Page 59 of Curse of Darkness
“Vi.” He punctuates the word with a short, rough kiss. “Vi, you shouldn’t have come.”
“I came to bring you home.”
Thiago freezes, his hands capturing my face between them. “There is no going back. Not for me.”
Reaching inside my collar, I grasp the amulet the Mother of Night gave me.Open it, she said.Open it in his presence and it will trap his soul inside.
“I don’t know what this will feel like,” I whisper. “But just remember…. I will protect you. I will bring you back to me. We’ll be together.Forever.”
“Vi, no!” Thiago hisses, reaching for me, with shadows streaming from his fingers—
He shrinks and vanishes inside the soul-trap, the light inside it gleaming before I snap it shut. I slide down the wall, landing on my ass in the rubble, my body on fire, even as the sensation of his touch vanishes.
The amulet burns cold in my hands.
And the light of his soul boils in rage.
I can’t stop myself collapsing back against the wall, gasping for breath, a single tear streaming down my face.
I convinced him.
I know I convinced him.
But he didn’t sound happy at the end.
Sound echoes in the distance; a clatter of rocks falling somewhere in the ruined city.
It’s a stark reminder. I don’t have time for the maelstrom of emotions tearing through me. I need to get back through the gate, and get Thiago’s soul home to Ceres.
Before some other predator realizes my protector is no longer here.
Dashing my tears from my face, I wrench the bone knife and the sunlight amulet from the wall.
I can deal with Thiago later.
I need to get to the gate.
12
The gates spill me back inside the throne room.
Guards turn, hands going to swords as I stagger through. And Finn, who’s been resting with his knees drawn to his chest against the far wall, looks up sharply.
“Vi?” Incredulousness stains his face as he shoves to his feet. “Vi, you’ve got him?”
“Got him.” I can’t help grinning at him as I display the amulet. “Now we just have to get home.”
Hauling me into his arms, he squeezes me tight, then steps back and looks at me. “What happened to you? You look awful.”
There’s inky blood on my boots and shirt, and my hair is a ragged mess. I don’t care. My heart blazes with hope. “I feel amazing though.”
Finn’s smile etches into an actual grin as if my happiness is contagious.
“We need to get going then.” His smile vanishes, his tone careful. His stare burns through me, but I can almost sense him trying to warn me about the roomful of guardians around us.
I tuck the amulet away and then remove the vial of sunlight. “Thank you.” I offer it to Orlagh. “I would be dead without it.”
The tall blonde gives a wry smile, her hand curling around the vial and swallowing the light.
