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CHAPTER 61
BLAISE
I have to physically dig my fingernails into the metal railing to keep from flinging myself in the middle of the fight between Nox and Abra.
My heart pounds as she sidesteps his attack, hearing him even with her back turned. Nox goes flying for the vat of sunlight, his cheek almost skimming the deathly liquid’s surface before he stops himself with his hands on the railing.
The weight of his impact causes the liquid sunlight to slosh over the rim, coating his hands in the stuff.
Nox lets out a strangled shout as a sizzling noise punctures the thick air, the liquid sunlight burning away his skin.
I feel as though I’m going to be sick. Though I want nothing more than to help him, though he’s changed the plan, I know in my heart this is the best distraction I’m going to get for freeing Piper.
I skirt around the railing at the edge of the room, honing my senses in on the fight that’s now broken out between Nox and Abra. Still, I don’t let myself look, just listen.
The sizzling of flesh, the wiping of the liquid sunlight onto his coat, the stretching of skin reknitting itself. Abra’s cry of anger as she lashes out at Nox.
Piper—I have to focus on saving Piper.
There’s a crash down below, but I don’t let myself look.
Instead, I use the sound as a cover as I sneak up behind Piper and whisper in her pointed ear that I’m here to help.
She startles, distracted by the fight breaking out below, but when I go to rip the restraints from her hands, I realize she’s already clawed her way through half of the layers.
She’s pretty good.
No wonder Abra tied her to the rafters. She probably hoped it would limit Piper’s movement, given if she struggled too much, she would fall.
The ropes rip with ease with the talons for fingernails I can now summon at will. As soon as I cut her free, she flips herself over, hands grasping at the railing to steady herself.
Piper gives me a nod of appreciation, but she doesn’t stop to ask questions as she scampers away down the long metal railing that cuts across the ceiling.
I try to hiss that she needs to wait for me, but she’s already halfway across the railing.
Unfortunately, it doesn’t matter how stealthy Piper is.
There’s no hiding that red hair.
Abra lets out a scream from below, one that signals she’s caught a glimpse of what’s going on above.
That’s when everything spirals out of control.
I allow myself one glimpse below as Nox uses Abra’s distracted attention to land a blow across her neck. She shrieks as his nails make contact, but it’s short-lived. Moments later, the wound heals itself, much faster than it should for the fae.
It’s then I remember the Old Magic’s story.
That when Abra, then known as Mother, was infused with magic from the Rip, her power wasn’t simply potions.
It was healing.
It is healing.
Oh no.
I go to call down to Nox in warning, but I catch myself. It’s too late for that, and judging by the surprise in Nox’s eyes, he’s realized the problem already.
I’m still scampering after Piper across the topmost rafter when the queen sends a dagger hurtling across the room. It delves into Nox’s shoulder, casting him to the floor, writhing in pain.
