“Westlyn! Move!” Drae’s voice cuts through the darkness as he and Augs crash through the front door and take in the scene, then charge straight for the fae king.
Verrick curses, and West hurls the sphere of lightning at him, but he dodges the attack, then lunges for her just as a bright silver light opens up behind them, like a tear in the very fabric of the universe.
Another portal.Fuck.
The witches descend the stairs just in time to see him vanish, taking our girl with him.
Draegan roars like a wild animal and barrels through it after her, and then that silver light—that cruel fucking silver light—closes around them both, plunging the rest of us into darkness.
Chapter Eighteen
DRAEGAN
Pain lances through my chest as the portal spits Westlyn and me out into a blinding white blizzard. I barely manage to grab her and roll us out of the way before a massive snowdrift plummets from a rocky cliff above, burying the spot where we’d only just landed.
She’s shivering in her borrowed clothes, no coat or boots, and I have no idea how far we’ve traveled from the inn. The only thing I know is we’re somewhere in the mountains of Wintermoon, and if I don’t find shelter soon, she’ll freeze to death.
Verrick, of course, is nowhere in sight.
Tomorrow, we’re out for fucking blood…
Jude’s earlier words are a cruel echo.
I spot an opening in the rock face a few dozen yards ahead, and hope like hell it’s big enough to fit inside.
“It was all a trap,” Westlyn says to me now, her teeth chattering. “If he wanted to turn youallto stone back at the inn, he could have. He wanted to separate us—make us easier to pick off one by one, because that’s the kind of game he wants to play.”
“I don’t think that’s it, love.” I scoop her into my arms and trudge through the snow toward that dark crevice. “He may have wantedyouto chase him, but I don’t think he intended for me to follow. He’s not looking to pick us off—I don’t think he even has the power for it.”
“What do you mean?”
We reach the opening in the rock face, which is—mercifully—an entryway to a large cavern, uninhabited like the rest of the realm, and dry.
“Something isn’t right about all this,” I say once we’re out of the wind, gathering some dried brush from around the entrance and following her deeper into the cavern. “His magic seems to be fading. He’s taunting us, yes, but I’m not sure he has the power to mount a full attack. He certainly doesn’t have any armies. Not even a small guard.”
“He wants the Codex.”
“And you. Do you think you can light this for me?” I ask, setting the brush into a small dip in the rocky ground. “Anything will help—even a spark.”
She closes her eyes and holds out her hands, magic sparking to life at once. The kindling catches easily. It won’t last long, but for now, it’s something.
Westlyn sighs and slumps to her knees, staring into the small fire. “Draegan, Jude is…”
“I know, love. I know.” I sit down beside her, wrapping a wing around her shoulders.
“I’m glad you decided to stay with us, though. Thank you.”
I nod. It’s all I can manage. The thought that I evenconsideredleaving them before makes my gut burn with shame.
“Areyouokay?” she asks.
“I’ll be better once we eliminate the threat and return home.”
“I mean… physically. You don’t have any pain or stiffness or…” She shrugs, unable to finish the sentence.
I can’t finish it, either, only this time, it’s not because I’m trying to deflect her or start another argument.
It’s because I truly don’t know how it feels to be turned to stone against my will without the ability to change back.
