Page 208 of A Dagger of Ice and Intrigue
Just like on that first day, when I’d faced ice and height–barefoot, no less–to climb onto a frozen roof and scour my surroundings.
I’d done that, fueled only by the fire in my veins.
Now I was safe, well-fed, slowly recovering my powers, and almost crumbling, only because of my thoughts.
Sylvester crowed once more, batting his wings as if trying to get me to straighten up. My body had bowed at the waist, trying to fold in on itself. I hadn’t even noticed.
“I know, I know,” I muttered, running my hands up and down my face. Small miracle I hadn’t started crying.
I truly felt on edge.
I closed my eyes and tapped my cheeks, trying to get feeling back into them.
I struggled to pace my breaths and slow them, just as I did when I readied a particularly difficult shot.
When I became The Huntress that everyone admired.
The one who could face death and now cower.
I needed her to keep me standing once again, while Allie tried to make sense of the irrational chaos trying to command me.
Breath by breath, the spasms in my back began to lessen. Not disappear fully, but at least unclench enough that I could push myself away from the wall.
The voices from the atrium drew closer to the exit.
The sun warmed my skin, thawing some of the ice.
I focused on the heat and the soft wind carrying the crisp pine scent into my hair.
How my power stirred inside of me, trying to make me remember who I was.
I focused on that feeling, grounding myself.
I was safe.
The past and its horrors had no right to control me.
I controlled myself.
With a final exhale, I opened my eyes slowly. The dark spots were gone, even as the flutters in my stomach hadn’t vanished completely.
“Thank you,” I whispered. “I owe you.”
Sylvester looked up at me with that same high and mighty attitude. But I could swear his craw sounded relieved, before he took off.
My eyes tracked him only to watch him land on Ryker’s shoulder just as he exited the fortress.
His eyes sparked as they settled on me, worry swimming between the glimmers.
The flutters in my stomach turned into a quake as he rushed my way.
Last night, I’d been horrible.
As soon as that word had slipped past his lips, my mind had begun attacking me with grim scenarios.
How Ryker would betray my trust and leave me weeping.
How making me trust him had all been part of some malevolent plan.
