Page 223 of On Wings of Blood

Naveen lunged again. I tried to block but one of his massive legs crashed into my sword arm, knocking the blade from my grip. It fell to the floor, skidding out of reach.

I ducked down, yanking Coregon’s dagger free from my boot.

Let’s finish this,my mother murmured softly.Together.

Naveen darted forward again but I was ready. I dove and drove the dagger into the spider’s capacious chest, right where its heart should have been. I ripped the knife savagely back and forth, tearing a wide swathe in the creature’s underside.

Guts and viscous black fluid rained down on me. I gagged. Overhead, the spider-creature convulsed violently and collapsed.

I stood over it, looking down into its black eyes. Was Naveen still in there? Looking back at me somehow?

I wiped at the tears on my cheeks, my heart heavy.

I could taste the blood magic,my mother said, her voice filled with disgust.The dark sorcery that bound him. His soul was already gone. You just gave his body peace.

I nodded, closing my eyes, trying to let the weight of her words sink in fully. Naveen had already been lost. The highbloods did this to him, not me.

But I couldn't escape the feeling of guilt. The Crown of Bone had been placed upon my head. I was the culpable one.

From across the room, I heard a scream. My eyes snapped open.

Regan was fighting her own monster. Blood ran down her arms as she raised her sword, trying to keep the creature at bay.

Her cocky arrogance had fled.

You don’t owe her anything,my mother reminded me.

I glanced across the room. The doors on the opposite side had opened halfway. I could slip through them, leaving Regan behind.

Regan had tried to kill me. She might put things to rest after this. Or she might do it again.

Leaving her would be the justice she deserved.

I clenched my teeth.I can’t.

Cursing under my breath, I sprinted across the room. The creature had cornered Regan, its long legs pinning her to the floor.

I didn’t hesitate, I threw my buckler at the spider-like monster, hitting it square in the back.

The creature shrieked and turned towards me. I refused to look it in the eyes. A First Year girl. This was a First Year girl once.

“Hey!” I shouted, waving my arms like an idiot and backing away. “Come and get me!”

Behind the creature, Regan was rolling to her feet. She grabbed the sword she’d dropped as I continued to distract the spider, trying to give her the opening she needed.

It was enough.

Regan ran forward and plunged her sword into the creature’s side, piercing its hide. She withdrew the sword and stabbed it again, then a third time. The monster screeched and writhed, collapsing to the floor.

Regan wiped the blood from the blade on her thigh and shot me a haughty look I knew only too well.

“What took you so long?”

I bit back a retort.

We didn’t say another word to one another as we turned and headed towards the doors.

CHAPTER 55 - MEDRA

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