Page 142 of Of Rime and Ruin
With a cry, I send a blade of ice hurtling toward its throat. Sickened glee fills me as I wait for the slice of skin, the scent of its blood. The beast will pay for the life it’s taken—my people, picked off one by one while I drowned in the guilt. My sweet Sunfish, gone forever.
She wasmine.
The beast throws out its paw, stopping my ice blade inches from its gills. The shard shatters into dust as it lunges forward.
Claws curl around my wrist. I’m yanked up, dangling before its face, its glassy eye inches from my cheek. A puckered scar pulls the corner of its eyelid. It assesses me with a longing gaze, drawing its stare over the length of my body.
I punch at its eyes, connecting with the side of its nose. I will not be its fucking dessert.
Did Nahla fight the clawbeast? Did she struggle and bleed? If I had arrived sooner, could I have saved her?
I thrash harder, clawing at its jaw. Gills. I will not die until I avenge her.
The beast growls and shakes me until my vision doubles, lowering its head. It grips my body in both hands, making itimpossible for me to move. Its hands wrench tight, wringing me like a wet rag.
Playing with its food.
I sing another spell, sending ice slicing toward its face. A gash blooms across its eyebrow, trickling blood. Another missile cuts its ear.
The beast opens its mouth and roars. The raspy sound of its voice vibrates through my body, rattling my bones. Its hot breath smells of sour meat.
I try to recall her scent, that warm sunshine smell, like sweetnut milk and vanilla cream. But I can’t. The thick scent of the beast crowds out her memory.
It’s my fault she’s dead, and now I can’t remember the smell of her.
The beast takes its time lowering me toward its mouth. Sharp, double rows of glinting teeth. White hair floats around its head, tangling around its twisted horns. It stares deep into my eyes, as if trying to burn a hole through my skull.
Blue eyes staring, near-lifeless. Her white hair spreading out. Caught in the currents of her blood. Her hand stretches out toward me. Reaching. I reach for her, and our fingers brush.
My mother. I’ve killed her. I couldn’t control my rage, and it’s all my fault.
What’s the point in fighting now? I could not save Nahla. I can’t save my kingdom. Everything I’ve ever loved has been taken from me, and I have nothing left to give. My heart shatters, and I let my body grow limp as I brace for the clawbeast’s teeth. One monster consumed by another, how fucking poetic.
My mother is dead.
Nahla is dead.
And I will join them both soon enough.
Chapter sixty
Nahla
Iswimindarknesswith my hands stretched out. My palms sting with fresh cuts from the sharp walls. Fucking labyrinth. The tunnel twists in a complicated pattern as I struggle to retrace my path. Is it left after the large stalagmite or right?
Bubbles stir nearby, and I hear the soft flutter of a tailfin.I’m not alone.
The person gasps. My face smacks into soft blubber. A brush of whiskers. Flailing arms. An elbow punches me in the ribs.
Then a familiar voice comes, muffled in my hair. “I can’t see… fucking… shit!”Perrin.He tugs my hair from his mouth and spits.
“Perrin!” I backpedal. “What are you doing here? It’s not safe.”
“Everyone keeps saying that,” he grumbles. “I’m rescuing the damsel in distress. What else?”
My hands find his cheeks, and I pull him close, resting our foreheads together. Godsdammit, Perrin. “I’m fine,” I breathe. “Except for this new bruise from your elbow.”
His cheeks grow limp between my palms, the tremble of his lip vibrating through. He lets out a choked sob and clutches me. “Shit. I thought you were dead.”
