Page 97 of Soul of Thorns
“What the hell was that?”
“The release of power. Nothing to be concerned about.”
I swallow, holding the massive tome to my chest. I can’t believe I’m conversing with a book.
“You’ll want to hurry. The Night Terror is not terribly patient, and she enjoys killing.”
“It’ll take me an hour to climb down the mountain.”
“Not if you shadow walk.”
“But that’ll use up too much of my magic. I’m going to need it, aren’t I?”
“Unlikely. With me, you will have an extra boost in power. And to be perfectly honest, no matter how much magic you hold, you cannot fight your way out of the Night Terror’s clutches. Your strengths right now are speed, determination, knowledge, and possibly stealth. So, unless you intend to leave your mate behind, it should not be a significant deterrent to use your magic now.”
“Permission to shadow-walk. Got it.”
***
ITAKE MY BOOK FRIEND’Ssuggestion and begin a very quick descent down the mountain by leaping from one path level to another. This process only takes about fifteen minutes until I find the flat trail heading toward the valley where I know the Night Terror to be.
I scan the valley but pause when I notice something strange—the massive tree east of the mountain is gone. “Where did that massive tree go?”
“The Night Terror has relocated closer to the mountain edge. You will find her if you continue on the current path.”
I frown. That’s not exactly what I asked...
“Yes, it is.”
I shake my head, uninterested in arguing with a damn book.
I sprint east, around the bend at the bottom of the mountain pass, and finally, the claw-like branches of the massive tree come into view. How did a whole damn tree move? Next to it, stands the massive figure of the manticore with his obsidian horns, red eyes.
“She walked,” the book says matter-of-factly.
Only a moment later, more figures come into focus. The manticore holds a body, limp and swinging by its ankle. Beside them, two wraiths float with jerky movements.
I bite the inside of my mouth as I realize the hanging body is Rev.
But I won’t show them my pain. My terror. My doubt.
I will fight until my last breath, which I am certain will be moments from now.
You can’t win,the book had told me. I can’t defeat the Night Terror, but I have some things on my side.
“Put him down,” I croak, my voice so much weaker than I’d planned on.
The tree rumbles with laughter.That voice.It sends black waves of panic over my body. I feel his claws digging into my chest. His black magic creeping inside of me.
The tree is the Night Terror. Her mouth is a gaping hole filled with several rows of slick fangs.
I press my eyes closed, clenching the book tighter.
Easy, shadow fae,the book whispers.The Night Terror cannot touch me. And therefore, cannot touch you so long as you hold onto these pages. Keep me on your person, and you are safe from her.
I bite my lip. That’s why she didn’t want me to take the book.
So, the Night Terror cannot touch me while I hold the book. But the manticore can.
