Page 192 of Bloodguard

I nod. “Even though it might bring temporary hardship to Arrow, freeing the phoenix will restore equilibrium to Old Erth. It is the right choice for my people. Arrow is a just and honorable kingdom. We will get through whatever comes.”

His expression is solemn. “I agree. It’s the right thing to do.”

I don’t think my hands have ever felt this heavy letting go of his, nor have my footsteps felt this slow. Still, we make it, each taking position over our designated mechanisms.

The gold wheel is too warm for my liking. I jerk my hands away several times until they grow more accustomed to the uncomfortable heat.

“Let’s turn to the right first,” Leith suggests. We both turn our wheels to the right two clicks only for the bars to close in tighter. His eyebrow lifts in a truewhat the hellmotion.

“Left?” I offer.

We each try four clicks to the left. The first two return the bars back to their place, but the next two tighten the gate further with an awfulclang, clang.

The mound of ash stirs, and a thin ray of excruciatingly bright light pushes through, spotlighting the bloodstained stalactites above it. Leith reaches for Grandfather’s sword, which is strapped to his waist from now through eternity, and he watches the trembling beam closely.

When the yellow circle of light doesn’t grow in size and its jittery movements cease, Leith returns to the wheel and my heart to a much steadier beat.

I tap my fingers along my side, carefully eyeing the mechanism. But it’s not until I turn back around, my gaze catching on the story of the sun and moon etched into the stalagmite, that a thought occurs to me.

“It takes two,” I repeat. At his stiff nod, I say, “Two drawn toward each other are forced apart.”

Leith follows my gaze, appearing to understand. “Go back to where we started.”

I glance back to the mound of ash as it stirs, and another beam of light—this one red and angled to the left—pushes through. I bite my bottom lip and grip the wheel.

Two clicks to the right.Clang, clang.

One…two…three more streams of light push through the now-quivering mound of ash. Two green. One blue. All shifting left and right, puncturing the hot, wretched dimness of the catacombs.

Leith mutters several curses. I do as well, although I’m not as creative. This time, I return to my wheel first.Toward each other, I mouth.

The wheel squeals as I click one time to the right and Leith clicks once to the left. My rubbery legs almost give out completely when the cage opens wide enough to allow me through. More green streams of light emerge.

Anotherclick.

Anotherclang.

Another stir from the mound.

Green, blue, orange, yellow, and red streaks burst forth and widen. All that’s missing is purple.

Never mind—there it is. A circle of bright purple illuminates a fissure forming along the ceiling at the center of the catacombs, just beyond the cage.

The influx of heat burns my eyes, eliciting tears. But it’s fear that chills me to the bone. My hands tremble as I reach for the scalding wheel, knowing the next click or clang may be the one to fully awaken the phoenix.

Vitor had it all wrong with the calling-Aurora nonsense. All he ever needed to do was throw rocks against the cage from a safe distance.

“Now or never,” Leith says, whisper-yelling as only he can. “All the way until this thing opens or she breaks out.”

“For Arrow,” I say.

“And for our future family,” Leith replies, the sincerity and promise lighting his sea-glass eyes even from this distance. “No matter what, I will get us out. You and me will fucking live, Maeve. I swear it.”

Yes, we will.

After everything we’ve endured, wemustsurvive.

I tighten my grip on the wheel, and so does Leith.

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