Page 5 of Soul of Thorns
“You’re eager to leave,” Rev complains.
“Yes,” I whisper. My magic is filled. My body healed. My heart is full, if not aching. I’m as ready as I’ll ever be to continue this ridiculous quest through fae hell.
I’d happily spend the rest of my existence in this place with him, even with meager supplies and so few luxuries. But putting off the inevitable is not wise. It won’t help us any.
I run my fingers through my hair and then tie it back in a messy bun. I pull in a few long breaths, testing my newly healed body.
We can’t just pretend the world isn’t in peril and relying on us to save it. The scourge—a plague stealing magic and decaying our homelands—is still out there. Without the cure, the fae are doomed. It’s become a lot more complicated with the new information we’ve obtained, but it remains true that the world requires the spell book hidden in the middle of these cursed lands. And we’re miles from it.
“You know we have to go,” I say, taking one last sip, savoring the calming herbs.
He doesn’t respond. Rev still has a life waiting for him. A good life. An important role to fill. I won’t let him throw it all away to stay in this terrible place forever.
That’s my fate.
Not his.
“Cae,” he says lightly, sitting on the edge of the bed. “I’ve been thinking...”
“Never a good sign,” I say with a smirk.
He rolls his eyes. “Listen, you know I don’t agree with my brother about... what he wanted.”
My death.Apparently, I’m the key to setting the Night Terror free and reuniting with her powerful mate. If I die, their hope is lost.
“But, well, it’s still true that the Night... whatever...”
“Terror,” I whisper. “Night Terror.” The other half of my own childhood nightmare. The Night Bringer trapped me and tortured me. I was only in his clutches for days, but that kind of pain and fear—well, that doesn’t ever leave you.
Not one night has gone by without dreaming of his talons carving through my body. His deep rumbling voice, ancient and powerful, will haunt me forever.
And, yes, I’m planning to go face down with his other half—a being just like him.
“The Night Terror wants to trap you. Use you to undo her curse.”
My eyebrows raise.
“She wants to capture you. Don’t you think journeying toward her is a bad idea?”
“And she wants you dead. What difference does that make?”
“Maybe you should stay here. Let me go—”
“You’re insane,” I spit.
“Listen!” Rev says, holding his hands up in surrender. “Just hear me out. If you are still determined to come along, I won’t stop you.”
I roll my eyes because there isn’t a thing he could say to keep me in this place while he risks his life to save the world.
“Reahgan had a point. You being out there is a risk. The closer you get to the Night Terror, the more likely she’ll get what she wants. But if you stay here—”
“No,” I say through gritted teeth. “No.”
“You’re so stubborn.”
“And so are you!” I yell, tossing my hands up. “We’re in an impossible situation. You think I don’t know that? You think I don’t realize that chances are I end up captured and tortured by—well, nearly, the same creature that captured and tortured me as an adolescent? You think that doesn’t petrify me?” My breath shudders. I’m terrified of the day I enter his clutches again.
The Night Bringer can’t touch me here. But his mate can. I’m not stupid enough to hope she’ll be any better. She’ll tear me apart limb and soul, the same way he did, then stitch me back together just enough to use me to complete whatever deeds they wish.
