Page 124 of House of the Raven
“Let her go!” I snap.
“I will, once you give me the amulet. If you don’t, I will kill her. I am tired of this game. I thought you would be unable to resist its allure and would bring the amulet out in the open, but you are smarter than I gave you credit for. It was not all wasted time, though. It has given me the opportunity to spread my tendrils through the council. Castella will be mine, and humans will pay for the way they have treated us.”
“Is that why you’re doing this? To gain control of Castella?”
“It was at first. If it hadn’t been for you all those years ago, my people would be the ones treatingyourpeople like refuse. We would be in control, and you would do our bidding. It took me over a decade to recover from what you did to me. I have hated you and your entire family with a force that gave me the will to live and return to finish what I started. I had one more incentive, however. That day I also learned that you were in possession of something precious.”
He stretches a hand out and wraps it around Amira’s neck, then he extends his other hand in my direction.
“The amulet.”
I swallow thickly.
Cuervo, where are you? Hurry!
Orys can have the amulet. I don’t want anything to do with it. All I want is for things to go back to the way they used to be.
Amira.
I put my hands up. “I’ll give you the amulet, all right? Just don’t hurt her.”
He narrows his eyes.
“I don’t have it with me, but we can go get it. We can…”
Behind me, I hear a familiar screech accompanied by the flap of wings. Through the open doors at my back, Cuervo swoops in. He circles once over my head, then lands on my shoulder, one talon digging deep into my flesh.
I wince, and as I look at him sideways, I see The Eldrystone clenched in his other talon.
He tosses it up, and I catch it. My fingers close around the gem while the chain hangs loose. It vibrates, making my hand tingle, warming my chest, and taking me back to the day I saved my father, the day Mother died.
The Eldrystone’s power courses through my body once more, awakened by my fear.
It seems to take Orys a moment to realize what has happened, but when he does, he tightens his grip around Amira’s neck and renews his threat.
“Hand it over, or I’ll break her neck like a twig.” Gray eyes glare at me from his ruined face.
The sounds of clashing swords ring throughout, but still no one comes to our aid. My heart hammers as I take a step forward. Cuervo croaks in disapproval, jumps off my shoulder, and flies directly at the sorcerer.
Orys twirls his hand and releases a blast of energy.
“No! ” I cry out.
Cuervo dives to one side, swoops down, then goes back up. The magic shoots wildly and strikes the ceiling. Fragments break off and rain down.
Fiercely and with his talons outstretched, Cuervo goes for Orys’s face. One of them hits true and carves a long gash along the sorcerer’s already hideous face. He lets go of my sister to cover the wound, while Cuervo flaps his wings and flies out of reach.
“Leave, Cuervo,” I shout. “It’s an order.”
He croaks in displeasure, a sound I know well. He obeys nonetheless and exits through one of the balconies. I’m relieved to see that my friend is unharmed. I didn’t think I’d be putting him in danger once more. I will never do that again. Yet, I’m grateful for his help, grateful for the amulet held tightly in my grip, and for the confidence surging inside me.
Orys lets out a feral growl and grabs my sister again, smearing blood on her neck.
“Unhand her,” I say, “you filthy hijo de puta.” I’m not afraid anymore. I don’t understand how, but I know I will make him regret what he’s done.
“You will pay for your insolence.” Orys’s hand starts glowing around Amira’s neck.
Even in her unconscious state, she lets out a whimper.
