Page 160

Galleghar’s gaze skirts back to me. He won’t beg—even now he has too much misplaced pride for that—but his eyes are imploring me for mercy.

The time for mercy has long since passed.

“I want you to know,” I say, “I’m doing this for every woman you wronged, every child you killed, every person you hurt. But more than that, I want you to know that I’m doing this for Desmond and his mother—and I’m doing this forme.”

I turn to the bog. “Devour him.”

Chapter 40

I’m going tosave you, Des.

That line repeats through my head as I stalk through the Night King’s palace, the gauzy dress I wear dragging along behind me.

Need to change.

“Girl, that wascold,” Temper says at my side as the two of us put distance between ourselves and the throne room.

“You would’ve done the same.”

She snorts. “I would’ve doneworse. We all know that of the two of us, you’re the good cop.”

I used to be. Now, on the other hand …

“Des’s father can’t be killed,” I say.

At least, Galleghar can’t be killed so long as the Thief continues to prolong his unnatural life. That means that the bog might be able to scare the crap out of the fallen king, but he won’t die from the experience.

“Damn,” Temper says, “So you’re just going to let him rot away inside that creature?”

“No.”

Unfortunately.

“I still need Galleghar.”

Temper gives me a questioning look.

“He’s going to guide me to the Pit.”

She raises her eyebrows. “Ohshit. You’re going to try to save Des.”

Not try. Iwillsave him.

She cracks her neck. “I’ve never been to the underworld before. This should be fun.”

“You’re not coming.” I don’t look at her when I say it.

For a beat, there’s silence.

Then—

“What? Of course I’m coming. Don’t make me get offended.”

I stop in the middle of the hallway and turn to her. “Temper, I’m probably going to die.”

And I can’t bear the thought of putting her life at risk in the process.

“One,” Temper says, “you’re not going to fuckingdie. This is not a suicide mission—otherwise, I’d be chaining your ass to one of the stupid marble sculptures littering this place rather than getting ready to pack my bags.