Page 177 of A Fate of Ice and Lies
On shaky legs, I stood, staring at my father and uncle. Both dead. The bloody dagger seemed to weigh in my hand. I dropped it. Would’ve dropped to my knees too if it weren’t for my mother’s screaming sobs that somehow held me together.
“Such theatrics,” Leanora said.
I waved a shaking hand toward them. “They’re dead.” I ignored the pang that followed those words. “Their blood spilled. The debt is paid.”
She lifted a single brow. “I said your parents. Your uncle’s death of course is a nice bonus. Kill your mother, Elias.” She angled her head to the side and waited.
I couldn’t do it. Couldn’t kill my mother. Wasn’t sure I could’ve killed my father either. Not even to save Teddy.
My shoulders hunched forward, and I couldn’t stop the tears that fell down my face.
“Please,” I said, begging for a mercy her people hadn’t been shown.
“Did you know my mother died at the hands of your father?”
With my attention on Leanora, I didn’t see my mother lunge for my dagger. I didn’t have enough time to stop her from punching that dagger into her chest. She let out one soft, final cry before her body slumped to the ground.
“Mother!” I shouted in a terrified cry.
That fractured part of my soul, where my magic lived, ripped open. Magic erupted from within me, shattering the barrier. Incinerating the creatures closest to me, all while shielding George and Everly from the worst of it.
The dragons were the first to reach us, with the thunderbirds close behind. Shots rang out from Teddy’s gun while fae carved their way through the mass of creatures. I left my sword and extra dagger for George and Everly to use while I pummeled my way toward Leanora.
Plumes of hot smoke burst from Brenton, but he kept by Teddy’s side. Not shielding her but fighting alongside her. Her eyes blazed with unrestrained anger.
Nalari’s snarl was vicious as she and the dragons unleashed themselves on the lirio and nyxx. Fiery arrows shot out while swords and daggers found their marks.
But it was Leanora I sought. Her scent I hunted for. My fingers curled into fists, and I was upon her before she called her magic. I slammed my fist into her face, hearing the satisfying crunch of something breaking. Her eyes flared wide, and when her hand found my temple, black burning magic slammed into me, sending me spiraling back. Jumping to my feet quickly, I lunged again, my magic clashing with hers. Hers dark and powerful, mine abright light of hope. Of love. Something Leanora had never felt.
I ran my fingers against my palm, my magic sizzling with the promise of her eventual death twined around my magic.
Chapter
Thirty-Two
TEDDY
With the invisible barrier down,the line the fae had formed broke. We ran to Elias, to the creatures and their mage queen.
Bile rose when I passed Elias’s dad and uncle, and I paused when I felt the life that still held his mom here. I reached for Alastor’s magic, letting it guide me to build my own shield around the queen.
Whether she deserved death or not, I couldn’t let his mom die. Not when I’d felt his pain as my own when his father had died. When he’d killed his uncle. When his mother had stabbed herself.
Around me, the lirio and nyxx forced many of the fae to the ground, their bodies broken. Blood dripped from their mouth, choking them as they died too slowly.
Magic blasted from other fae, from the dragons. From Elias, who fought in the thick of this battle.
Blood splattered. Screams reached me, deafening me to everything but the slaughter and the blood-soaked snow that cradled too many dead.
It had barely just started, and we were already losing.
The thunderbirds, who Nalari had managed to release from Leanora’s hold, struck repeatedly, their lightning burning while their talons sank into the lirio who they tore to shreds.
I ran through the maze of creatures and fae. Ran and ran until I reached Elias.
His eyes like molten lava held boundless power. I pulled from the power Alastor was allowing me to absorb and trusted my magic when I formed a protective shield around Leanora, Elias, and me, not allowing any of the other creatures to come at us while we fought Leanora. I joined my hand with Elias’s. He jolted before he squeezed my fingers in answer, and he began to absorb Alastor’s and my joined magic.
Leanora’s magic ripped at my skin, burning and splintering until it felt like my flesh was being peeled off. I yelped in pain but kept my hand tucked in Elias’s when he turned to me. I kept my attention focused on Leanora, whose assault was constant without break or weakness, but unfiltered power that knew no end.
