Page 182 of Curse of Darkness
I want to walk through Ceres with his hand in mine. I want to tuck Amaya into bed every night and kiss her forehead. I want a chance to see the shadows in both their eyes vanish.
Drawing back, we breathe the same air. His eyes are dark flames fueled by the promise we share.
Foreheads pressed together, we sit in that moment.
“Mine,” he whispers, and his obsidian eyes glitter so fiercely, I know he’s given himself over to the Darkness within him.
“Mine,” I promise, pressing one last gentle kiss to his swollen mouth.
And then I draw back, trying to ignore the way our honor guard—those who’ve volunteered to ride right into the teeth of the Horned One—are all fiddling with their reins or making sure their feet are in their stirrups.
The only one who grins at us unrepentantly is Baylor.
The Thiago who gathers his reins is the Thiago we need right now. Dark eyes glitter with promise, a predator who fully intends to drive back those who seek to take what is his.
“Are we ready?” he bellows, raising his hand and calling his deathblade into being. Shadows slip and glide into the length of steel, until they’re a void of life. One that can cut through anything living.
“Ready!” Baylor bellows, banging his sword on his shield.
“For the prince!” another cries.
“For the prince!” The sound is taken up.
“For my queen,” Thiago says, tipping his head toward me as he wheels his horse. “Let’s get her to the Hallow so she can drive the Horned One back.”
“For the queen!” The roar is shattering.
Gwydion settles in beside me, looking relaxed and at ease. He’s been the warlord in charge of holding the borders so far, and though I’ve never met him before, there’s a flash of insouciance around his smile that reminds me of Finn. “I’ll be your shield, Your Highness. Stay with me, and we’ll get you to that Hallow.”
As if he’s a wraith, Baylor glides his horse next to Thiago’s. We share a look, and he nods. He’ll protect him.
“Thank you,” I tell them all as I gather my reins. A dozen emotions threaten to choke me: Fear. Anger. Nervousness. It thrums through my veins and makes my fingers tingle.
And then Thiago wheels his horse. “With me!”
Nervousness flees. Fear vanishes. There’s only the Hallow now, plucking at the threads of my consciousness as though it knows I’m coming for it.
The mare leaps forward as I give her rein. She’s been battle trained, a gift from Eris long ago.
The entire company launches after Thiago.
He and Baylor lead the charge, pouring down the hill toward the flanks of an entire cohort of goblins. It’s like watching quicksilver and shadow ride together.
Hard faces turn toward us. Shields go up. And an enormous goblin strides forward, lifting his sword to gesture his warriors on. They’re cheering.
“With me!” Thiago yells, forcing his mount forward through the throng of goblins. The scythe of his deathblade cuts through them as though he’s felling wheat. He’s the point of our vanguard, an arrow head of Evernight warriors slicing through the horde.
I wheel my mount, urging her through the slim gap Thiago and the Evernight retinue have made. Gwydion rides at my side, protecting me with his body. He drives his horse right into a pair of goblins, forcing them away from us.
But it creates a small pocket of space.
I draw my sword as a goblin comes at me and deflect his blow, slicing under it and right through the weak spot of his armor beneath his armpit. The stink of him is an assault, and even as arterial blood gushes, his fist slams into me.
Another comes at me as the mare valiantly leaps over a fallen warrior. Ears ringing, I blink away the blow and parry hard as an enormous broadsword cuts toward me.
I cut and hack, grateful that Gwydion is keeping them off my back.
They’re everywhere.
