My huffed laugh makes my face ache. “Not my fault. I’m used to fighting nine-year-old boys.”
“Is he dead?” she asks, her whisper warm against my neck.
“I don’t want to stay and find out.” I clutch her icy fingers with trembling hands, looking straight into her eyes. “We need to get to the stable.” It is only a matter of time before the castle learns of my escape through the servants’ entrance—if they haven’t already.
Turns out, having Jeston back at the castle saved us both. Thank the stars I caught Bell before he stole my girl away once more.
Allette pulls at my shirt where it sticks to my blood-soaked side. “How will we get to Stratiss? You can’t fly in this state.”
Although it still burns like hell, my magic has started to heal the pain in my face and the twisted gash across my abdomen. I’ll probably end up splitting the thing open again the moment I lift her, but that is a problem for later.
I slip a hand to the nape of her neck, drawing our foreheads together. “With you in my arms, I can do anything.” We’ll go as far as we can before I need to rest, then start again under the cover of darkness.
She nods.
But first… “I must get my pack.” It has everything we need to survive. Money, clothes, the antidote.
Allette stumbles to the door and hefts my pack onto her back. When I start to protest, she tells me to shut up. I suppose she is right. I really shouldn’t be carrying any extra weight to give my magic the best chance at healing me. Together, we make it down the stairs and back onto the streets.
Shouts erupt from overhead, and silver flashes from the clouds hanging above us. Allette grips my hand as more shouts echo. Closer. Louder.
“We’ll never make it Stratiss.” Even if we were both in perfect condition, there are too many guards around, and they’re all too fast.
She nods in agreement. “Then we’ll have to go through the portal.”
She is right. It’s the only way out.
With fire burning my side and pain rushing through my veins, I run. Through the alleys, ducking into doorways and behind barrels and carts every time a shadow sweeps through the clouds above.
Footsteps pound. Faster, louder.
Silver flashes in my peripherals, but I manage to drag Allette into a doorway right before a royal guard sprints past. A cough climbs my throat, but I swallow it down before it gives away ourposition. The Black Hole is only a few blocks away and the portal only a handful of streets beyond that. We’re almost there.
The ache in my chest and pain in my side bring tears to my eyes, but I have to keep going.
For her.
For me.
For us.
Finally,finallythe alley spits us into the small square where the dark, enchanted water of the portal calls us toward sweet freedom.
The sound of our boots thunders, slamming against the cobblestones.
All we have to do is make it to that portal. We’re almost there. Only a few more steps.
Only a few more?—
Allette stills.
A handful of guards emerge from between the shadowed buildings. More guards land behind us with resounding finality. The only way out is up, but I have no hope of flying faster than any of them on my best day, let alone wounded and carrying Allette.
A shadow circles overhead, and then a dark figure dressed head to toe in black lands on the portal’s low ledge.
When I see the gold crown on his head, I know the end has come.
The king has found us.