Page 129 of Facade

“Every. Fucking. One,” I said through gritted teeth, as I reached behind and unsheathed my sword.

“Sure you want to do this?” He tilted his head. “It’d be easier to come willingly. That was the entire reason for that irksome quest.” He stepped toward me. “Would have been much easier for Cressida to have used her shadowtravel to bring you here.”

I pointed the tip of my sword at him, jaw aching from how tight I clenched my teeth.

“I went through that for you. So you could get to know the other side of me. Maybe even fall in love with me.”

“Fall in love with you?” I scoffed. “Another side? Is there another side to a male who threatens to force himself on me? All because you and your bitch of a mother are delusional and think I have powers in my blood?”

“You belong to me!” he roared, his voice deepening as his gargoyle emerged.

His skin turned dark blue as he grew taller, the leather tearing from his upper body. Fangs flashed as he snarled and talons grew to sharpened points from his hands, and tore through his boots.

My Gargoyle answered.

Heat flooded my veins, bones stretching, reshaping beneath my skin. Leather strained across my chest as I grew, wings snapping open behind me. Claws split through my fingertips, talons cutting into the stone as I bared my fangs back at him—my tail lashing behind me.

His eyes widened in outrage, scouring over my body. My coloring.

“No, Aiden.” My voice was deeper now, otherworldly as my lip curled. “I don’t.”

Then I lunged.

38

Aniah

The wind was freezing, and the snow relentless.

Ryker.

Recognition struck instantly. Though it didn’t read as the magical signature Witches leave. This tasted ancient. A power of a different caliber. I’d only learned of his power the day of the downfall. We didn’t have the freedom to compare it or understand it better these past years, though I wished we could have. The fact that he had it at all was a miracle in and of itself. It was beautiful and pure, unlike the darkness that tainted mine.

I found a blanket to drape across Malachai’s shoulders, careful not to touch or jostle his wings. Pain flared in his eyes, even though he claimed it wasn’t that bad. My jaw tightened, gaze darting to that necklace around Lyra’s neck and that nasty little orb, knowing if I had my full power, I could heal him. I could sense my magic’s presence within—as if that darkness was taunting me with it.

Thanks to Ryker’s coverage, we made it to a crop of trees.

The Fae King’s voice carried on the wind as he barked orders at the remaining soldiers to search the grounds. I even heard Evanee’s name—they believed she was the one causing the storm. My mind instantly went to her—a sinking feeling settled in my gut as I glanced back at the castle. It killed me to leave her to face Aiden alone. But Malachai would've tried to help, despite his injuries. And the orb couldn’t fall into their hands.

I squinted through the thick snow, waiting for any sign that she, too, had made it out. Nothing. The door to the servant’s hall stayed closed.

Malachai leaned against a tree, hands braced on it to keep weight off his leg.

“Where to?” Lyra yelled over the wind, wrapping her arms around herself. I placed a finger over my mouth, not trusting Fae’s ears not to hear what we were saying.

A frustrated cry left my lips as I shook my head.

“We need to get away from here. They’ll find us too fast.”

Lyra glanced back at the castle.

Malachai grimaced as he shifted to face us.

“Go get her,” he forced out through clenched teeth. I looked at his broken, torn body, my fists tightening in resolve.

I’d called upon Thaddeus the moment the manacles had fallen. Magical bindings worked differently from regular magic. The magic that fueled bargains came from the one who struck it. Even though they forced that magic-blocking concoction down my throat, the bond stayed awake through Thaddeus’ magic.

A tingling sensation ran down my arm where that golden thread hid beneath my skin, tying me to him until our bargain was complete. I knew instantly he would come. Just no clue when.