Page 85 of A Curse of Breath and Blood

The Alder King stood like a statue, unmovable and unyielding. “An offer for what?”

The warriors at his side drew their swords.

An evil grin cut Gideon’s face in two. “Give me your Wild Hunt, and in exchange, I will let you live.”

A wave of horror swept over me as I glared at my sister standing next to Gideon, her long blonde hair braided behind her ears. The flickering of the torches played with her features, casting shadows across her delicate face. No longer a sacrificial lamb but a hardened member of Gideon’s inner circle.

Aiming her crossbow at the Alder King, determination flared in Baylis’s gray eyes.

The Alder King laughed. “The Hunt has served me for ten thousand years. They are bound to my blood. They will never serve you.”

“Then I guess I’ll have to take that from you, too.” He nodded to Erissa. The mage stretched out her arms, pooling her magic into the green bloodstone resting on top of her wooden staff.

The two warriors leapt off the dais, but before they could reach Gideon, a wall of smoke blocked their way. The soldiers coughed as the gas filled their lungs.

The Alder King’s eyes rolled white, bringing the thorns of the throne to life; wrapping themselves around their master, they created an armor for the king.

Growing into a massive being, light exploded from his fists. “This is my court, and it will remain my court until the day I walk into the abyss.” Gripping the staff Caiden had given him earlier, he sent a bolt of lightning toward Gideon, which he deflected.

My eyes frantically searched for Tharan.

Conjuring her magic, Erissa sent a flash of a green bolt hurtling at the Alder King. Holding up his staff, he tried to blockher attack, but it was useless. Erissa’s magic disintegrated the lightning rod, turning it to ash in the Alder King’s hands.

He staggered backward in shock. “What is this?”

A wind blew into the throne room as Erissa called upon an ancient power. “I possess the power of Crom Cruach, who demands retribution for his exile beyond the veil.” Her voice echoed through the chamber.

The Alder King’s eyes widened at Erissa’s show of force. Her power rivaled his own.

From the ceiling, a storm of thorns as thick as my arm rained down on Gideon.

Reaching a hand into the air, Erissa turned the thorns into petals. They floated daintily, coating the room in a colorful blanket.

Amolie and I stowed ourselves in an alcove out of the way.My chest heaved as I tried to piece together how my sister had become entangled in all this. Did she know what she was doing? Was she under his control? The dreaded thought crept into my mind, freezing the blood in my veins. Was I going to have to kill Baylis?

The warriors cut through the smoke, their steel blades shining in the flame light, feet crushing the fresh petals. Baylis fired her crossbow at the weak points in their armor, catching the female in the shoulder. The bolt didn’t stop her.

Holding her sword high, she pounced on Gideon. Blood Riders emerged from the darkness, their long fangs on display, wedging themselves between Gideon and the Hunt. Sparks flew as their weapons clashed.

“Do you know what destroys a forest?” Erissa said, a ball of fire in her hands.

“You think your puny fire can harm me?” A thicket of thorns grew from the floor, building a wall between Erissa and the king.

Hammering the wall with fire, Erissa set the palace ablaze.

Fear coiled like a snake in my gut. I reached for Amolie. We had to get out of here.

Behind the trio, Tharan crouched, fingers to his lips. A serpent-like vine sprang from his palms, slithering silently across the floor.

“We have to do something,” I told Amolie, whose fingertips sparked with magic.

“I’ll cover you,” she said, forming a shield with her magic.

Calling Little Death to my hand, I hurled the dagger toward the mage.

It hit her wrist. She cried out in pain, sending a fireball flying into the rafters.

Tharan’s vines struck at Gideon, grabbing him by the neck and pulling him to the ground. Baylis screamed as Gideon struggled against the vines.

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