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Grinning, I snuggle deeper between my unicorn and shadow monster, content and satisfied, and I fall into a dreamless sleep.
Chapter
Forty-Seven
KAI
The next few days are grueling. We all decided we needed to push as hard as we could after we found hunters’ tracks the morning we woke up in our cave. We need to get to the castle before more innocent lives are lost. It means when we rest for a few hours, we all slump together in an exhausted heap, too tired for anything else.
Luckily, we don’t run into any more spider fae, and the monsters we pass seem to be fleeing into the mountains as well and too scared to pay us much attention.
The deeper we go into the Dead Lands, the more ruin I find. It’s as if it’s still healing. The trees bloom, but they are darker, and the grass is almost black. Everything is in shades of gray.
On our third day, I see it.
Lifting my head from Weyland’s shoulder as I ride on his back, I gawk. Sitting upon the mountain is the black castle, its huge spires stretching into the gray sky and piercing the clouds like a sword. The blackness glints with the low sunlight, reflected back by the obsidian color. It looks like a beacon, a haven for monsters, and it’s also the castle from which my sister rules.
I tighten my legs and arms as we pause in the trees, the wind blowing around us. “Are you ready,bacca?”
“No, but I never will be.” I sigh. “Let’s go.” I force my voice to be firm despite the emotions swirling inside me. I don’t want them to think I can’t handle this, even if I’m not sure I can.
Silently, we make our way through the trees, heading up to the castle. The closer we get, the more magnificent and terrifying it seems. The black seems to absorb all light around it, and the towers and spires have deadly spikes along them, and I swear I see something large fly from the top of one. When I try to focus on it, it’s gone.
We walk slowly across a worn stone bridge toward the huge, sprawling castle. It makes me feel small in the face of it.
When we finally reach the open doors of the castle, I slide from Weyland’s back, refusing to be carried to my sister. I don’t want her to see me as weak anymore, so I stand on my own two feet, my monsters spread around me. My hair is braided back and dirty from the journey, but my heart is filled with determination and anxiety.
I blow out a low breath and gather my courage, then I step inside the black castle.
Lanterns glow on the walls as we step inside, their flames filling the space with warmth. The opulent I has me looking around in wonder. Paintings line the walls, as do great, intricate tapestries depicting battles and celebrations.
Unlike the castle in the Gilded Lands, it feels warm and loved. It might be over the top, but the darkness makes me smile. It’s perfect for Cora.
Somehow, we seem to know which direction to go, and we find ourselves in a large room, the obsidian color continued throughout, but I don’t focus onIdecor here—I focus on my sister.
Cora sits upon a throne at the end of the room, perched on a huge monster’s lap. Massive windows above them let in very little light. She laughs, still not having seen us, and the sound fills the space with warmth and joy. She’s oblivious as I rush forward, leaving my monsters at the entrance, before I skid to a stop in front of her throne.
My heart beats triple time, my hands clenched into fists at my sides as her head jerks around, as does the huge monster’s, who’s wearing a matching crown. His eyes are alight with danger and fury, but I look at her.
It’s Cora I worry about.
Her blonde hair glows with power, flowing across her shoulders and down her black dress, which clings to her skin. Her face has filled out, no longer looking gaunt and starved. Her eyes glitter with love and happiness, even as they widen, her plump lips parting.
“Hi, Cora,” I croak. “Long time no see.” The words don’t seem like enough, and I feel foolish when they fall from my lips, but I can barely speak, let alone think of better ones.
She doesn’t move for a moment, and I swallow hard, thinking I made a mistake after all. I’m about to start rambling, desperate for her to say something, but she flings herself toward me. I hold up my hand for my monsters, stopping them from rushing between us, and when she wraps me in her arms, I shudder. My own arms come up and hold her tight, and I bury my head in her shoulder as tears fill my eyes and start to flow down my face. I feel her own wetting my shoulder before she pulls back, her eyes glassy with pain.
She grips my cheeks hard as she looks me over. “It’s you. You’re really here. You’re alive. Kai, you’re alive.”
I crack a smile. “I am. I missed you, sister.”
The fear in my heart eases.
I’m home.
Chapter
Forty-Eight
