Page 142 of A Fate of Ice and Lies
Her sadness rippled through our connection, and I muttered an apology.
“It’s only a matter of time until the Guardian of Death comes for him,”Nalari told me.“How he’s made it this long. . . Your blood brought them time they otherwise wouldn’t have had.”
My blood had prolonged the inevitable. There wasn’t any comfort in that.
Nalari angled her large head toward Adela in what I assumed was a silent conversation between them. I looked back at the four fae, whose silhouette I could barely make out with looming darkness. But I felt Elias deep in the fiber of my bones. Felt the emotions warring inside him.
“Adela said there’s something you and I can do to try to save Brenton,”Nalari started carefully, her attention also heavy on Elias.
“What is it?”
“A foolish, dangerous idea, but it’s our only shot.”
“Anything,”I breathed out.
Anything to save him. To keep him here with us a little longer. To erase Elias’s anguish and heartbreak.
“There’s an astral realm. It’s where the Guardians of Death and Life live,”she explained.“It’s where Death will come for Brenton. Adela can guide us there.”
I sat up straighter, wrapping my arms around my legs as I listened.
“We’ll have to fight a Guardian more powerful than any Elder I’ve encountered.”
“Okay,”I agreed.
“We may very well die there.”Her tone was earnest.“Do you understand what that would do to Elias?”
The tear in my heart ripped further.
“I have to try,”I said.“For Elias, I have to try to get his brother back.”
“He’d rather lose Brenton than lose you.”
I knew she was right. I could feel the truth in her words.
“You told me he’d do anything to protect me without remorse. You asked if I’d fight for him.”I paused.“This is me protecting him,fighting for him.”
Because Elias was my mate. He was mine. Mine to protect, to take care of. To love.
And just as he’d give his life for me, I was willing to do the same for him.
Adela stood and took a few paces to lie down in front of me. To hide me from Elias, I realized. The Elder Guardian blinked her red eyes at me, and a sword appeared by my side. I picked it up and tested its weight.
“You’ll be able to enter the realm with anything on your body,”Nalari explained.
While Everly, Brenton, and I usually trained with a dagger, we’d had several lessons with a wooden sword, whose weight was similar to the one I held now. We’d never trained against a god-like dragon, though. Terror gripped me so suddenly, it made each breath difficult. I could only hope knowing where to hit a fae to kill them would be enough to fight a Guardian.
My body shook when I took the sword. I swallowed hard and nodded at Adela as I tapped the gun holstered at my waist. The Elder’s magic circled me, forcing me to lie down. Just as my back hit the snow, I propelled forward. Out of my body. Weightless. Unbound.
The world around me shimmered, the night sky not quite as dark but luminescent. And Nalari, if she was majestic in my realm, here she was enchanting. Ethereal.
Nalari scanned our surroundings while I held my sword in one hand and used the other to make sure I still had my gun. We made our way to Brenton, whose body vibrated with dullness while the other three fae were vibrant.
“How long do you think we’ll wait?” My voice echoed.
Nalari turned to me, her eyes suddenly wide before she disappeared. Everything and everyone disappeared with her.
My breaths heaved from my lungs, echoing in the empty space. Squaring my shoulders and holding my fighting position, I lifted my sword and looked around. Around and around. A pulsing gray figure crept toward me, and while every part of me wanted to run, I planted my feet and sent a prayer to my God, hoping He was watching and would help me through this.
