Page 50 of A Bond of Ice and Glass
The witch appears from the shadows behind him, her black skirts fluttering in the wind, one hand glowing with bright golden fire. Even her hair is glowing like it’s been lit by the sun.
Loch’s smile melts into a scowl.
“Do you really think you can stop me? Thatanyof you can stop me? You have no idea what power I have now. What itcostme to get it.”
His eyes fall on me again, dark and burning, like he’s trying to tell me something.
Even now, even after what he did to me, I still want to help him. The Lochlan I know must still be in there somewhere. I just need to reach him.
“Loch, this isn’t you.” I step forward, my eyes pleading with him. “None of this is you.”
For a moment, his hand lowers. I’m getting through to him.
“Thisishim,” Nymala spits, dragging his attention back to her, his features twisting. “It’s always been him. He just kept it hidden from you.”
The shadows gather again, darkening around him.No!I almost got through to him. I almostreachedhim! I can still?—
He raises his hand to attack her. I lift my own instinctively and throw a blast of ice at him. It fizzles the moment it touches him, but it’s enough to make him pause. He looks at me again, and for a brief moment, his eyes soften. I can see the old Loch trapped inside them, screaming for help. For me.
He always helped me at the convent. It’s time for me to help him.
“Don’t do this, Loch. It’s not too late. You can still turn back.”
He opens his mouth to say something. He shuts it when Erax snarls at him.
“No, please do it,” Erax growls, “so I can fucking kill you.”
The glimmer in Loch’s eyes vanishes, and his mask drops back into place again.
He disappears into thin air, leaving nothing but a dozen wraiths on their shadow dragons, flying towards us.
Nymala grabs my hand and pulls me away from them.
“What are you doing?!” I glance back at Erax preparing to fight. Noble stands behind him, their backs facing each other. “I have to help them!”
“You’ll just distract them,” Nymala says, casting a spell. “Believe me. The last thing they need is you getting hurt. Or them getting hurt worrying about you.” A gold orb appears above us and drops down, sealing us inside. “I know you can fight, but I promised Noble I’d get you out of here.”
“No! I don’t want to leave him.” I clench my dagger, half-tempted to turn it on her. Would it work? I don’twantto hurt her, but I willnotleave Erax. “I’m not leaving him. Erax!”
I should be out there. I should be fighting.
Every second behind this shield feels like cowardice carved in gold. I can’t. Iwon’t.
“ERAX!”
“He can’t hear you. I’m sorry,” Nymala says softly. “We can still hear them, but the magic traps sound inside. Nothing can get in or out. It’s for your protection.”
I ignore her and lift my hands, letting my magic flood to the surface.
The shield just flares against my frost, melting it and making it useless. I’m trapped in a cage.
“I will never forgive you if something happens to Erax,” I promise her.
Even Noble, as much as I hate him right now.
I focus on them standing back to back. They don’t look even the slightest bit worried.
“Well, this is it, Goldeye.” Noble’s voice carries excitedly through the shield. “Time to fight these bastards. Just like old times, huh?”
