Page 121 of Give the Dark My Love

SIXTY-SEVEN

Grey

Master Ostrum andErnesta battled, but Master Ostrum’s focus was on killing Nedra, putting him in the more powerful offensive position. Ernesta could only defend.

Horror washed over Nedra’s face as she realized the governor’s plan. Master Ostrum had been more than just Nedra’s teacher; he had been her mentor. Her friend. And now he was trying to plunge a sword through her heart.

The governor stood with her back to the Emperor and me. There was no escape from the small room, thanks to the undead guards. Governor Adelaide clearly believed the Emperor was nothing more than a weak child—and I couldn’t much argue with that now—but she underestimated me.

I looked around me for a weapon, turning my back to her as I ran my fingers along the dark floor, hoping for a rock or something sharp. Before I could uncover anything, though, I felt the cold, sharp edge of a blade against my neck. I swallowed, my Adam’s apple brushing against the knife, my skin scraped raw. Governor Adelaide yanked me up, forcing me around without removing the knife from my throat.

“Choose, girl!” the governor shouted. “Will you raise this boy after I kill him? Will it be the same to you?”

Nedra’s eyes grew wide with terror. And Ernesta—whose actions were tied to Nedra’s will—hesitated in her battle against Ostrum.

Master Ostrum struck immediately, swiping his sword against Nedra’s back. Ernesta spun around, knocking the blade away. Nedra fell, cascades of blood soaking through her ripped tunic, but the cut had been superficial, thanks to Ernesta.

The knife bit into my skin. I was afraid to swallow, afraid to move at all.

Nedra watched us both as Governor Adelaide raised her arm, holding up Wellebourne’s crucible. I marveled that such a tiny bead had caused so much death and war.

I felt Governor Adelaide suck in a breath—she was going to offer Nedra one last chance to join her or she was going to order Master Ostrum and the Emperor’s guards to kill us both. But before she could speak—before I could think—I yanked my arm up and knocked my hand against the governor’s wrist.

The iron bead flew into the air.

Cursing, Governor Adelaide shoved me aside, the knife sliding across my throat up to my jaw, thankfully avoiding my arteries. I clutched my neck and watched as Wellebourne’s crucible soared into the air. Nedra stretched up her residual limb, as if she could catch the iron bead with the hand that wasn’t there.

SIXTY-EIGHT

Nedra

My shadow armcould touch nothing but blood iron and souls. Fortunately, that was exactly what Governor Adelaide’s crucible was made of. I snatched it from the air and wrapped my incorporeal fingers around the cold metal.

Governor Adelaide screamed at me, but Grey lurched up, grabbing her around the knees and knocking her to the floor. They struggled, giving me time to inspect the crucible.

I could see the golden threads of souls woven into the iron. Now that I held the crucible, I could feel them. It reminded me of my first night as a necromancer, when I’d dipped into my own crucible searching for Nessie’s soul. I had pulled at the golden threads of light, and it had hurt my revenants. Their souls were linked to the iron.

I knew exactly what needed to be done.

“What are you doing?” Governor Adelaide screamed at me as she threw Grey off her.

I wrapped my shadow fingers around the golden threads of the souls in Wellebourne’s crucible. And Ipulled.

Cold washed over me. Wisps of my black hair had fallen free from my braids, and out of the corner of my eye, I saw them turn white as I struggled to wrench the souls of the dead out of Wellebourne’s crucible. If it had been my crucible, I could have let the souls go with no effort at all. But I had not bound these souls to this iron, and breaking a connection I had not forged was far more difficult than I had imagined.

My shadow arm tensed. It felt stronger now, and I knew it was because I was letting my own life force drain in order to maintain a ghostly connection to souls that were not my own.

The souls swarmed inside the tiny crucible, reaching for me. They had not been given a choice. They wanted to be free. I strained harder.

The blood trickling down my back slowed. My heartbeat stilled. I was too weak even to shiver, despite the ice that seemed to engulf me.

My vision faded. The golden light disappeared. I still felt it, but all I could see was darkness.

The darkness moved like a living thing. It took a shape I almost recognized.

Deep, deep within me, I felt a hunger grow, a hunger I had almost been able to suppress. My mouth salivated, and something primal roared within my soul.

And somethingsnapped.

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