Page 23 of To Sway a Prince (Tempting Thieves)

23

THE THREAD

R amiel whirled, one arm clasped around me as he faced the bridge. The leviathan thrashed against the largest of the rifts in the Chasm, desperate to get out and tearing it even more. A sour, bitter scent filled the air, mixing with the sharp tang of magic.

The barrier twisted and bulged against his movements, and the spear in his shoulder glowed with remnants of the healing energy. The poor creature flailed. His deep-orange eyes met mine. Madness surged in those eyes. If only I could tell him we were trying to help.

I locked into place, the creature's agony brutal and vivid. He flung his head back once more and bellowed. Lightning exploded around his jaws. The air near his head rippled as if he distorted it, and the Chasm's barrier rippled more and more.

Ramiel scanned the Chasm as the dragons circled above, his expression grim. "This is our last chance. Don't come any closer to the Chasm, Astraia."

I scoffed. "I won't come near the Chasm, but I won't abandon you either. We're in this together, Ramiel."

He opened his mouth to answer.

A thunderous crack split the air as the leviathan slammed against the bridge. Stone crumbled beneath his weight.

Strange flying creatures shot up from the smaller tears. They scattered in all directions. The dragons swooped down and chased after them. The thunder of their wings intensified as the wind picked up.

I braced myself against the wind as Ramiel strode back to the edge of the bridge, his silver hair whipping around his shoulders. The Chasm roiled beneath, purple mist churning like an angry sea. Each movement of the massive creature sent waves of energy pulsing through the air.

The poor creature was suffering badly. My heart ached for him. The spear in its shoulder was nearly free, the healing magic working. I grimaced, shaking my head. Healing always hurt before it helped, but that didn't make it easy to endure. The pain in my own flesh reminded me of that. If he would just stop fighting it and let us help, he'd heal so much faster. But there was no way to communicate that.

Ramiel planted his feet on the bridge's edge as the structure trembled beneath him, far closer to the edge than I wanted him to be. His hands began to move, precise and deliberate, cutting glowing runes into the air.

I focused my energy, reaching out with my magic to strengthen each symbol as it formed. My aura stretched out as close as I could send it to find the weaknesses. Come on. Come on! The runes brightened, their edges sharpening as my power flowed into them.

I could see the strain in Ramiel's shoulders, the slight tremor in his fingers that others might miss. The power required to heal such a massive wound was taking its toll. Sweat beaded on his brow despite the chill wind.

The leviathan reared back, his massive jaws opening. Lightning crackled between his jagged teeth, arcing outward in a blinding flash. Ramiel barely pulled back, the brilliant streak of energy burning the stone near his foot.

A horrifying screech drew my attention skyward. Another chasm wraith had broken free, its ghostly hand wrapping around Giselle. She twisted in its grasp, purple wings beating frantically as the color bled from her form.

"Ramiel! Above!" I pointed upward.

He glanced up, fingers still cutting runes into the air. Without breaking rhythm, he carved three new symbols over the Chasm, these glowing with a fierce silver-blue light. Zephyrus and a dark-grey dragon immediately dove toward the wraith.

Two other dragons swooped in, snatching the silver runes in their claws before soaring toward Giselle. Their coordinated attack tore at the wraith's misty form, freeing the purple dragon from its grip. The grey one swept beneath Giselle and helped her to fly to an outcropping as Zephyrus and Veyruneth bared their teeth and lured to the disintegrating runes where they would kill it.

The bridge shuddered violently beneath us. Thalorion landed beside Ramiel with a heavy thud. The whiskered dragon roared, a sound that seemed to shake the very air, and launched himself at the leviathan. Claws and teeth flashed as Thalorion drove the creature back from the bridge, creating space for Ramiel to work but without drawing blood.

Gritting my teeth, I channeled more power into Ramiel's runes. Almost there. The gold and silver spiraled together. Already though the scent of burning metal cut through the myriad of scents, present and growing. My skin crawled, my breaths tightening.

No! Not yet.

My magic surged as I strengthened the last of the runes Ramiel was carving. It hooked onto him momentarily, lighting him up. Maybe it was the mate bond that granted me insight even as it fought to seal into place. Maybe it was something from the Chasm. Maybe both.

But I saw it.

There.

My blood ran cold.

Ramiel was nearing the end of his strength, flagging badly though he kept up his grim expression. His heart thundered, its every pulse and throb highlighted by my golden light, the knots cutting in tighter and pulling closer.

And right in the center of his heart, peeking out just far enough was that central thread that bound the knots, layered around itself at least six times to form that crucial center knot.

He was right. It was hooked into the very essence of the curse and his heart, resistant to removal. If I pulled it free, I wouldn't have time to break it into pieces. I was already too weakened to do more than draw it out, let alone guide it. The whole thing would come loose, and it would coil around me as if I were the spindle on a spinning wheel. And I would die.

Funny.

Some curses really couldn't be escaped.

Mine had found me after all this time. After so much death and loss. It had found me.

I could run. Hide under a sycamore tree. Could probably call Zephyrus to me, and he'd come. Take me away from this place.

I really could.

In theory.

Ramiel would understand.

Pulling that thread free would unleash the fullness of his power, and it would condemn me. If I didn't, he would reach the end of his strength, collapse, and die at the omenfang's claws. The leviathan would not be healed. He would worsen and continue in this madness until he tore free and died a horrible death as he destroyed all he encountered. The dragons would continue fighting the creatures of the rift. But one chasm wraith could destroy any of them. Zephyrus would fall. I could practically see that, and tears stung my eyes. The rift would remain open with all the creatures of the liminal space free to pour through. And eventually everything would perish.

A small, sad smile tugged at my lips as I kept my magic steady. Oh, I could continue with the reasons. There were so many. But the fact that this would take Ramiel's life and almost certainly Zephyrus's was reason enough for me.

Creator of All, keep me strong, keep me steadfast. And please don't let it hurt too much.

Ramiel continued to cut the runes into the air. He sagged to the left, his breaths labored. Adjusting his stance, he stood again and called something out in a language I did not recognize.

Another agonized howl rose, spiraling in the growing darkness of night and storm.

Stepping forward, I removed my pale gold blade, tightened my focus, and snagged that central thread with everything I possessed.

It snapped around my wrist as if it had been waiting for me. Wincing, I gripped my arm, willing myself to hold steady. I had it! The power throbbed in my veins, building and singing as I willed that central knot to come undone.

Ramiel's posture tensed as soon as I connected. The muscles in his jaw and throat pulsed, his gaze hinging back though he barely managed to turn his head as he continued to support the runes and the dragons seized them.

"Astraia, no." I heard his voice in my mind through the pendant. That raw pleading nearly undid me. I heard the strain in his voice. Felt the pain of the curse.

"We can't escape some things, Ramiel," I said, both aloud and in my mind. "Sometimes we do our best, and we just have to let it be what it is. I love you."

With that, I closed my eyes and poured the last of my power into dissolving that core knot. The central thread surged free, and the world spun. It coiled around me, faster and faster. I couldn't even slow it. My arms were pinned to my sides, my legs squeezed together. It wrapped around my chest and my throat. Gasping, I thrust out with my aura and fought to keep the threads from completely choking me.

The ground struck me, knocking the wind from my lungs. Wheezing, I struggled to open my eyes again. My shoulder throbbed, my lungs ached. The cursed thread burned, seeping into my skin. But Ramiel—oh, Ramiel.

His chest expanded as he drew a full, deep breath. The silver-blue of his magic surged forth, radiating from him in powerful waves.

His eyes met mine, sorrow and horror etched into his face. "Hold fast, Astraia. Don't let it take you! You aren't done yet. I will save you." Raw anguish twisted his features before he forced it away, jaw setting with determination. He strengthened the runes in the air above the leviathan, their light intensifying until it hurt to look at them.

With a violent thrust, he sent the magic toward the leviathan. The creature froze mid-thrash, suddenly still. The runes eased into the puckered, ugly wound in his shoulder. The last bit of the spear dropped out, drawn free by the runes. The flesh knitted together, the swollen scales smoothing over.

Ramiel shouted something to the dragons—a command I couldn't hear through the roaring in my ears. Thalorion and Zephyrus responded immediately, adopting a tight formation above the Chasm. The rest of the dragons dropped down as well, reforming their quads and seizing the runes.

The horrible scent of burning metal intensified. That vile cold taste filled my mouth.

No.

Behind Ramiel, darkness gathered. The omenfang materialized, its kangaroo form grotesque and wrong, static crackling around its distorted limbs. Its gaze narrowed on me, pure rage and hate. It hissed, its entire aura pulsing violet and black.

Fear sliced through me, but I met its gaze, glaring back. Even if I was terrified, I wasn't going to let it see. The threads cut deeper, binding around me tighter and tighter. What little resistance I could mount by pushing out with my aura and straining my arms rapidly weakened.

Ramiel spun around, his hand slashing through the air, trailing silver fire. "Do not touch her!" he bellowed. The blow connected with the omenfang's chest. It didn't evaporate this time. It screamed and staggered backward.

Yes!

It was corporeal now.

Murderous rage burned in Ramiel's eyes as he lunged for it. Runic blades shone in the air. "Release her now!" Those blades shot through the air and pierced the omenfang again and again.

A heavy thud shook the ground behind me. Zephyrus loomed over me, his heavy talons biting into the stone. His amber eyes blazed with terror. He howled and snarled, biting at the shadowy threads with the precision of a surgeon's scalpel but they reformed immediately. "No, no," I said, choking. "It's—it's going to be all right. I'm sorry, big guy. I love you too."

His jaws snapped with a sharp click. He nudged me frantically, whimpering.

My focus slipped. His talon clipped my side as he rolled me over and snipped again and again. It wasn't working.

He howled, then dropped his head level to me. Thrusting his snout against my body, he chirred and trilled and growled as he nudged at my ribs and my face. His steamy breath blasted against me, but there was no heat this time. Only damp.

The threads squeezed tighter. My vision dimmed at the edges. Each breath came shorter than the last. It felt like it was pulling me into the ground.

Ramiel skidded in front of me. He leaned over me, his hand pressing against my cheek. "Don't go, Astraia. Hold on. Just give me three more moments. Hold fast. I can save you. Just—just give me a few more breaths."

Zephyrus howled again. Then he spun and raced to the edge of the bridge. The rolling wail of a roar he made echoed in my ears. The other dragons flew closer, making a similar call.

I swallowed hard. Their voices deepened and distanced as a heavy hum filled my ears. Darkness closed in. I couldn't hold out much longer.

"Shh. You can do this. You saved me from my curse, now I'll save you from yours." Ramiel's voice was distant. "Keep breathing. You're holding on. That's right. Just a little longer." He etched the runes into my shoulder. But the scar refused to accept it as easily. It repelled his rune as much as it had fought the full connection of the mating bond. He gritted his teeth and pressed more energy against me, willing it against me. "I won't lose you," he said hoarsely. "I love you."

I gritted my teeth. It hurt in a different way. Like something was trying to connect.

The darkness closed in. One last breath sputtered from my lips, and the threads cinched tight. This wasn't just a dream. It was real.

I would never wake again.