Page 83 of The Vanishing Throne

‘Damnation, Aileana,’ Gavin mutters.

‘Kill the Falconer,’ one of the fae from the crowd hisses.

‘Drain her blood,’ whispers another. ‘Eat them both.’

‘Aileana …’ Derrick says uncertainly.

I back away from the crowd, as much as I’m able, but they’re inching closer. They’re ready to strike.

‘Take Gavin and find Aithinne,’ I tell Derrick. ‘The others will follow me. I’ll run and get thebrìgh.’

A few are starting to circle Gavin, as if sensing he’s easier to take down. I need to distract them. His body wouldn’t be able to handle theirbites if they got to him, and he can’t run as fast as I can.

‘The river is just beyond the buildings,’ Derrick says in a low voice. ‘The flower is blue and has a bit of a glow to it. You can’t miss it. Good luck.’He flies to Gavin’s shoulder and whispers in his ear.

Ready.

I address the crowd. ‘You want my blood?’ I raise the sword, slice open my palm, and hold my bloodied, dripping hand aloft. The creatures hiss and their eyes flash in the darkness. ‘Try and take it.’

They dive for me in a swarm of teeth and claws. I dodge out of the way, rolling across the slick marble. Then I’m on my feet and running. I bound down a dark close between the buildings, the hoots and hollers of fae loud behind me.

I make the mistake of looking up. The fae are crawling along thebuildings on either side of me, claws slicing into metal. Acat sìth– a massive faery feline – leaps for me, claws out, and slices through my new coat, just barely missing skin.

Derrick is going tokillme for ruining his new work.

I hit the ground, spinning into a crouch. My sword is in my hand as I lunge forward. Just when I would have sliced into the creature to kill it I remember.If you kill one of them, you’ll void the treaty.

Damnation. I slam the hilt of my sword hard into the cat’s temple and kick its ribs with the edge of my boot. It hisses and howls at the impact.

I look up to see the other fae coming at me and I squeeze my bloody fist so it drips onto the ground. Two of them stop for it, licking the ground desperately. The others howl, running faster in pursuit.

I round another building and spot a line of dark, twisting trees up ahead.The river. I break for it, leaping across the grass. I shove through the branches of the trees; twigs snap with the impact. Water surges over the rocks at the banks of the river, the current strong.

The flower is blue and has a bit of a glow to it. You can’t miss it.

The fae are close. I can hear the stomp of their collective feet, the vibration through the soil.Where is it, where is it?

I scan the banksand spot patches of delicate, shining flowers just where the water touches. I vault over one of the large river rocks and grasp the plants without stopping. They come out of the ground easily, roots still attached, and I shove them in my coat pocket.

Time to get the hell out of here.

I sprint back in the direction of the door and take off down an empty side street, my boots pounding against the marble sidewalk. I dodge through the twisting trees in a centre square, through a garden of sharp brambles and thorny roses. My clothes and coat catch and I pull and tug myself through. The towers of the city around me seem never-ending, with nowhere to hide.

Just when I think a close is tight and dark enough to conceal me, the flaming lights follow me in at the command of the fae. My blood drips behind me as I run. The fae stop to lick it and fight each other for a taste before they bound after me again.

As I’m rounding a corner, Derrick zips down from the buildings above. ‘This way,’ he tells me, breathing hard. His wings hum as he flies in front of me. ‘Back to the door.’

I’m panting, my legs are burning as I sprint beneath a glass archway of one of the buildings. ‘Where are Aithinne and Gavin?’

‘Just up ahead.’

Derrick leads me down another street. My muscles strain to keep up with his speed as he dashes across a square I haven’t passed through yet. I bloody well hope he knows where he’s going.

A growl behind me draws my attention. I dart a glance over my shoulder to see the fae are close, so close they’re practically nipping at my heels. I pump my arms, trying to gain speed as I recognise the close that leads to the door. Just up ahead, almost there. I run faster, my chest achingfrom breathing so hard.

Just before I reach the door, I see Aithinne and Gavin. Aithinne grabs my shoulders so I don’t careen into her. Sighing at me in a chastising way, she pushes me gently toward Gavin and steps between us and the oncoming horde.

Her eyes are glowing, turning molten silver as they do when she uses her powers. Before I can speak, she reaches her hand out to the fae, palm up. The burst of power that comes from her is strong, coating my tongue and my throat.

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