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Laurent laughed softly against her cheek. “Wicked princess.”

“It’s your fault,” she sighed, snuggling into our embrace. “You corrupted me.”

“Well,” he said, “that’s probably true.”

Chapter Eighteen

GIVEN

“I want you to use your bly’ad on me,” Laurent said.

Anxiety spiked in my chest. “Now?” We rode side by side in the weak light cast by a crescent moon, our horses’ hooves muffled by leather booties the knights had fastened on them before we left the palace. I’d refrained from telling the knights the booties made their chargers look absolutely adorable. The leather was for stealth, which we needed if we hoped to get near the Rift undetected.

Near was as close as we would go. We planned to stop a few hundred feet from the chasm and creep forward the rest of the way on foot. We’d have to move slowly, since the Sithistrans almost certainly had lookouts posted in the small fort on their side of the Rift.

Laurent’s eyes gleamed from inside his cowl, reminding me of Doru. “Everyone speaks the bly’ad differently. Some can go hours without feeling any negative effects. Others become instantly ill. You won’t be able to root your word in blood. It will probably cause you pain, although your human blood might blunt those effects.” He offered me a gentle smile. “Regardless, I don’t think we should wait to find out.”

He was right—and I’d avoided thinking about how I was going to use my new power once we reached the Rift. Varick had ensured I would have plenty of protection. Before we left the palace, he’d huddled with Radu and Drago, and the three of them had come up with a simple plan for getting Laurent across the Bleak Pass.

The knights would take me as close to the Pass as possible, where I would speak the bly’ad to freeze any Sithistrans I saw. And seeing was critical. According to Laurent, power words didn’t work outside of visual range. My bly’ad was also limited to one or, if I were lucky, two soldiers at a time. Unfortunately, I couldn’t stand on one side of the Rift and freeze the entire Sithistran army.

But I didn’t need to. If I could freeze enough enemy knights to allow Laurent to cross the Bleak Pass unharmed, he would take care of the rest. And Varick and his knights would keep me safe while Laurent decimated the humans and hopefully stopped the war.

“Hit me,” Laurent said now. “Tell me to be still.”

My stomach flipped over. “I just…say it?”

“Yes. It belongs to you. Do you feel it on your tongue?”

As soon as he said it, the word was there. Ricti. For a second, I tasted Lega’s kiss. An echo of pain frazzled through me like someone pressing a bruise. “Why do they hurt so much to speak?” I asked.

“The language of the gods isn’t meant for us.” Laurent’s smile was soft. “Vampires are mortals the same as men. Don’t be afraid, princess. Tell me to be still.” He flashed one of his mischievous grins. “And then be a good girl and release me.”

I drew a deep breath. Before my courage could desert me, I opened my mouth and said, “Ricti.”

He froze in the saddle.

Nausea surged, and a wave of dizziness washed over me. Saliva flooded my mouth as Laurent started to tip off his horse. “Rem,” I gasped.

Varick appeared, grabbing a fistful of Laurent’s cloak and hauling him back before he could crash to the ground. Laurent laughed softly as he scrabbled for his saddle’s pommel.

“What in the name of all the gods are you two doing?” Varick said under his breath.

“I’m sorry!” I told Laurent. I reached for him, but he was already recovered, happiness dancing in his eyes.

“Don’t apologize, princess. That was very good.” He beamed at me. “You’re a natural.”

“I am?”

Varick glared at us. “Will you keep it down?”

“Sorry, baby.” Laurent patted Varick’s gauntlet. “We were just practicing. Given said her first bly’ad.”

Varick looked like he wanted to murder us both. “No more practicing,” he muttered.

“We promise,” I said solemnly.

He grunted and faced forward. Laurent caught my eye and winked, and we smiled at each other like naughty children scolded by a strict parent. Proud of you, he mouthed.