Page 68 of Curse of Thorns
He smirks. “I’ve been watching these walls. And doing what I can to keep a certain someone from reaching you. His talons have quite a long reach, my dear. As I assume you’ve learned.”
My mouth goes dry. “Someone?”
“I believe you know just who I speak of.”
While I could come up with a few alternatives—the Luminescent Court King did send assassins for me just weeks ago—given what I’ve learned recently, well, it leaves me with little doubt. “I suppose I do.” If he’s protecting me against the Night Bringer, he’s a welcomed ally—a wraith, while not exactly trustworthy is like a puppy dog compared to that monster. If he’s lying, I don’t intend to let him bait me any more than he already has. Let him believe me blindly faithful.
“Are you also keeping an eye on Rev, then?”
He smiles. “He is of no consequence to me.” He places a hand on his hip, and with the other, he pretends to look at his nails. Wraiths do not have nails.
“Well, you should be. I’m here for him. If you wish to keep me alive, you should protect him as well.”
He chuckles. “So naive. In fact, it’s exactly the opposite. That foolish prince dying, opens the gates wide for you. While he lives, you are trapped here.”
I clench my jaw and smoothly pull an iron blade from its sheath at my waist. Thank you, Kari.
“Are you going to kill me?” His smile grows like he so enjoys my threat.
I widen my stance, knife held steady and my eyes locked onto the wraith before me. “If you are a threat to him, then I am a threat to you.”
“Ha! Very well then. Tell me, child, if I am not a threat to him, are you an ally?”
I narrow my eyes. “Perhaps.”
His smile fades into a half-grin. “Well, then, I should mention that your mate is in danger as we speak.”
I stand up straight. “What?”
“He took a less than ideal route through the bog of bones. He won’t survive it. No one ever has.” The wraith shrugs like it’s of no consequence to him.
“Where?” I yell.
He points over his shoulder past the boulder behind him. I break into action, rushing straight through the man-made of smoke and see, in the distance, a white light glowing softly surrounded by... skeletons.
“What the hell, Rev,” I mutter and begin a sprint forward.
A wave of magic slams into my back and I groan, falling forward.
“I said no one has ever survived it!” the wraith spits. “That would include foolish Shadow Court females.” He crosses his arms.
I stare out at the long expanse of bubbling mud. “Then, you go save him.”
“Me?’” The wraith rumbles in laughter. “No. No, I am not a hero, dear. Do not mistake me.”
“You want to be my ally—then, save him, you fool!” I watch in horror as Rev tries and fails to clamber up a slick wall of mud. I curse. The dead are right on him. He turns to face them.
“I already told you, if he dies, you are free to leave this place. That is in my best interest.”
“You said you wouldn’t be a threat to him!” Or implied it, at least.
“I will not actively take part in his death, child. But if he is so determined to put himself at risk, I will not stop it.”
I grit my teeth. “Then, you’ll have to watch me die trying to save him. I suppose you’re used to failure.” I stand and march forward.
“Wait!” the wraith calls, but I don’t. I won’t. I march into the muck, up to my shins in only moments. Damn, he traveled all that way in this shit? He’s got to be near a mile out. I’ll never make it in time without taking flight. The wraith passes in front of me. “Look! He’s fighting.”
“You’re in the way, idiot!” I keep pushing through the mud. I won’t let him die like this.
