Page 62 of Of Rime and Ruin (Sirens of Adria #2)
Chapter fifty-nine
Aethan
A monster emerges from the shadows, crouching at the lip of its cave. Glowmites illuminate the sharp planes of its face. Jaws made to kill its prey. A sneer parts its mouth, showing the jagged teeth beneath. Dark villainous eyes. Long white hair. A thrashing, barbed tail.
A clawbeast crowded in a cave, holding a princess hostage within—it feels like looking in a mirror.
The beast I’ve chased for years, finally now before me. My nightmare. My villain. I can’t stand the sight of it.
Fury churns in my gut, feeding my magic as it grows. My hands raise, ready conduits for a spell. There will be collateral damage, once the rage takes over.
I flick my eyes away, looking for the treasure I’ve come to save. I will not live with myself if I act too soon, if I destroy Nahla in my rush to save her.
As I wait for her to call out my name, I search for a glint of her golden scales.
But the room is empty. A quick scan confirms my worst fear—piles of bones, molted scales, a nest built with stones—but nothing more.
My heart plummets to the floor.
The beast has already swallowed her.
“You motherfucker,” I snarl. My vision narrows onto the beast. Its armored scales are speckled with frost. The quiet flutter of its gills, vulnerable at its neck.
I must kill it now. Pierce it with a thousand shards of ice. Or freeze its brain and shatter it against the wall. All along I’ve thought I was a ruthless killer, why not embrace it now? I’ll avenge them all.
With a cry, I send a blade of ice hurtling toward its throat. Sickened glee fills me as I wait for the slice of skin, the scent of its blood. The beast will pay for the life it’s taken—my people, picked off one by one while I drowned in the guilt. My sweet Sunfish, gone forever.
She was mine .
The beast throws out its paw, stopping my ice blade inches from its gills. The shard shatters into dust as it lunges forward.
Claws curl around my wrist. I’m yanked up, dangling before its face, its glassy eye inches from my cheek. A puckered scar pulls the corner of its eyelid. It assesses me with a longing gaze, drawing its stare over the length of my body.
I punch at its eyes, connecting with the side of its nose. I will not be its fucking dessert.
Did Nahla fight the clawbeast? Did she struggle and bleed? If I had arrived sooner, could I have saved her?
I thrash harder, clawing at its jaw. Gills. I will not die until I avenge her.
The beast growls and shakes me until my vision doubles, lowering its head. It grips my body in both hands, making it impossible for me to move. Its hands wrench tight, wringing me like a wet rag.
Playing with its food.
I sing another spell, sending ice slicing toward its face. A gash blooms across its eyebrow, trickling blood. Another missile cuts its ear.
The beast opens its mouth and roars. The raspy sound of its voice vibrates through my body, rattling my bones. Its hot breath smells of sour meat.
I try to recall her scent, that warm sunshine smell, like sweetnut milk and vanilla cream. But I can’t. The thick scent of the beast crowds out her memory.
It’s my fault she’s dead, and now I can’t remember the smell of her.
The beast takes its time lowering me toward its mouth. Sharp, double rows of glinting teeth. White hair floats around its head, tangling around its twisted horns. It stares deep into my eyes, as if trying to burn a hole through my skull.
Blue eyes staring, near-lifeless. Her white hair spreading out. Caught in the currents of her blood. Her hand stretches out toward me. Reaching. I reach for her, and our fingers brush.
My mother. I’ve killed her. I couldn’t control my rage, and it’s all my fault.
What’s the point in fighting now? I could not save Nahla.
I can’t save my kingdom. Everything I’ve ever loved has been taken from me, and I have nothing left to give.
My heart shatters, and I let my body grow limp as I brace for the clawbeast’s teeth.
One monster consumed by another, how fucking poetic.
My mother is dead.
Nahla is dead.
And I will join them both soon enough.