Page 32

“Avery,” I call out, but my voice splinters, breaking apart in the thick haze. Smoke curls around me, swallowing every sound.

I try to move, but I can’t.

I’m pinned.

My head’s twisted sideways, jammed against the crushed roof. I’m hanging upside down, blood fucking everywhere.

Gazing around, I search for my phone, but I don’t see it. I don’t hear her beautiful voice anymore.

Swallowing hard, I worry when it feels like glass is scraping down my throat.

The visor snaps open and the map dangles above me, clinging to the clip like it knows one wrong move means the end.

Then I see a small corner of the picture behind it. I move my arm, shrieking through the pain as I stretch up.

“Fuccccck,” I howl as I pluck the picture down.

It flutters into my hand and I hold it like it’ll somehow get me through this. It’s Avery and her mom—the one she had in her music box.

After I grabbed the box from her room, I stole the photo. Told myself I’d get it back to her someday without her knowing it was me.

But that was before. Things are different now.

She was just a wide-eyed kid in this photo, untouched by the world. No idea her future would be swallowed by the Ice Lords.

My body might be a wreck, bruised, crushed, and screaming in pain, but it’s nothing compared to the weight sinking into my chest.

She needs me and I’m not there.

I shift my shoulders, fighting the cage of twisted metal around me. Something’s gotta give. Blood drips down my face, hitting my lips. I drag my tongue across them, spit, then keep pushing to free myself.

Just then, I hear the shuffle of footsteps outside the door. About damn time someone came to fucking help me.

“Hello,” I call out. “I’m here. I’m stuck.”

A pair of black boots steps up to the shattered window. They’re so close I could reach out and grab them if my left hand weren’t stuck.

“Hey!” I shout louder. “A little fucking help, please!”

But I hear no response.

The figure crouches down in front of the window frame, and that’s when I see the robe and mask.

One of our masks.

My breath catches. “Who the hell are you?”

He doesn’t say anything, just reaches inside the car like he knows exactly what he wants. Then he rips the photo from my hand.

“Give that back!” I shout as loud as my compressed lungs will let me.

I look into the eyes of the mask, but all I see are hollow black holes.

He isn’t one of us. He isn’t an Ice Lord.

“I’ll fucking kill you,” I seethe.

Still clutching the photo, he stands and disappears from sight.

The ear-splitting screech of metal grinding against concrete rips through the air.

“Help me, dammit!” I shout, heart hammering, gut twisting with unease. Something’s wrong. Something is really fucking wrong.

The sound of sirens rings out. I exhale, relief rushing in.

Then, flames roar to life around me. In less than a minute, heat licks my skin, smoke choking the air. I have to heave for breath but I do it, pushing through as much as I can because she needs me.

My eyes grow heavy, despite my fight to stay awake.

Flickering black spots consume my vision.

Without my permission, the world fades away.

“Avery,” I whisper, barely more than a breath as I hang onto her name.

Then, darkness swallows me whole.

The End. For Now.

I hope you enjoyed the first book in the Ice Lords series.

I promise this isn’t truly the end.