Page 15 of Queen of Whispers and Mist

Tugging the fabric down, he fashioned himself a sort of over-the-shoulder harness, using his earth magic to reinforce the material so that it would easily withstand the dead weight. Once that was done, he carefully scooped Shadow off the floor and gently laid her inside the carrier. It was just a titch small, and her limbs hung out at awkward angles. She would be in a world of discomfort when she eventually awoke.

Realizing there was no help for it, Ronan sighed and shook his head. “You’re going to forgive me for this once whatever hold he has on you fades.” He wasn’t sure if that was a promise or wishful thinking, but regardless, Ronan picked up the makeshift sling and maneuvered it—and her—onto his body. Her head was near his shoulder, her legs near his other hip, meaning the climb would be awkward with her between him and the wall, but since any other positioning would throw his balance off, this was their only option.

“You know... I really pictured tonight going differently,” he murmured, keeping up his one-sided conversation. It was a much-needed distraction and helped him from thinking of everything that could go wrong.

Swinging his legs over the side of the ledge, he spent a final moment gazing out over the ocean and the distorted reflection of the stars above. If not for the thick swash of blood across her temple, Shadow looked as though she could be merely sleeping. He leaned his head down, running his nose along hers. “I’m sorry about this, kitten, but it was the only way. Perhaps, one day, we can laugh about it.” Then he kissed her softly, his stomach clenching and souring when she didn’t return it.

He pulled back with a frown, wondering if he’d ever get another willing kiss from her again.

It doesn’t matter, Ronan. Just stick to the mission. Get her as far away from here as you can. Nothing else matters right now.

Beginning his careful shift from the balcony to the red patterned bricks that lined the tower, Ronan made sure he had a firm hold and then risked a glance over his shoulder to see just how far down they had to go.

He didn’t have a fear of heights as a rule, but they were so far up he could onlyjustmake out the rooftops below them. It would be a damned miracle if they reached the ground in one piece or without one or both of them falling.

Releasing a heavy breath, Ronan swept one foot down, searching for his next toehold and muttering, “The things I do for love.”

CHAPTER6

RONAN

By the time his boot finally scraped against the ground, sweat poured into his eyes and his muscles shook from exertion. Not even his Earth-enhanced strength had been enough to offset the momentous effort required to scale down the palace tower with the cumbersome weight of another body strapped to him. There had been a couple of close calls where the wind had kicked up or his grasp slipped, and he hadn’t been too sure they were going to make it.

It was through sheer force of will he was standing—okay, leaning—here now.

“Took you long enough.”

Ronan snapped upright, one arm protectively curling around Shadow’s unconscious form while the other groped for a weapon at his side.

“Peace, Butcher. I mean you no harm.” Camille stepped into the soft moonlight, her hands outstretched to show she was unarmed.

He was too exhausted to do more than stare at her, his breaths labored and lungs burning. Though she’d done nothing but help him, he couldn’t ignore the impulse to scan the darkness from whence she came, ensuring she was alone before finally mustering up the breath to speak.

“Are you waiting for me?” he rasped, voice threaded with fatigue.

“Yes.”

“How’d you know I’d be here?”

“You aren’t exactly invisible.”

He vibrated with all the tension of a fully drawn bow. Who else might have spotted them? The urge to flee sent a spike of adrenaline barreling through him, suffusing him with renewed energy.

“Do not fear, Ronan. I have no reason to believe anyone else saw you.”

“And you know that how, exactly?”

“No alarms were raised, for starters.”

“So why are you here, then?”

“I have my own reasons for being outside tonight.”

He raised a brow. “Do not think me discourteous, but I’m going to need you to do better than that.”

She crossed her arms with a little smirk. “So untrusting... good. It’s about time you remembered not everyone in this court is what they seem.”

“Are you saying I shouldn’t trust you?”

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