Page 137 of Trial of Thorns
I don’t know who this girl is. Caelynn never mentioned her. But it is very clear that Brielle was right. Caelynn loves her.
Drake stands, pulling his sword from his sheath and stepping toward the mourning Caelynn. She’s bent over her friend, distracted by her pain. One swing, and it would be over for her too. Brielle breaks free from her spell and scrambles away from the fight.
Oh, hell no.
Determination fills me as I sprint and leap between them to block Drake’s blade just before it contacts my bleary-eyed ally.
“Fight, Cae!” I yell at her as I engage in combat with Drake.
She lifts her head, but her eyes are solid black.
I gasp, barely managing to block another blow from Drake’s sword. He’s ruthless. Unrelenting.
I roar in rage. For everything taken from me. Everything taken from her—the fae I hate and love at the same time. Shadows ripple from Caelynn’s skin as she stands, pure rage on her inhuman expression. The darkness surrounds her, covering her so thoroughly she looks like a wraith.
Drake’s eyes grow wide as another explosion of black power blasts into us, sending Drake flying one way, me the other.
I land on the far side of the arena.
This is that creature’s power. Dark magic no fae should possess. Power that could bring this entire arena to the ground.
For a moment, I believe she’s going to win. No one can defeat her like this.
But no, even Caelynn’s magic has limits. And she’s using so much of it, she’ll dry out quickly. Anyone who weathers this storm will be able to defeat her easily.
I could use her emotions to my advantage. God knows that’s what Drake is planning to do.
Brielle cowers before Caelynn, who’s white hair ripples in dark power. Just feet from me, the nameless child remains wilted.
I crawl to her and brush the pitch-black hair from her face to find her big, beautiful eyes open—lifeless. A quiet sob escapes me for this young, innocent life ended. More useless pain.
I press my hands to her cheeks gently, and the flickering of life sparks against my palm. The girl’s soul hasn’t left her.
I could still stop this.
Behind me Caelynn rages, blasts of black magic thunder from her. Drake conjures a cyclone around him, blocking her magic from reaching him. His wind magic is weak, it can’t protect him for long, but Cae’s focus is still on Brielle, who tries everything she can to defend herself. Red flames blaze at Caelynn, but they’re swallowed whole by darkness before they even get close. Caelynn doesn’t so much as blink at her attempts.
Brielle’s best move now would be leaping off the platform to save her skin. She can’t win. Either way, Brielle has already lost. Which will leave a near magicless Caelynn, Drake, and me.
I run my fingers down the girl’s cold, porcelain skin.
I could save her life. I could restore some of the light to this world. I could save Caelynn from more pain. But it would take up so much of my magic that I’d have next to nothing left to fight with.
Drake would win.
I can save her, a girl I don’t know, by sacrificing any chance at being the savior. By sacrificing any chance of being the heir to the High Court and maybe even my own court. I lift my palm up, glowing with a white light.
Light footsteps sound next to me. “Do it,” Drake says, his lip curling. “Do it, and I win.” He smiles because he knows I’ve already made my choice.
I press my light to the girl’s neck, summoning all of my magic into this one act and picturing Caelynn as I do it. Pulling her soul back to the surface and healing her spine injury at the same time.
I watch as the light returns to her eyes, and she sucks in a breath.
