Page 71 of Not Today, Satan
Ferus lowers his sword. “You sound sincere, Princess, but I need one final act of proof.” He pushes Nate into my chest, and I stumble into the souldier behind me with a grunt. “Throw him in the river.”
My eyes widen, and I tighten my grip on Nate’s hips. “That’s not necessary. Let me take him back to his lot, and he can rot there forever.”
Ferus grits his fluorescent-white teeth. “Throw him in, Princess, or you both go in.” To punctuate his point, the souldier behind me digs his sword into my spine.
I bite the inside of my cheek, and the salty taste of blood washes over my tongue. This wasn’t part of my plan. I knew I’d hurt Nate, but killing him isn’t something I can do. I can barely stand the pain etched into every line on his face.
I’m the reason it’s there.
The fire cracks beneath us, and Nate jolts in my arms. I peer over the rail. The pit is deep, lit only by the green flickers at the bottom.
“Do it,” Nate whispers. He goes limp against me, drained like he’d been after devouring the carrot cake. “I’d rather cease to exist than remember any of this. Rememberyou.”
His words embolden me, and I grab him by the belt.
I’m so sorry, Nate. Please forgive me.
I lift him off the ground and dump him over the ropes.
He doesn’t even scream.
XXXIII.
My heart batters my rib cage, and I close my eyes, counting in my head.
“Well, Princess.” Ferus clucks his tongue. “I didn’t think you had it in you. You have more guts than I gave you credit for.”
I swat at the sword behind me and growl. “Ferus, tell them to lower their weapons. This is done. I just want to go home.”
Ferus studies me before waving at the men behind me, and the pressure against my back disappears.
The moment they’ve backed away, I pull the strings of my cape from my neck and let it fall to the ground. There are gasps as my wings unfurl.
I leap off the bridge.
Attero calls my name as I fall, but I don’t stop. The heat and smoke from the fires increases as I descend, suffocating my lungs and pricking my eyes with tears. I blink to clear them as I search for Nate in the flickering green below.
Don’t let me be too late.
Relief floods me when I spot him. He’s still falling, but he hasn’t hit the fire yet. I angle toward him and straighten my body like an arrow. Heat lashes at my dress, searing holes in the fabric. The sparks burn my skin, but I don’t slow until I reach Nate.
I catch him with a grunt before he touches the flames and pull him into my body. Then I spread my wings.
Please let these damn things work.
The wind is knocked out of me as we’re yanked backward, as though we’re being sucked into a giant vacuum.
My grip loosens, but he loops his hands around my neck, the same way I’d held on to him in the snow.
We stagger through the air as I get used to using my wings, dropping so close to the flames that they singe the toe of my boot, then jetting beyond the bridge, high enough to make my ears pop.
“Devica?” Nate’s voice is thick against my shoulder.
“Shhh. I need to concentrate. I’ve never flown before, and I really don’t want to drop you.”
Nate’s arms tighten around my neck, and I manage to level out our speed, navigating around the jagged edges of the walls.
My wings are strong, bearing our combined weight without effort. Even though I’ve never used them, the feathers are as much a part of me as my arms and legs. They do what I tell them and sail us over the river like we’ve done it a billion times.
