Page 66 of Crown of Darkness
“Finn!”
By the look of it, he’s come straight from bed, and my eyes nearly bug out of my head when I realize he’s dragged on a pair of leather trousers and little else. “Hardly the place to be languishing, Princess.”
“What? Burning to death in a library isn’t your favorite way to make the shift into the Bright Lands?” I push to my feet, a gush of flame wafting closer. “The princess is trapped.”
He follows my glance and curses under his breath. “Get out. I’ll bring the girl.”
“You just want to play the hero.” I shake my head. “I have to stay. Someone has to ward the flames away from you.”
The markings on Finn’s arms start to glow. “Are you certain you’re up to it?”
It’s the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do.
But I grit my teeth. “The longer we wait, the less likely I can contain it.”
He gives me a clipped nod and then vanishes.
I feel like I’m trying to pry stone from a wall with my bare fingers or part a river with only my mind. Flame curls away from Finn as he wades toward Imerys, and only my desperation manages to keep them from swallowing him whole.
Sweat drips down my temples. I grind my teeth together and silently scream.
Finn squats and hauls the burning bookcase off Imerys and then throws her unconscious form over his shoulder. The little demi-fey guard scrambles up his body and clings to his shoulder as Finn starts back toward us.
“Hurry!” I yell.
I can’t hold it much longer.
He shoves past me and I back away, trying to ward off the flames as we escape. And then we’re through the door, collapsing on the cool cobbles with a gasp.
* * *
“Vi?”
I think I’m going to throw up. Every inch of me trembles, and I lost the ward just before we escaped, which leaves me coughing out the sudden lungful of smoke I just swallowed.
A dark form materializes next to me, fingers finding my own. I catch a glimpse of black tattoos, swirling more hungrily than usual, and the light of a fae lantern catches on the fierce glint of Thiago’s eyes.
Relief burns there. Along with a dozen I’m-going-to-kick-your-ass later questions.
I’m fine.I wave Thiago away with a hand. “If the pair of you don’t put some clothes on, you’re going to start a riot. Imerys?”
“Alive,” he says curtly. “Do I need to ask why you were in there?”
I roll onto my back and stare at the night sky, feeling like a house just collapsed on me. “Someone has to rescue… foolish princesses who run into burning libraries.”
“Does that count princesses who run into burning libraries to save them?”
“I’ll owe Finn a debt of gratitude.” But later. Much later.
“We’ll discuss it when we’re in private,” he growls, then turns to the library. “I’ll see if I can do something about this, now you’re all out.”
“Vi!” A cloud of perfume envelopes me and then Thalia drags me into a hug. “Maia’s blessing, what were you doing!”
I try to explain as Finn sits beside me, resting on his hands and sucking in fresh air. Imerys guzzles water from a flask beside him, her face dark with soot.
“You saved us,” Gossamer says, patting Finn on the arm. “I owe you a debt.”
I might be imagining it, but I’m pretty sure she caresses the muscle in his biceps for a second longer than necessary.
