Page 39

A strange, icy blast filled the air around us.

For a split second, time stood still. The memories of my short life flashed before my eyes.

Deafening silence consumed me—a stark and ominous contrast to the absolute chaos erupting around us.

Dirt and smoke fell like fog thick with hail, pelting me and clouding my vision, obscuring yet another one of my senses.

I gasped, desperately choking for air that wouldn’t come.

The impact of Lu shielding me from the explosion had not only knocked the wind out of me—it had tossed us apart like we were nothing more than rag dolls.

Panic. Fear. Terror. The onslaught of emotion was too much to process.

We’d all been nearby when the solric went off. What if—? No. I wouldn’t jump to conclusions. I’d feel it, if one of them had... I couldn’t even bring myself to finish the thought.

Catch your breath. Breathe.

The silence morphed into a high-pitched ringing.

I rolled onto my back, wiping the grit from my face.

Lucius appeared above me, horror in his amber eyes.

He was alive! Thank all that is good—he was alive.

Dust caked his face, and blood trailed down his forehead.

His mouth was moving, but I couldn’t hear anything over the immense squealing in my ears.

“ Mic! Can you hear me? ”

There he was. The sound of his beautiful voice filled my head and wrapped my fear in a warm, soothing embrace. “ Lucius! Yes, yes, I’m here. Are you okay? You’re bleeding. ” I reached for his brow, wanting to further investigate his wound.

“ Never mind me. It’s a nick. Are you hurt? ”

“ My ears are ringing, but I think I’m okay. ” I looked down at my limbs. Everything appeared to be intact. No blood. No sharp pain. Somehow, I’d made it through the blast without a scratch.

Gently, he pulled me to my feet. “ The ringing should subside quickly. ”

“ Where is everyone? ”

“ I’m not sure. I can’t see much through the smoke. ”

“Mic!” Luca’s muffled voice seemed miles away. It was barely audible, yet I could hear the sheer panic in his call.

“ Lu, I think I just heard Luca calling for me. Go. Find Fallon. ”

“Luca!” I screamed, hoping he’d hear me.

“ Are you sure you’ll be okay if I leave? ”

“ I’m fine. Please, go! ” I pleaded.

I prayed he’d find the others quickly. My mind wouldn’t relax until we were all accounted for.

“Luca!” I screamed again.

Before I could respond, he was beside me, pulling me into a suffocating hug. “Mic, I was so worried. I couldn’t see you.” His hands trembled as he stroked my hair. “Thank the Divine. Are you okay?”

“I’m good. Are you injured?”

Luca frantically scanned me for injury. “Don’t worry about me. Did you get hit with any shrapnel?”

“Luca,” I said, catching his face in my hands and forcing his gaze back to my eyes. “I’m okay.”

He pulled me into his arms again, holding tight. “I thought I lost you.” His voice quavered. “Mic,”—He turned my face to his—“I love you. I’ve always loved you.”

His confession was exactly what I needed to hear.

Tears welled in my eyes. The night’s events had more than overwhelmed me, and the sheer proximity in which I came to losing my life, terrified me more than it ever had.

I wasn’t ready to leave this fairytale. Not yet.

I didn’t need to almost lose them to know in my heart, I loved every one of them—but maybe this was the catalyst we needed to thrust those feelings to the forefront?

To force us all to acknowledge the truth.

Maybe this was the light hidden in the darkness.

I reached up, wiping away the tears from his cheek and placed a chaste kiss on his lips. “Luca, I love you too.”

“ I’ve found Fallon. ” Lu’s voice pulled me from the moment, bringing me back to the situation at hand. “ She’s a little bumped up, but overall she’s fine. ”

“ Any sign of Nico or Jase? ”

“ Not yet. They can’t be far. ”

“Lu found Fallon. She’s okay,” I shared the good news with Luca. “Where are Nico and Jase?”

“They were both standing in front of the prisoner when he… exploded.”

“We need to find them immediately. They could be seriously injured.” I couldn’t hide the concern in my voice.

“They’re going to be okay. I promise,” Luca said, trying to reassure me as we picked our way through the wreckage.

“ Found them! It’s not good. Hurry. ”

My heart dropped. The fear I’d been pushing down bloomed into full panic.

“Mic?” Luca caught my arm. “What is it?”

“Lucius found them. We have to go—now.”

Debris littered the area. Chunks of bloody flesh and shattered trees were strewn about. The reality of what had happened continued to astonish me.

“There they are!” Luca pointed ahead, rushing toward a mound of shadowed figures.

The explosion had thrown them several feet.

Nico lay sprawled on the ground. Jase was sitting across from him, both of them covered in blood and gore.

Fallon and Lu knelt beside Nico, trying to rouse his lifeless body, while Jase stared blankly, unmoving.

“Jase?” I called, hoping for any response.

He didn’t react, just sat silently, his face completely stoic, watching his family crowd around his lifeless brother. His shadows erratically dancing in and out of his shoulders like dark bolts of lightning.

“Jase, are you okay?” He was dripping with viscera.

He ignored my question, continuing to stare at Nico. “Is he—? I tried,” he said through panted breaths. “I tried to shield everyone. My shadows…”

Now it was making sense. We’d survived because of Jase. The icy blast I’d felt when the solric went off—it had been his shadows. I didn’t want to think about what would’ve happened if he hadn’t acted so quickly.

“Thank you,” I said, reaching for his hand. “Are you hurt?”

“Forget about me!” he roared, pulling his hand from mine. “Help my brother.”

Nico lay motionless on the forest floor. Fallon and Lu were trying desperately to rouse him.

“Nico, wake up. Michaela’s here,” Lucius said, glancing at me. “He’s alive—unconscious, but he’s still with us.”

“How severe are his injuries?” I knelt beside him, trying not to panic. His left shoulder was definitely not where it was supposed to be. His shirt was torn exposing multiple lacerations. “There’s an awful lot of blood. Fallon, what do I do? Should I life-bind with him?”

“Maybe he’ll respond to your voice,” she said, placing Nico’s hand in mine.

“Nico,” I said, brushing the hair from his face. “I need you to wake up. You can’t leave me yet.” I leaned in close to his ear and whispered, “I love you. Come back to me.”

I felt his hand twitch. Then, faintly—“Michaela?”

“Nico!” Fallon gasped, tears spilling down her cheeks.

He tried to sit up, groaning in pain. Luca quickly placed a hand on his chest to stop him. “Stay down. There’s been an explosion. You’ve been injured.”

“Michaela,” he called again.

“I’m right here.” I squeezed his hand.

“Are you okay?” he asked, trying once more to sit up.

“You need to stay down.” I gently pressed him back, careful to avoid his disfigured shoulder. “I’m okay—doing better than you,” I quipped, trying to lighten the mood. “Everything’s going to be alright. We’ll get you straight to Maxfield.”

“We’re gonna need a place to recoup and treat our wounds. We can’t stay here. Whisperhold is gone.” Fallon was right—we needed somewhere safe.

“We’ll take shelter with the Raven’s Hand. Lucius, find help and fashion a stretcher for Nico,” Luca stepped up, immediately taking charge.

“I can walk,” Nico grunted.

“Just because you can doesn’t mean you should. Your shoulder’s a right mess. You’ll rest while we sort out the details,” Luca commanded. “Jase, unless you’re injured, I need you to shake it off. We end this madness now—before we lose another brother. If Johan wants a war, we’ll give him one.”

Maxfield was already tending to the wounded when we arrived at the Raven’s Hand’s camp. Several innocents had been severely injured in the attack. Guilt twisted in my gut. We’d been the target, and thanks to Jase we walked away with nothing more than a few relatively minor injuries.

Maxfield made quick work of Nico’s shoulder. The impact had dislocated it, and some large pieces of shrapnel had been lodged under his skin. A few yelps and a particularly pungent salve had him feeling almost back to normal.

Fiona helped settle us into a small but safe shelter. Four walls, a few chairs, and some bedrolls. A simple space for us to rest and lick our wounds. I was grateful we were all together. After everything we’d endured, the thought of being separated was unbearable.

Fallon sat alone in the far corner of the room, a brimshade cigarette pinched between her fingers. She looked detached, lost in thought, her face frighteningly stoic.

We all felt it—defeated. Like it or not, Johan had won tonight. He’d taken prisoners, burned down our safe house, and stomped on our psyche.

“I know a way back into Mathenholm,” Jase said suddenly, cutting through the heavy silence. “We should make our move now. Johan won’t expect a swift retaliation.”

“Oh, now you have information?” Lu snapped. “You’ve been back a month. Why didn’t you mention this earlier? Now that we’ve been attacked and our home’s a pile of ash, you conveniently know a way into the castle?”

“Lu,” I said gently. “Let him speak.”

“He’s had plenty of time to share,” Luca said bluntly. “Why now?”

“Jase,” Nico remained stoic in the face of frustration. “Tell us what you know. And this time, try not to leave out useful information.”

“I know for a fact, Johan has discovered the secret tunnels running underground. They’re no longer a viable option, however he’d be expecting us to use them. There were guards posted at both ends when I’d escaped. I’d be willing to bet he has placed all of his fruit in that one basket.”

“Good point,” Fallon spoke up. “That fucking vulture isn’t exactly intelligent.”

“So if we can’t use the tunnels, what’s your big plan to get us in unseen?” Luca asked, dripping with skepticism.