Page 59 of Ivy & Bone

“Shit,” Prue whispered. “They’re drawn to the magic.”

Hoofbeats thundered nearby, and Cyrus swore. “Come on.” He took Prue’s hand and dragged her deeper into the woods. The horses advanced, a cacophony of clomping. It sounded like an entire army was after them.

Each step sent rippling waves of dizziness and nausea through Prue. She wouldn’t last much longer. She wanted to scream. Why were these soldiers chasing after them? Didn’t they understand that Prue and Cyrus were trying to put a stop to the ghosts haunting the city?

The woods opened up to a narrow road that snaked between snow-capped houses. As Prue and Cyrus hurried forward, they stopped short at the sight of three horsemen waiting for them at the edge of the road. Cyrus backed away, glancing over his shoulder to find two more trailing them through the woods.

They were cornered.

Cyrus’s hand was warm in Prue’s grasp. He squeezed her fingers as if to reassure her. She sucked in a breath, ready for the onslaught of his power once more . . .

Then, more hoofbeats thumped along the road. Prue’s eyes widened as dozens of soldiers atop horses rode toward them. More and more horsemen poured out from the main road, and Prue lost count, but there were more than fifty of them.

Beside her, Cyrus deflated. Even he couldn’t handle that many assailants, and Prue’s magic was spent.

“Witch. Demon.” The soldier in front motioned to them both. “Come with us. The emperor has orders for you to be brought to the palace.”

What does the emperor want with us? Prue thought in bewilderment.

Fury rippled off Cyrus, and Prue wouldn’t have been surprised if he launched an offensive, regardless of the odds. But, after shooting a nervous glance at Prue, he slowly lifted his hands in surrender. His face revealed the full force of his dark rage, contradicting the acquiescence he demonstrated.

But in that moment, Prue knew he was giving up . . . for her. Her chest tightened at the thought.

It’s just because of your bond, she told herself. If something happens to you, it could affect him, too.

She swayed slightly, and then Cyrus was there, his hands on her shoulders, grounding her in place. In ordinary circumstances, she would’ve snapped at him, insisting she could handle herself. But she was too weak to argue.

And the truth was, she couldn’t handle herself. Not right now. She had never felt so weak in all her life.

“Take my magic back,” Cyrus murmured in her ear.

“Why?” Prue’s voice wasn’t more than a groggy mumble.

“You need the strength.”

Prue tried to shake her head, but her body wouldn’t move. “You need it more.”

Cyrus’s hands on her shoulders tightened. “Please, Prue. At this rate, you’ll faint before we even reach the palace.”

Prue closed her eyes. She wanted to disagree, but she didn’t even have the strength for that. After a moment, she whispered, “I take your magic back.”

For one second, she thought it wouldn’t work. Perhaps she had to put more vigor in her voice or summon more energy. But, to her amazement, the fire swelled in her chest, making her straighten slightly. She’d never noticed a significant presence from Cyrus’s magic except for that first time down in the crypt. But now, she felt it. A rising inside her, like the empty space was being filled with something else. Something colder. She took a deep breath, and pinpricks of ice rose up her throat. She winced, but the dull throbbing in her limbs receded slightly. To her relief, she was able to walk without Cyrus’s help.

She glanced at him, and he nodded, his face solemn. “Thank you,” she breathed.

He only inclined his head, his eyes roving over the soldiers surrounding them. Prue knew he was assessing the threat, his quick mind calculating a way out. Perhaps if Prue had a full night’s sleep, she could be more useful. She knew Cyrus could get out on his own if he had his magic. So, why didn’t he?

Then, she remembered the pomegranate tea Polina had forced him to drink. It will prevent you from harming or abandoning Prudence.

Cyrus couldn’t leave Prue. Not until they’d reached their destination.

Prue glanced up at the sky, wondering if the approaching ghosts would provide enough distraction for her and Cyrus to escape. But the pearly white forms were retreating, returning to their position above the castle turrets.

Prue frowned. Why were they retreating? Could they sense that Prue was too weak? That her magic wouldn’t provide any fuel for them?

Or perhaps they were drawn to something else. Something lurking in the castle.

The horsemen made them trudge behind them, with several at their backs to ensure they didn’t flee. Thankfully, the men didn’t chain or tie them up, though Prue had a sense it was because they knew magic could easily get them out. Which brought her back to her original question: how did they know about Prue and Cyrus? And about magic? Some villages, like Krenia, were open about magic because they were so small and it was impossible to keep secrets. But as a whole, the Realm of Gaia was quite secretive about magic and the supernatural.

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