Page 49 of Promise of Darkness
“I’m not locking myself away in a warded cabin while they tear you to pieces.”
"Then return to Valerian." Thiago tries to move, and red blood gushes from the wounds in his chest as he reaches for me. He cries out, his teeth clenching to trap the sound. "Get Eris. You can't… get me out of this." Dark shadows filled his eyes. "I can hold them off until you get back."
It’s a lie. I can see it in his eyes. But why would he lie to me? Why riskhis lifeto protect mine? We’re enemies. None of this makes any sense.
The banes sound like they’re barely a hundred yards away.
“Curse you.” I can no more leave him here than cut my own hand off. “Don’t move.”
“Go,” he snarls. “Leave me here.”
“No.”
“That’s an order.”
“You may as well save your breath, Your Highness. I’m not your subject, and I’m not going to pay any attention to what you say.”
“You stubborn….” I ignore the curses streaming from his mouth as he strains to escape the trap.
No magic can manipulate iron, and I’m not strong enough to touch it or wrench it open.
I swing around, searching for something, anything....
There’s a fallen log, with pieces already split up to be hauled away. I return with a thick piece the length of my forearm. Thiago’s trying to shift the vicious iron teeth of the trap himself, his teeth clenched so tightly I swear they’re going to break.
I jam the end of the log between the teeth, using my weight to work it between them.
Another howl chills my blood. This time much closer.
His nostrils flare, and those very green eyes meet mine. "For the love of Maia, run, you fool!"
"I will." I lean all my weight on one end of the log in order to ratchet up the other end. Iron teeth bite into it, shredding the bark, but I’m gaining an inch. Maybe two. "The second you tell me why you'd risk your life for mine."
"Mother. Night.” White grooves track his tanned face, an anguished cry tearing loose.
"Nearly there.”
It takes all my strength, and I give up on the log, my fingers burning as I yank on the trap's bitter edges. Pain blisters my skin, my stomach threatening to disgorge itself.I can't do this. I can't. I can't—
Hold on.
Tears wet my eyes even as my skin feels like it’s going to peel off the bone. Iron sickness sweeps through me, sweat dripping down my brow.
The banes’ cries grow closer, and I can sense the excitement in their howls as they realize their prey is already down. The last of the sharp iron clears Thiago's flesh, and our eyes meet.
"Move!" I cry, arms shaking as I try to kick the log between the trap's jaw. I don't think I can hold it much longer—
Thiago rolls free, sprawling on the snow at my feet just as my strength finally gives out. The iron jaws spring shut, crunching through the log and shattering it.
There’s blood on my fingers. Blood on the snow. Thiago curls over himself, and despite everything, I want to see him sweep to his feet.
Instead, he collapses.
"Get up!" I drag him upright.
"You stubborn, reckless bitch." It sounds like a curse, and yet there’s something... affectionate about the words as I sling his arm over my shoulder. Something almost familiar.
"I didnotjust rescue you from a bane trap only to have you fail now. Run."
