hands on his hips, peering out over the ledge. Beyond it is a drop that would break every one of our bones. It was both daunting and relieving to discover. I didn’t think we had climbed that far.
The valley below quickly fades into darkness. I fear what the night might bring.
“I saw debris out there.” Tyree points back the way we came. “Hopefully, it is dry enough to start a fire.”
“Is a fire wise when we are in hiding?” I ask.
“A very small one. The cave is deep. It will obscure it some. But we do not have a choice. This night will grow cold, especially for a mortal. But have no fear, Destry is keeping an eye out.”
That didn’t help us much in the forest, I want to say, but I bite my tongue.
“You two, get comfortable.”
“Be careful,” I call out.
“See how much she adores me now?” He vanishes before I can cast a retort.
I seek out a corner to rest in. There is nothing but rock. “I doubt another living creature has ever set foot in here.” When Destry doesn’t answer, I glance over. She’s seated cross-legged at the cave’s opening, her fist clamped around her pendants.
“I’ll leave you to it, then.” I dig out provisions from Tyree’s satchel and settle in with my back against the cave wall.
It’s pitch-black by the time Tyree returns, his arms loaded with rotted logs and bramble. “I have not seen a single berry bush or hare since we started this climb. We will have to ration our food.”
“We will not stay long in these mountains.” Destry hasn’t moved from her spot. Wherever she was in her head, though, she has returned, her eyes black again. “If I cannot connect, we must devise another plan.”
“Did you hear that, Annika? Shearing and dung, it will be.” He dumps his scavenged goods into a corner and then drops to his haunches to build a small pile of twigs and grass. “Have you found a wyvern yet?”