Page 18 of Vicious Is My Throne

Tristan strained to lift his head off the ground but could barely blink as I ran my fingers down his face. “Tristan, I need you to transform so we can get you inside. If you pass out again, we can’t move you and you’ll freeze before morning.”

The wyvern blew out a rumbling breath and I stroked my hand down his neck, the scales changing color beneath my hand. “You can do this, Tristan. Shift back into your Fae form, and we’ll get you warmed up by the fire then into a bed.”

Those eyes flickered with interest.

“Yes, I’ll be in bed with you, even if it’s the squeaky one.” He released a long, shuddering breath, no sign of fire or heat as the chill northern air skated over my exposed skin. “Come on, Tristan, I know you’re exhausted but you have to try. If you don’t, I’ll sit out here and freeze right along with you.”

His eyes glowed with internal flames, a shudder racing through his body from nose to tail like an enormous wave of power. Scales turned to tan, golden skin, spikes to red, tangled hair, golden eyes turned hazel, then Tristan’s shaking, naked body was curled on the ground in front of me. I threw my cloak over him.

The fabric was thin but it was all I had.

“Dane. Tavion,” I shouted. “Come help me.” Dane rushed down the steps and lifted Tristan up, his head lolling, eyes unfocused. “We’ll get you inside. We’re going to be okay.” I took one final glance over my shoulder at the now-dark forest, the slivered moon rising over the tops of the receding storm clouds.

“How safe are we here?” I asked breathlessly, closing and latching the doors behind us while Dane practically dragged a completely spent Tristan down the hall.

Nowhere is safe, a slithering voice inside my head crooned.

Darkness all around you, waiting to lay claim, and then you’ll rot along with the rest of them, Princess.

Goosebumps sprang up all over my skin and I rubbed my face, the hallway swimming back into view, the sound of Tristan’s bare feet bumping across the thick woolen rugs and cold stone floor while Dane explained, “So far, the wards have kept the blight at bay. I go out and check every few hours, but whatever this foul magic is, it seems to be moving due south.”

I strained, waiting for that crooning, black voice to speak again, but there was nothing there. I blew out a silent sigh of relief while my heart sank like a stone. Corvus was heading straight toward Blackcastle, and that couldn’t be a coincidence.

He’d swallow everything up in a smothering layer of pestilence, and I’d seen—once, inside the Oracle’s dream—what would remain. Rock and wind and endless sky.

Nothing left alive.

“Do the wards keep everything out?” I asked, unable to stop myself as I followed Dane into the room. Tavion was checking Zor’s pulse, his eyes landing on Tristan as Dane dumped him into a chair. “Like…Reapers?”

Dane’s head whipped around, nose flaring, but his eyes narrowed when he saw my face and realized I wasn’t joking.

“These wards are ancient, and they’ve held for more than a thousand years, Anaria. You can sleep soundly tonight. All of you can sleep. I’ll go outside and keep watch. Nothing will get past me tonight.”

I wanted to believe Dane, I really did.

But I doubted any of us would sleep tonight.

6

ANARIA

“Dane left to patrol the woods.” I slipped into bed beside Tristan, his body immediately curling around mine, his arm wrapping around my middle. Tavion had gone with his uncle, while Raziel and Zorander were passed out on the other side of the bed, both of them snoring softly.

Then I was staring into a pair of burning hazel eyes rimmed with gold.

“You saved us, Tristan.” I brushed my fingers down his cheek, still faintly scarred from the explosion. “Again. If you hadn’t…”

“Don’t say it. Don’t even think it.” He captured my hand, pressing a kiss to my knuckles before tucking my palm against his thumping heart. “We’re all here, we’re all safe. That’s enough for me.”

I closed my eyes and nodded.

It should be enough for me, but…ice formed in my veins.

“I killed four of Corvus’s creatures today,” I said quietly, feeling him stiffen against me.

“You’d gone back for Raziel and Zor. They crawled out of the darkness like the shadows spawned them. They were…” I blew out a shaky breath. “They were deadly. Once that blight reaches Blackcastle…if this was only blight, the people could outrun the threat, but if it’s filled with Reapers and deadly creatures, people will die.”

“Simon flew straight back. He’ll warn Torin.” Tristan brushed his fingers through my hair. “You left the city in good hands, Anaria. And we are the only ones who can face Corvus and the Oracle, you said so yourself. You have to trust in your decisions, trust you’ve made the right ones.”

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