Page 23

23

ERYSS

A melia's hands hover over my side, her magic seeping into my skin in slow, steady pulses. It's warm. Soothing. Yet, all I can focus on is the gargoyle pacing like a caged beast nearby, spitting out insults like venom.

"Careful," Naranus sneers, arms crossed over his hard chest, molten gold eyes locked onto Amelia’s hands as though she might rip me apart instead of healing me. "Wouldn’t want to corrupt her with your filth."

Amelia exhales through her nose, patience thinning. "I’m healing her, you ungrateful?—"

"Keep your sorcery off me." His tail flicks, muscles flexing beneath his cracked skin, his stance brimming with restrained violence. "I don’t trust your kind."

"They’re trying to help us!" I snap, flinching when Amelia presses harder into my side, forcing the healing faster.

Naranus glares at me like I’ve personally offended him. "Help?" His voice is sharp, dripping with disbelief. "You really think they’re here out of kindness? They’re only here because they need you alive to finish your mission."

The words hit too hard.

I swallow. "And what would you know about my mission?"

He leans in, wings shifting, making the small space feel even smaller. "I know a sacrifice when I see one, little bride."

My breath shudders.

"You don’t think it’s strange?" He tilts his head, watching me with unsettling intensity. "That they offered you up so willingly? That they sent you, alone into my stronghold with nothing but a blade and a name? Tell me, Eryss. Did it ever occur to you that they never expected you to succeed?"

I grit my teeth. "Shut up."

"They sent you to die."

"Shut up!"

The magic falters around me as Amelia pulls back, eyes flicking between the two of us, but I barely register it. My heartbeat pounds too loudly in my ears. Because he’s right.

I don’t want him to be.

But something deep, dark, and familiar whispers that he is. Of course, I’ve known all along. I just don’t want to admit it to him. Even Catalina and Amelia looks at me with pity, and they’re trying to hide it.

I force the thought down, clawing for something solid to hold onto. "It’s my mission," I say, hating how unsteady my voice sounds. "I chose this."

"You keep saying that." His lips curl, something vicious and knowing in his expression. "As if you believe it."

I hate him.

I hate how easily he sees through me.

"Enough," Catalina cuts in, her tone sharp. She’s standing by the window, body tense. "We can’t waste time on this."

Amelia frowns. "What is it?"

Catalina’s silver-blue eyes darken. "There are gargoyles coming."

The room turns ice-cold.

Naranus stiffens. "How many?"

"More than five," Catalina murmurs, pressing closer to the window, watching the tree line. "They're moving fast."

I force my body up, ignoring the sharp ache in my ribs. "They’re following us," I whisper. "They must’ve picked up our trail after we left the village."

Amelia’s gaze sharpens. "We need to leave. Now."

Naranus exhales through his teeth, jaw locking. "Agreed."

It’s strange, hearing him agree with them. With us.

We move quickly. Catalina throws out the fire, casting the cabin in shadow. Amelia helps me steady my footing before we slip out the back, the cool early morning air thick with the smell of damp earth and impending danger.

Naranus takes the lead, his movements predatory, cautious. His tail flicks behind him as he listens to the wind, as he tilts his head slightly to track the approaching enemies. Catalina and Amelia flank me, their hands ready to summon magic if needed.

But magic won’t help if they catch us before we’re ready.

The trees loom overhead, our only cover. We move fast, our footsteps muffled against the damp leaves.

The wings come closer.

A dark rush of sound, the sharp snap of branches overhead.

A shadow streaks across the air.

My stomach lurches.

They’ve found us.