Page 44 of Curse of Darkness
Finn checks the boat out. “He knows we’re coming.” Steeling himself, he glances across the water toward the island. It’s half a mile out. “Whether he chooses to dump us in the lake or not, well, I guess we’ll find out.”
I shiver. “I’d rather not.”
“I’m an excellent swimmer.”
“So am I,” I reply, “but that doesn’t mean I want to take a dip in these frigid climes.”
Finn’s smile fades as he lifts his gaze to Eris. “Get in,” he tells her, hauling the boat off the beach.
Eris paces at the edge of the lake. “I cannot continue with you.”
Finn’s halfway into the water with the boat. He looks up. “What?”
Eris grits her teeth. “I can’t go any farther.”
“Why not?”
“Death isn’t the only thing the primordial Darkness spawned,” she says. “And if I get in that boat, then I can almost guarantee it’s going to tip over. There are spells carved into the timber. They won’t wantmeanywhere near that island.”
“Then why the fuck did you even bother to follow us?”
Her cheeks burn dark, but it’s to me that her attention turns. “Because I didn’t want you doing this alone. You were right. Even if I don’t like this, I still have a duty to my prince to see you carry this plan out.”
Finn looks like he’s going to argue, but I hold up a hand. Eris wouldn’t be making this choice if she didn’t deem it necessary. “Then wait for us here. Hold this side of the lake for us—just in case we need to leave in a hurry.”
She nods.
Impulsively, I wrap my arms around her.
Eris returns the hug. “You know I would come with you if I could,” she whispers, too low for Finn to hear.
I squeeze her back. “You’ve been with me at every step of this journey.” I draw back. “I know, Eris. I know you would.”
“I didn’t mean what I said at home.”
“I know.” Grief affects us all differently. “If we’re not back in three days, then I want you to return to Ceres. Without me, Amaya’s the only one with the power to break the Hallows open. The Mother of Night will seek to use her. Protect her, Eris. Protect her from them all.”
Maybe the Mother of Night is an ally, but she won’t care that she’s setting Amaya straight into the sights of a dozen power-hungry queens and a ruthless old god.
“With my life,” she promises.
Relief fills me, and I turn to where Finn is waiting. I don’t know why, but I’m not afraid anymore. Grief has hollowed me dry.
I have done what I can to protect those I love.
The world has become very simple. I don’t have to worry about the Horned One or my mother, or any number of ruthless queens.
All I have to do is convince the Guardian of the Underworld to relinquish my husband’s soul.
11
We row across the lake, the island looming through the mists.
“It seems a little easy, doesn’t it?” Finn mutters, putting his back into the oars.
“Stop tempting the gods,” I try to joke, but a shiver runs down my spine. If Kato protects the Underworld from spilling forth into the world, then wouldn’t there be more… guards?
“I like the ambiance,” Finn notes as he hauls us to shore. The second the boat beaches itself on the sand, he offers me a hand. “Why is it that all these places decorate themselves with moss and gloom? You’d think the gateway to the Underworld would be a little grander.”
