Page 132 of Queen of Thorns
Blane blinks back shock. His eyes meet mine, terror on his face. He’s right. And Drake knows exactly what we’re doing. He knows that as long as Rev and I don’t get down into the cave to complete the spell, we can’t win.
Does that mean the Night Briner knows too?
I don’t wait another moment; I fling magic at Drake. He meets my shadows midair with a massive blow of his own. Swirling air and inky darkness clash.
Each of us with magic from the Night Bringer.
Drake pushes my magic aside, knocking me off balance. A blade of wind appears in his hand. He leaps at me, the blade slicing down at my face. I barely twist away from him. Rev sends a steak of light at Drake, but he easily outmaneuvers him.
He smiles. “I’m stronger than both of you now.”
My heart hammers, panic constricting my chest. We can win. We can beat him—but not fast enough. Anger stirs in my belly, and I use it to my advantage. I pull at my shadows to rally for me, and darkness drops down from the sky, covering our surroundings with pitch blackness. I breathe it in, and then I strike.
I dive and slice at Drake. He deflects and dodges. My magic pushes and pulls desperately for any in. Any way to end this quickly. If I don’t get down into the caves soon, my friends will be dead.
Drake still easily deflects. He matches each of my moves, dodging them all like he can see perfectly in the darkness. Was that a gift from the Night Bringer too?
I cry out in frustration.
“Rev, go!” I yell, suddenly realizing what needs to happen. Drake can’t stop Rev from going down and fight me at the same time.
“No,” Rev whispers. “Not without you.”
“Go or we all die!”
I can’t spare a moment to look at him. I slice and lunge at the still smiling Drake. “You can complete the spell without me.”
I toss my backpack at his feet. He has the soul stone. He can use the book and complete the spell with the Light King without me.
Drake laughs at my desperation. I’m using too much of my magic anyway. It’s going to have to be Rev.
Rev grabs the bag and begins toward the cave. I swing my blade of shadows at Drake again and again.
But then, Drake stills, his eyes going wide. This time, my blow lands, carving through the flesh of his shoulder and down.
My shadows fall immediately because I know something has changed. I blink as I see the silver glint of a sword coming through Drake’s belly.
Blane stands behind him, his brother’s blood running down his arm.
“Go,” he tells me as Drake’s body falls to the ground, his eyes dim.
