Page 51

I prayed to the Mother that it would be warm enough that I could make it back without layers, but the summer nights in Istmere were temperamental and unpredictable. It wasn’t like the mortal realm.

I moved to the door, and though I had promised myself I wouldn’t, I turned back.

My breath caught in my throat as I took him in one last time.

Tears stung the back of my eyes as I thought that this might be the last time I ever saw him. He looked so peaceful, his head laid across the pillow. His hair softly billowed out around him. He was bare from the waist up and I could see his tattoos clearly beneath the light of the lantern on the bedside table.

I couldn’t leave him like this forever… in this state. I silently promised him that I would cure him at all costs as I turned, my hand on the knob. I twisted the knob and eased the door open and waited, to see if the movement had woken him.

It hadn’t.

I shakily inhaled as I put one foot in front of the other, creeping towards the staircase as quietly as I could manage. I only needed to avoid that fucking floorboard. I skirted around it, sticking to the walls of the hallway, and made it to the top of the staircase before pausing. I listened for any Noctani that might be in the room below, but heard nothing.

It was now or never.

I gently descended the stairs, cringing each time my boot made one of the steps creak. I cursed that this house was older, full of squeaks and groans. I hoped anyone that mighthear chalked it up to the old bones of the house. Once I had made it to the bottom of the staircase, I glanced around.

Thankfully, the room below was blessedly empty.

On silent feet, I walked towards the front door, and my breath caught in my throat once more when it finally came into view.

This was it.

This was my chance.

My footsteps quickened, my hand reaching out for the knob of the front door when a wind stirred my hair.

Within a blink, a form stood before me, towering over me. An angry expression masked his face. He narrowed his eyes at me, those black tourmaline gems studying me. Assessing me.

“Where do you think you’re going, Firecracker?”

My heart leaped into my throat and I set my jaw.

“Nikolai, you need to let me go.” I kept my voice steady. Authoritative.

His eyes blazed. “I’m afraid I can’t do that.”

He reached out for me and I backed up, narrowly escaping his grasp.

“Diana—” my name in his mouth was a warning, his hand still extended towards me.

“I’m sorry, Nikolai.” I turned, rushing away from him and towards the dining area, but he beat me to it, backing me into the narrow kitchen.

There. On the peninsula was a small dagger.

Mysmall dagger.

Stormslayer.

I had told myself I would risk my magic if it came down to it, and it had. Nikolai had found me trying to escape, and I wouldn’t get a second chance. It had been a luxury that he had allowed me to stay with him in his bedroom here, but after this… he would simply throw me back in the dungeon.

I reached out to my magic, and it filled my core, extending to my fingertips. As if Nik could sense the rush of energy, he lunged forward. Unlike in the training field that day he had captured me, this time I was faster. I used my magic to propel me and I stepped out of his grasp. I pushed my magic out once more and sent the dagger flying off the counter and into my waiting grasp. I held it between us as I circled, herding Nikolai’s back towards the front door.

“You are going to use my own blade against me?” he asked, raising a brow.

“It isn’t your blade,”I ground out, shaking my head.

“I had it made for you, did I not?” he replied, cocking his head to the side.