Page 73 of Soul of Thorns
“I’ve always known I can’t win this battle,” I admit. “But I can stop them from winning. If I die, the line has ended.”
“Your father still lives,” the wraith whispers like a threat.
I drop the knife. I hadn’t thought of that. Would he go after my father? “Is that even possible?”
“Probably not. But he’ll try. He’ll torture him. Perhaps try to force him to breed.”
My fingers tremble.
“I swear, child. I am not lying when I say I am on your side. I do not wish for the Night Terror released from her prison or the Night Bringer to gain any additional power. I fought to stop them long ago. I have not turned back on that.”
I lean closer, examining him. “You know what happened to Rev,” I say more calmly. I believe him, I decide. He may not have jumped sides wholly, but he is certainly withholding information. “Be on my side entirely, and I will do my best to find a way out of this place and revive the Shadow Court.”
His eyes narrow. “You’ll promise that if you exit this place, you’ll take your place as queen?”
I pull in a long breath, considering such a promise. I don’t like making bargains of any kind. But a promise is not a binding bargain... and I would entirely intend to give my power to the Shadow Court and work to rebuild its power. If I can get out of that banishment...
I pull my blade from his chest. “I will do everything within my power to claim my throne,” I promise. Then, I point at him. “And you will tell meeverythingyou know about Rev. You will not purposefully withhold important information from us. And you will do everything you can to protect both Rev and me.”
He curls his lips, exposing sharp teeth. “I cannot promise to protect him.”
“You will.”
“I will not.” He spins and begins to pace. “I will promise instead to never cause him harm, directly or indirectly. I will not conspire to cause him harm or take action I know will harm him—unless it is to save you.”
I screw my lips, thinking it through. “Rev told me he doesn’t intend to leave me here,” I admit, cheeks burning. I don’t even understand such a proclamation. How could he not intend to leave me behind? What could he possibly do? “He is my ally. If you are to be mine, you will be his too.”
The wraith sighs. “I will help him if I can, and if it doesn’t hurt you in the process.”
I grunt. I suppose it’s good enough. “Very well. I agree.”
The wraith’s smile grows, his eyes flickering gold.
I look out over the open plain, to the mountain pass a few hundred feet away. Nothing but ash and stones between us. The swamp lies behind us, with its bank full of torn limbs and still warm flesh. About a mile to the east is a massive tree, grey bark, and sprawling leafless branches reaching up into the sky, nearly as tall as the volcano itself.
We’re smack in the middle of these open lands, which means we’re sitting ducks. I haven't bothered to use my shadows in hours now. I haven’t had the energy or the thought to do it. I haven’t seen evidence of a single being other than the wraith.
“We need to move on and find Rev.”
“About that—”
My eyes flash to him angrily.
He raises his hands in surrender. "Allies now, remember? I'll tell you everything, I promise."
"Where is he?”
The wraith pauses, eyes darting around nervously. "She has him."
My stomach drops to my feet. Part of me knew it, but even so, panic takes control for those terrible moments.
That dream or vision... his magic still tingles inside of me. He’d given me a jolt of power, of hope, I desperately needed.
But God, the thought of him in her grip, the pain she’ll inflict, the terror—my hands shake.
"Is he alive?" I'm barely able to form the words. I know the answer to this too, and I’m not sure it’s better than the alternative.
"Oh yes. She still intends to use him."
