Page 196 of Kingdom of the Two Moons

Caryan’s gaze lingers. “Why didn’t you kill her?”

“I don’t know. Maybe I didn’t feel like it,” she chirps lightly. “Can I have some water now? I’m parched.”

“Where did you getthisfrom?” Kyrith holds up the black Nefarian sword.

“Let me think—oh yes—-why-don’t-you-go-and-fuck-yourself?”

“I’ll torture it out of you, witch,” Kyrith snarls.

“Yeah? You better keep rolling your eyes like that—maybe you’ll find a brain back there,” Blair hisses back. “Besides, just ask your master. He’ll tell you if he thinks you worthy.”

Kyrith snarls, but she trains her gaze back on Caryan, batting her lashes.

“Water? Pleeease?”

Just then, the girl stirs, and Caryan’s gaze goes back to her, ignoring Blair.

“Oh, great. Yeah, just ignore the witch you used to fuck all night,” she snaps, shaking her head and regretting it instantlybecause it hurts.

Kyrith saunters over, glaring down at her, a water bottle conjured in his hand. He makes a show of slowly unscrewing it and bringing it to his lips, taking a hearty swig.

He grins when he catches her staring, smacking his lips. “Oh, where are my manners? You’re thirsty too.” The bastard cocks his head, a grin on his face. “Want some? Hm, why not tryMay I have some water, please, oh my great high lord, witch, and see how that goes,” he purrs. “Or why not see to some of my needs? It’s been a while up here without a woman.”

“I’d rather bite off my own tongue and swallow it,” she snarls.

“I wasn’t talking about your loose tongue. Word has it you spread your legs for anyone,” he snarls right back. “I guess, even for a Nefarian, if that sword you carried is anything to go by.”

“Maybe I had one for dinner—because that’s what I do. I slice pathetic men open and drink their blood as soon as I’ve used them for my needs. So, yes, take off these shackles and see what I can do. You fit right into the mold.”

“You know, Blair, you were average with your magic back then, but now, without your magic, you’re nothing.” Kyrith flashes his teeth, knowing the blow hurt.

She flashes hers right back. “Oh, shut it. I still wear heels bigger than your dick, neck-pricker, with or without magic.”

“Enough of this. Go and do what I asked, Kyrith. I’m tired of your juvenile antics,” Caryan cuts in, another silent command laced with power following his words.

Kyrith curls his lips back in Blair’s direction before he obeys and leaves, unable to ignore the direct order.

With him gone, silence falls over the tent, only the howling outside and the crackling of the fire remaining. Blair’s gaze wanders to the sleeping witcher on the bed, then glides back to the girl in Caryan’s arms.

She’s so pale, pale as the snow outside. Her lips are no longer blue, but almost as colorless as the rest of her.

The girl who saved her life. Twice. Blair shouldn’t care. She tells herself that she doesn’t care. That she wouldn’t like to tear thegirl to shreds because of the way Caryan’s looking at her.

Gods, it fucking hurts to see the angel after so many years, and the first thing he does is rip her throat out and cradle that half-human in his arms like she means something to him.

Good.Let Melody die and be gone. Caryan deserves this.

But despite it all, Blair finds herself saying, “You know where we are, right? What Silas does? This cold—it’s not a normal cold. It’s raw, ancient magic, Caryan. Fighting anyone who tries to come closer. Killingeveryonewho stays too long.”

He looks at her, and Blair continues. “She will die on you, whether you want it or not. Soon. Your own magic can barely stand it. Silas’s magic is draining you, too.” She juts her chin toward the sleeping witcher in the corner. She knows the witcher would never have fallen asleep if it weren’t for the magic burning him out. “I wasn’t kidding when I said before that she’s barely alive. Not much longer and she’ll be dead. You need to take her out of this magic if you want to prevent that.”

Caryan ignores her, looking back down at the girl.

Blair’s eyes turn to slits. “She has barely any pulse left. She’s only half-fae. She can’t stand this cold. She’sgoingto die.” Her words are sharp, trying to reach the angel. It’s the least she can do for the girl.

Caryan’s lips curl back in a warning, his eyes holding the promise of violence before he says calmly, “I know she will die.”

Ice-cold bastard.

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