Page 46

‘I wish we had more time…’ I murmured, then dove into the abyss of frozen dead.

My body protested. Pain spread through my bones, making each step a challenge. My Aether drained faster than I was willing to admit. Tova panted behind me. His curses filled the small space, escalating each time I killed another wraith.

Just a little more. Please, Makosh, let me kill the dead, let me protect my people. There are so many of them up there.

Claws whooshed over my head. The wraith almost got me when my magic flickered, the fire dying for a moment. Still, Tova and I were nearly in the cell.

Its walls were white with frost and ice. Icicles hung from the ceiling, reflecting the light from the half-open portal.

‘Svarog’s sweaty bollocks, what I would give for a forge fire,’ Tova grunted, standing beside me.

I had no time to answer him. Two more beings emerged, rushing towards us with a hiss of icy air.

‘Get ready!’ I shouted, burning the path in front of me.

My body was lighter than ever, almost as if I were floating through the air. The necklace against my chest burned, its light turning the ice a sickly green.

‘Open me a path to the disk!’ Tova bellowed, and I aimed one stream of coruscating fire at the srebrec box. Tova charged forward and, with a battle cry, swung his axe into the device.

That’s all I could see.

Death before me had milky white eyes and sharp claws. The wraith’s mouth opened, revealing a row of serrated teeth.

I only had enough Aether to protect one of us. Tova cursed; his axe fell onto the artefact, smashing it into smithereens.

Just as the wraith’s claws sank into my chest.

My world turned darker, colder, and full of regret.

I wanted to be a queen. I wanted to be a wife. I wanted to make a change.

None of it mattered now.

At least I never promised Rey I would return.

My magic exploded.