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I spun in the direction we needed to go, and Kieran hurried beside me, keeping himself between the mirrors and me. His size prevented me from seeing them as he matched his pace to mine.
“Don’t look at the mirrors,” he instructed Moire behind him. “You’ll be tempted the same as Alina was.”
I glanced over my shoulder as Moire stared straight ahead and marched right past us. As soon as she took the lead, I followed her, content she hadn’t fallen for the High Court’s trick.
The sun beamed on us as the pathway continued to slope upward. Sweat dripped down all parts of my body, even from my forehead into my eyes. Nearby moans almost had me missing a step. People were close by, and everyone but the three of us was a foe.
Once more, my tongue stuck to the top of my mouth, and my throat ached from how parched it was. I’d be surprised if we didn’t die of dehydration.
“Do you need more?” Kieran asked as he touched my arm, slowing me further. Sweat slicked his face, yet he was asking me if I needed something. He lifted his finger like he’d done when Moire had been drinking from the pond.
I nodded, not caring that I wanted him to use his magic on me.
Before he did, Moire’s steps slowed.
“You should help her too.” I hated the thought of him placing his finger in her mouth, but she had to be suffering as well.
His jaw twitched, but he nodded. “Moire, let’s take a quick break.”
“We need …” She exhaled and faced us. Her skin was pale, and her eyes were black.
She didn’t look like herself.
“Warming icicles,” Kieran gritted and lifted his hands. Ice flakes formed on the fingertips of one hand, and the other sent out a breeze, picking them up.
The wind carried the heat of the maze but gusted into a wide circle of ice. The ice melted into cool droplets as the air churned between the three of us. The water splashed my face and cooled me by several degrees.
I opened my mouth, allowing it to coat my throat. The sensation was similar to a winter rain in Nashville and rejuvenated me.
“Something isn’t right,” Moire whimpered and fell to her knees.
The cool water coated her face, but she’d grown paler.
“Blood’s dripping from her nose.” I squatted. If it was from the heat, the cool water should have helped, but blood wasn’t usually a sign of overheating unless her nose was dried out. “Is your nose dry?”
She whimpered, wiggling underneath me. “Hurts.”
“Where?”
“Everywhere.” Her chest heaved as she grunted. Then blood trickled from the corner of her mouth.
“Shit, Kieran.” I didn’t bother to use his formal title. “More blood.” I looked skyward, the sun so bright it was damn near blinding. “Something is very wrong.”
His mouth mashed into a line. “The water she drank had a purple hue. It wasn’t normal water. The High Court may have poisoned it.”
No. This couldn’t be happening. He had to be wrong.
I took Moire’s hand in mine, clutching it hard as if that alone would force her to hang on to life. I understood that death was part of the trial, but it didn’t have to be her. She was the most innocent of us all, having joined to protect her sister, knowing this was the end she’d have.
Blood seeped from her mouth, eyes, and nose, and she writhed in agony. Tears burned my eyes. I hated that she was dying like this.
“Don’t …” Despite her labored breathing and a sickening rattle in the back of her throat, Moire stared into my eyes and murmured, “Change.” Then her chest stopped moving.
Cheers rose from the crowd as hot tears streamed down my face, plopping onto the arm I still clutched. I could see the mist of her magic pulsing from her skin and vaporizing into the air. Her death had been in vain, arranged by the High Court for pure entertainment.
“Alina, we need to go.” Kieran leaned over Moire’s body and touched my hands, which still clutched hers. “She’s gone. We need to keep moving.”
He was right. If I didn’t leave, he’d stay here with me and succumb to his own death. I knew it. I had to move … for him. “Okay, but I need to do something first.” Moire deserved a send-off … some sort of goodbye.
