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“You don’t have a choice.”
I pulled one of the daggers Valerian had given me back in Lysa out from its sheath. “I’m sick of people saying that to me.”
“And what are you going to do with that?” Malys asked.
“Ruin you,” I said, and I turned the dagger against my own neck.
Malys halted in midair, as did the two Wenlow she was carrying with her. The other two were still engaged with Radulf and Valerian. From behind me, I heard Colbolt shriek, I heard a thud, and a grunt. Valerian had fallen, and so had Colbolt, but I wasn’t able to look over at them—I had to keep all of my focus on Malys.
“You wouldn’t,” she hissed.
“You don’t know me well enough to say that,” I said.
“I know everything about you, you spoiled little girl.”
“Then move one more inch toward me, and let’s find out.”
My hand was trembling, my heart hammering, but my conviction held firm. If this was what it took to spoil every last one of Malys’ plans, then this was what I was prepared to do. Without me, Malys couldn’t cement her hold on Arcadia, her spell would fail, and maybe—just maybe—everything would go back to the way it was.
I would be dead, but so would she, because there wasn’t a world in all of existence in which Malys escaped Fate’s wrath once her protections were torn down.
“I’m going to kill your Pixie, your friend, and even that Maukibou,” she said, “And when this is all done, I’m going to find the rest of your family, and I’ll kill them as well.”
“So, youdon’thave them,” I said.
Malys’ eyes darkened, her jaw tightened, and her lips pressed together. “Give me the dagger, and I’ll spare one of them.”
“Let them all go.”
“No!” she shrieked, and the mountain trembled beneath my feet. “No more games, no more offers, no more negotiations. You and your brother are coming with me.”
Radulf stepped up beside me. He had taken his Fae form, but his chin and neck were covered in blue, Wenlow blood. “I already killed one of your pets,” he snarled.
“There are many, many more where that came from,” said Malys. “Now, be a good dog and tell your sister to drop the dagger and come with me, otherwise no one leaves this mountain alive.”
“You need to kill Valerian anyway,” I said, “Otherwise whatever spell you cast won’t work. We’re bound together—you know that.”
“Trust me, once we’re behind the castle’s walls, his link to you won’t interfere with my magic. I’ve had an entire year to plan for this.”
“So, you won’t kill him?”
“Not if you come with me.”
I turned my head and glanced at Valerian. He was back on his feet, and so was Colbolt, but the Wenlow they were fighting with was also standing, and it looked entirely unscathed. The two other Wenlow Malys had brought with her landed softly near him, which made my stomach muscles tighten. They were going to kill him if I didn’t give her what she wanted.
Valerian shook his head, his eyes wide.
I nodded at him, offering a slight smile. “I’ll see you on the other side,” I said.
“Amara, don’t do it!” he yelled.
I sighed, looked up at Malys, and threw the dagger to the ground. “Alright,” I said. “I’ll go with you.”
“No!” Valerian screamed.
Malys grinned, turned her hand up, and prepared to click her fingers. “It’s done, then,” she said, and in a flash of light, I was gone.
CHAPTERTWENTY
