Page 175 of Curse of Darkness
They’ve spent weeks plotting our moves. This isn’t going to be a protracted battle. The numbers against us are simply too great, despite the trenches and earthworks that have been dug to slow the approaching armies down. We have to hit them hard and fast. There will be no sitting back and watching. All of us must engage on the field as soon as it starts.
But the true war will be one when we engage the Horned One.
Together, Thiago and I might be able to destroy him.
“Are you ready?” I ask him.
He’s not complete. There’s one final piece of Death’s soul still missing, but he made himself very clear.
He will not risk hurting Amaya. Not even for this.
She is safely locked away in Ceres, and Thalia will join her as soon as she says her goodbyes, ready to defend the castle if need be.
Maybe it will be enough.
He clasps my hand, bringing it to his lips. “I will wait for you in the Darkness.”
There’s no emotion in his voice, but the words slay me. He will give his everything for this moment. Even if it costs us. Even if it means he must face his greatest fear.
“And I will always come for you. Together, you and I will do wondrous things.”
Capturing my face, he presses the sweetest kiss to my temples.
Before he breaks away from me. “Baylor, you’re with me. We ride with Vi. We’ll get her to the Hallow. The second the Horned One senses what we’re doing, he’ll probably come for us, but we need time. We need those armies to slow him the fuck down.”
“We’re essentially sending the Evernight armies to be obliterated,” Finn says quietly.
“It’s our only hope.” There’s no emotion on Thiago’s face, but I know he feels it.
This will be the end of all those he swore to protect.
“No, it’s not.” Eris’s face is calm as she checks the buckles on her armor, then her sword. “I will give you time.” Her gaze cuts toward Baylor. “Recall them. Recall them all.” An unsteady breath skates out of her. “Tell them to blow the silver horn. Only one of us needs die.”
36
ERIS
Astunned silence falls over the group. I’ve expected it for days, ever since I made the decision to do this.
“What does the silver horn mean?” Vi asks.
The silver horn hasn’t been blown in nearly five hundred years, but the sound of it has been drilled into Evernight’s troops from the day they first enter the military camps.
“If you hear this sound: Run.”
“Get off the field, no matter how you must do it.”
“We’re about to unleash Evernight’s most powerful weapon. And you donotwant to stick around to see what she can do.”
“Eris.” Baylor slowly shakes his head. “Eris, we can—"
“There’s no time.” I pause in front of Thiago. My heart feels hollow. I’ve known this was where it was all going to end ever since he returned from the dead. “You have given me more than I have ever had the right to ask.” I take a deep breath. “Thank you. I was honored to serve for so long.”
“No.” A harsh denial from Finn as he shoves closer. “No. This is bullshit. You’re not doing this. You’re not simply going to… throw yourself away.”
I start plaiting my multitude of braids together and winding them into a knot at the base of my neck so they’re out of the way. “Did you mistake me? Did you think you had any part in my decision?” Anger knots tightly within me.Don’t do this. Please. Don’t make this harder than it already is.“Vi needs time. And I can give her time.”
“There has to be another way,” Finn snarls. His focus locks on our prince. “Thiago. Tell her. There has to be another way.”
