Page 86 of Frosted Torment

This time, I allowed him to drink what was left in the ladle, and then I stood back, waiting for anything to help me understand.

Baz must’ve sensed my unease, because when I looked overat him and Lex, I saw concern etched in his features. He smiled at me, saying,“Deep breaths. You’re doing well.”

I forced a weak smile and nodded. Except my world was crumbling around me, and I couldn’t afford to show weakness to Vallen. I turned the ladle over in my hand, then stared at the imprisoned angel. Carefully examining his face, I held his gaze, and resentment shot through me.

Grief clouded my mind, and my heart broke for the betrayal I felt. I thought about using the ladle on Vallen’s face for a second, but what he said next surprised me.

Vallen’s eyes softened, and for the first time, I saw a flicker of emotion cross his face. “We can use the bracelet and return your soul to you.”

My heart hammered in my chest, the rhythm of it almost deafening in my ears as his words sank in. My soul. The prospect left me stunned, and I almost couldn’t move.

I twirled the ladle in my hand and said, “So that part is true.”

“Water,” he insisted.

I cast a glare at him while gripping the ladle with both hands. “Needy little thing, aren’t you?”

“We have a deal, princess,” Vallen snapped, so I let him drink the entire amount from the ladle this time.

Baz and Lex exchanged puzzled looks before joining me.

“Are you lying, Vallen?” Baz questioned with a sharp tone, echoing my own silent doubts.

He shook his head and leaned back against the cave wall. “But it comes with a price.”

“And what’s that?” asked Lex.

Then Vallen’s words cut through my temporary hope as he said, “Noa’s life.”

CHAPTER 31

Isearched Vallen’s face, battling the burning tears that threatened to spill from my eyes. My chest tightened like a vice grip.

“You’ve gone against the entire order of the universe, and to fix it, I have to die?” I screeched, the ear-splitting scream echoing through the cave.

Vallen’s expression stayed impassive, his eyes revealing nothing. It only fueled my fury as my words bounced off the rocky walls. I spun on my heel and stormed away, boots crunching on loose stones.

Behind me, the clank of metal reverberated through the cavern as Vallen strained against his chains, reaching for me. The force of his struggle sent a tremor through the cave, causing me to almost lose my balance. Baz and Lex stumbled beside me, quickly finding their balance on the shaky ground.

Vallen yelled at me, demanding my attention. “You have the power to fix this, Noa! Fix my mistake and save everyone.”

I froze mid-step, his words punching me in the gut. The notion of saving humankind seemed absurd coming from the lips of the one who had stripped me of the very essence of my humanity. My hands clenched into fists at my sides as I turned back toward him, meeting his cold gaze head-on.

“You ripped out my soul without a second thought.” Bitter laughter snaked up my throat. “You’ve made human existence meaningless for me. If I make this right, I won’t even get the chance to live.”

The rawness in my throat was undeniable. Baz and Lex’s gazes bore into my back, but all I cared about was confronting this infuriating angel before me. With a surge of rage, I punched the wall next to Vallen’s face; rocks crumbled all around us.

“You won’t be able to contain them, you know?” He threw his head back with an ominous laugh. “That power you hold is knowledge of creation—before and after. Everything in between too. You’re a vessel housing them, and they will consume you until you die.”

Challenging him while hiding my trembling hands, I thrust my wrist forward again. “But I have Callum’s essence. Besides, this bracelet has soldered itself to me.”

“Callum’s essence will disappear,” Vallen taunted with a sinister smile. “As the last remaining descendant, that bracelet is meant to attach itself to you—it’s a conduit for performing the ceremony and returning that knowledge to the Veil.”

Baz squared his shoulders defiantly. “How long does she have?”

“I’m parched,” Vallen replied before coughing and licking his cracked lips.

Baz spun on his heel only to whirl back and punch Vallensquarely in the mouth. “How much time does Noa have until she dies—and we’re all screwed!”

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