Page 141 of Facade

Malachai came into view—relief hit sharp and sudden.

“Get down!”

I dropped—his arrow loosed the same instant.

The scream of rage behind me said he hit his mark.

My gaze stayed locked on Malachai and Lyra as I forced myself up—half running, half falling—until I slammed into Lyra’s outstretched arms.

By the time I turned, shadows swallowed the King—he was gone.

One by one, Fae and Shadow Stalkers disappeared within the blackness, more like moving shadows that Cressida had released until all that remained were a few skurs.

Our allies picked off the remaining monsters, and when the last one stopped moving, celebratory howls and cheers rang out. The storm dissipated, leaving only a light mist behind.

Only thirty wolves remained out of the sixty or so that showed up. And Freesia… There wasn’t anything to celebrate. Not for me. This wasn’t over.

“You okay?” Ryker’s voice was rough and deep, back in his human form, making the blood and ichor stand stark on him.

I swallowed thickly, dragging my eyes over his injuries, nodding toward the deep wound in his side.

“Better than you. You should get that looked at.”

He grunted, not meeting my eyes. “I’ve had worse. Sit down, I’ll look at your leg.” I nodded, limping toward an upturned cart to lean against.

He knelt before me and ripped through the fabric of my leggings with ease, eliciting a shudder that had nothing to do with the cold. Thaddeus’s cabin flashed through my mind.

“Nasty break. The blade missed the artery. Should heal up in a couple of weeks.” He stood to leave.

“Ryker—wait.” My fingers brushed his arm—he stiffened—and stepped back.

Unease slid through me like water over oil. The space between us suddenly felt wider than it should've been.

“Ryker! I can’t believe you’re alive. I’m sorry, brother—I had no control over anything. I knew what was happening, but—”

Ryker smiled—though I could tell it was forced—at Malachai, turning away from me.

“It’s okay, I know. It’s good to see you, too.”

“Aiden?” Malachai questioned. I held my breath as I, too, waited for his answer. Ryker’s face fell as he ran a hand through the blood in his damp hair.

“Alive. I… couldn’t end him,” he breathed. “I took his wings instead.”

Malachai and I exchanged a brief look. A Gargoyle without wings was no Gargoyle at all. A fate worse than death. Unease twisted harder in my gut at the admission that Aiden was still out there, somewhere.

“Where’s Aniah?” Ryker asked, scanning the trees.

“I don’t know. Last I saw her was in the castle,” I said, somberly. He barely spared me a glance as his jaw worked. Why won’t he look at me?

“I thought I saw that Thaddeus fella. But there’s no way he would be here,” Lyra snorted.

Ryker’s jaw tightened, gaze sliding skyward. “The bargain.”

A growl rumbled deep in Malachai’s chest.

“She’ll be back,” Ryker said to him firmly, clapping him on the shoulder.

“Ryker—” I started toward him, but wolves howled behind us, making way for Dimitri and two others flanking him.