I grabbed the handle, turning the blade from side to side. The metal tip shimmered along the blade from the sconces, and I swore I saw glimpses of red and orange swirl under the silver.
He took my hands in his. “Can you do this, Nollie?”
I didn’t answer right away, just kept staring at the blade in between our hands.
“Let me be clear,” Hael added after a moment, moving one hand to gently lift my chin so I was looking at him. “I know you can do this, you’re more than capable, but mentally, Nollie, are you up for this? Are you sure you want to? I’d be happy to?—”
“I’m sure,” I cut him off. “I can do this.”
I wasn’t going to let Dahes take anything else from me…
“Don’t let him see the blade until you’re ready.” He cupped my face the moment I felt Dahes enter my head. “He still thinks I have it. I have no idea where he went, but he’ll be back soon.”
I exhaled, stashing the blade in my belt. I didn’t tell Hael it was too late. Dahes already knew. He left Hael the moment he realized I broke out. He’d been looking for me…
“Come to me, little ghost. I’m waiting outside the castle if you want to use that dagger of yours,”he crooned inside my head, the order running through me.“I’d love to see you try.”
I could still do this. I had to.
“Nollie,” Hael exhaled harshly, stepping toward me. “I know you can do this, but if things go wrong, I want you to keep your transparency on and then find Aura. She can keep a barrier over you, so Dahes can’t get to you, and whenever she needs to refill her well, use your Token. No matter what happens, do not go back to him.”
I shook my head. If we survived this, I planned on asking him about Aura, on why he believed she would do that for me and what happened during MonClem, but not now. We didn’t have time.
“I need to go alone,” I said, turning my Token on so Hael couldn’t stop me, and the moment I did, Dahes left my mind.
I staggered backward, trying to collect myself. I was half tempted to turn it back on just to test the theory, but Hael was watching me, and I knew he’d stop me the moment I did.
“No, I’m coming with you. It’s too dangerous, he can hurt you.”
“Hael,” I shook my head, almost laughing. “I’m already dead,” I said. “He can’t kill me if I use my Token.” And maybe he couldn’t hear my thoughts…
“Nollie—” Hael started, but I cut him off.
“If you come, he’s just going to use you against me.”
“Then let him do whatever the hell he wants to me, but you aren’t going alone.”
I was sick of Dahes taking things from me, sick of him hurting the people I loved, sick of being manipulated. Ihadto do this alone.
Breathe. One. Two. Three. Four. Exhale.
“I’m sorry,” I said as I exhaled. “But I promise, I can do this.” I didn’t look back as I started running.
Hael cursed before I disappeared through the walls, trying to lose him as I made my way to Dahes.
I knew he would chase after me. I only had a short window to do this before he found me. My only advantage was that he’d have no idea where I was going, and even if he did, it would take him twice as long without cutting through the castle.
I sent a final prayer to the Suns and Moons that this would work—that this would be the last time in my life I would be answering one of Dahes’ commands.
Chapter Fifty-Two
Drakin Magic
HAEL
Shit. Shit. Shit.
I sprinted toward the door, cursing the Moons as I ran after Nollie. I tried to follow the tug I felt whenever she left, but it was weaving through the castle in a path I couldn’t follow.
