Page 225 of The Crown’s Temptation

LARKIN

Larkin came to the mouth of Morrath every day.

Princess Ivanoxa had never asked him to. He did not possess the magic to enter Morrath safely. But in truth, he was not accustomed to being away from her for long.

So he waited. Perhaps she would come today, annoyed that he had kept her waiting.

"What took you so long, imbecile?" she might say.

Larkin did not mind.

He slowed.

Something was wrong. The air had changed. The wards trembled beneath his feet. Not failing. Unsteady.

Then he saw her. She lay half in the mouth of Morrath, blood pooling beneath her, one hand still stretched toward the outside world.

His face went white.

“Princess Ivanoxa?”

He took a hesitant step forward.

"I came for instructions."

No answer.

Another step.

"I come every day.”

The ground beneath him shuddered. A figure rose silently from the darkness beyond the ward.

Flagsar.

All three heads watched Larkin.

"The Vaultline has been breached," Flagsar said quietly.

The mountain trembled again.

"Morrath is becoming unstable."

Larkin opened his mouth.

Flagsar raised one finger to his lips.

Behind them, a figure with teal hair was crumpled on the ground.

It stirred.

Teal hair. Larkin frowned, then recognition crossed his face. The princess had warned him about her once. Larkin never forgot a face.

Dali Vaelor.

Flagsar stepped over the threshold as though the ward were little more than mist. He lifted Nox into his arms with surprising care, carrying her back through the mouth of Morrath.

Larkin's eyes dropped. Something glinted beside Dali's hand.