Page 220 of The Spider Queen

“Sacrifice for those we love isn’t really a sacrifice, is it?”

She smiled. “You would’ve made an excellent Guardian.”

“Guardians can only be men.”

Queen Aisling arched an eyebrow. “You know this for a fact?”

“It’s what Thane told me.”

The Queen fell silent as one of the stallions—the biggest one of all—pranced toward us. It tossed its head, sending its silky black mane flying in the breeze.

“Things aren’t always as they appear to be.”

The sun moved behind a cloud. The meadow was suddenly covered in snow, and the stallion emitted a soft glow. A twisted horn sprouted from the center of its head.

“May I?” I breathed.

She nodded.

I gently reached out to stroke the unicorn’s neck, marveling at the feel of its hair. Its dark eyes met mine. A world I’d never seen before was reflected in its gaze.

My hand dropped. Queen Aisling patted the unicorn’s muzzle and peered at me with serene eyes the color of copper. “It’s time for you to return now.”

“To die?”

“That’s your choice.”

“I can choose not to die?”

Her smile was both ancient and innocent. She was both crone and maiden.

My eyes narrowed. Who was this Queen Beyond the Veil? And what secrets did she possess?

“None that belong to you,” she said gently. She lifted her hand and blew a puff of air in my direction.

I felt the wind under my arms and I was suddenly being carried away. I peered at them from above. The queen mounted the unicorn, and they rode across the snowy land until they became a speck in the distance and then disappeared all together.

Chapter 44

My eyes cracked open. They were heavy, caked with dirt. And blood.

For a moment, I couldn’t hear or feel—but I knew I was back in my human body. It must’ve taken too much energy to retain my spider form.

Everything was numb. Probably for the best. I didn’t want to feel myself dying.

I watched as Thane battled his brother on the bank of the river where I had fallen in battle, stabbed through the thorax with Xan’s sword. Apparently he’d retrieved it from my stomach because Xan now used it to combat Thane.

How had Thane rallied? He had been stung by the wasps same as me.

My hand slid across my belly, encountering my insides, which were spilling out of my wound. I tried to move my head but didn’t have the strength. I knew if I looked down, I’d see one of my legs gone, severed from my body.

I waited for my skin to knit together. I waited for my leg to regenerate. I waited for the black spots dancing before my eyes to disappear.

But none of those things occurred because a magical weapon had felled me.

Immortals most definitely could die.

The roaring silence melted away, and I once again heard the clanging of metal, the shouts of fallen warriors, and the battle cries of those that triumphed. The battle was nearly over, and yet brother still fought brother.