Page 30 of Eclipse of Fate
Flynn stops feet away from me, quickly looking over his shoulder and then at the chains that hold me. “Do you have access to any of your magic?” I search his eyes, looking for his intentions. Realizing what his question is and trusting a man who is closely tied to Cano may be my first mistake, but it’s a risk I decide to take. My voice is too weak to speak, so I nod in answer to his question.
I have some use of my magic, but not nearly the amount that I should, but I’ve felt it getting stronger. He flattens his lips as he looks back to the door. As though he’s nervous that the other guard or someone else is going to come in at any moment. He rakes his hand through his blonde hair, making some pieces stand on end when he rips it back out and down his face.
“I’m going to help you get out of here. I promise Raelle is ok—she made it out of the colosseum. You trust me?” I don’t trust him, but I have to if there is even a chance that he is telling the truth and he can get me out of Cano’s grip—back to Raelle. I nod slowly and watch him closely as he reaches around me, his blue eyes bright in the dismal dark. His hand wraps around the metal holding me to the wall. His grip tightens around the chain, and frost creeps out over the links from where his palm holds the metal. A moment later, the frozen metal crumbles, and I’m released from the wall.
Clearing my throat, I nod once, and he offers me his hand. I look at his outstretched hand for what it is—a lifeline, or if I’m wrong about his intentions, a delivery of my death. I track my gaze up to his waiting eyes, hoping the message in mine is clear. If I make it out of this, I will owe him my life. If he crosses me, I will be his death. The silent promise passes between us, and when I know he understands, I place my hand in his, and he helps me to my feet. One leg is stiff from the broken bone that has been fracturedrepeatedly and is slow to heal, which now causes me to limp behind him. Cuffs still cling to my wrists, but I’m free from the wall. I amble forward, trailing behind Flynn as he leads me to the door.
“I’m going to get you out, but Dax? Getting away is going to be on you… You can’t get caught. Get as far as you can, as fast as you can, but whatever you do… try not to use much magic—they will sense it with the barriers in place. Get to Loema. Your queen is there.” My eyes flick to his at the use of Raelle’s title, making me curious if she announced her birthright. Pride fills me as I take a deep breath and blow it out before dipping my chin, and he returns to opening the door. The guard is still gone from the hallway, and my heart ricochets in its cage as the adrenaline spikes through me. Blood begins to pound through my veins, giving me more strength.
“Thank you, Flynn.” My voice is barely a whisper, but it’s all I can manage. “This will not be forgotten. Stay safe.” He bows his head, and I reach my hand out to him. We clasp our hands around each other’s forearms, both of our eyes flaring with rebellion and determination. Sealing our deal with each other.
“For Aldramani. My king.” His head dips in the direction at my back. “Go that way. There is more than one way down. The castle was built on the cliff edge. There is a way through the tunnels, to get beyond the barriers—I’m sorry I don’t know them—if you have the strength to fly, try, but only as a last resort. They will find you quickly if you shift.”
“I understand. Thank you, Flynn. I owe you my life.” He looks around, chewing his lip, and then he juts his chin out, urging me to go. I release him, stepping back with a nod.
Using one hand on the wall, I begin down the dark hallway. The stone under my feet eventually gives way, and hard-packed dirtreplaces it. Far enough away from the dungeon I was released from, there is no light. So I bring a tiny flame to life in my palm. I don’t want to risk anything more unless I have to.
My shoulder aches from the many times it was pulled from the socket in my torture, but I keep it stabilized and continue my trek. The narrowing tunnel seems to be never-ending, but as I get closer to a brightening end, I realize there is a gate in the way. Cursing, I make a decision that I hope doesn’t give me away before I’ve even gotten out of the castle. Using as little as I can, I let the flame flare brighter, and melt the lock of the gate. The protest of metal is loud as I push it open, and I wince at the echoes it causes to ring out. I won’t let it stop me, though. I hurry toward the end of the tunnel.
Silver light bathes me as I step out to the cave opening in the cliffside. My face falls as the hope that was beginning to build is ripped out from under my feet. I’m met with the unrelenting sea, crashing into the jagged red rock below me. Willing my heart rate to be steady, I take a deep breath and close my eyes. This will not be the end of the path for me. I will do whatever it takes to get back to her. As if my magic senses my thoughts, white-hot magic pulses around me, giving me a burst of familiar scent. Warm spices and vanilla seem to swirl through the overly salty air around me, and I don’t know how, but that’s when I know I’m not delusional. She knows I’m alive. I canfeelthat she’s looking for me. “I’ll find another way, Raelle.” I breathe into the wind before I open my eyes, looking up at the moon that hangs low in the sky. “I’ll see you soon, my love.”
There is a stitch in my side as I turn yet another corner in the tunnel system under this godforsaken castle. I feel like I’ve been hobbling through the darkness for hours. Miles upon miles of nothing but dirt under my feet and the rough walls I run my fingers across. A labyrinth of wickedness threatens to keep me here until I die. Now and again, I think I hear boots thundering behind me, but now I wonder if it’s just the pounding of my heart in my ears.
When I notice a pinhole-like white dot of light straight in front of me, I force my feet and all of my energy into moving faster. This has to be the end. Just steps away from freedom, I see a shadow in the forest beyond the opening move, and I stop dead in my tracks. Pressing my body as close to the walls as I can— to keep myself unknown. The rattling growl sounds off in the distance, and my face falls at the same time as my heart. Shit.
Raskins. They sense and feed off fear… Taking a deep breath, I try to ease my heart into slowing. I can’t let this be my undoing. The huge demon-like dog creeps closer to the opening of the tunnels. Stopping right in front of the exit, it lifts and tilts its scrunched-up nose, its rattling lungs intensifying as it sniffs the air. Its eyelids blink, the glowing orange reflective layer blinking out only for a moment, then it looks directly where I’m standing. Ishould have asked Flynn for a weapon. Especially if I can’t use my damn magic.
There is only so much I can do to not be found, and without a weapon, I can’t think of many. I move to pick up a rock near my feet, and just as I push myself from the wall, I hear an echoing howl in the distance that makes the Raskins’ head snap in the opposite direction. I hold my breath, waiting. When the howl echoes out again, it jumps toward the wolf bounding into the forest, and before long, the Raskin is nowhere to be seen. I wait only a moment more before I force myself into action once again.
The trees here are dense, but my eyes adjusted quickly to the dim forest floor. I suppose that’s one perk to have been kept in the dark all this time. I continue to limp through the thick underbrush. No path exists here. The tunnel system has been long forgotten. There is no way for me to be quiet. The leg I trail behind me snags on branches as my other boot cracks them in half. The snapping of twigs and crunching of leaves give me away to any potential threat, but the bigger threat lays behind me. The castle and those inside want something from me that I’m unwilling to give. I must put as much distance between it and myself as I can manage.
Exhaustion begins slowing my strides after a while, but as the trees begin to thin, I see the city below.
I just have to make it to the city. If not to hide until I’m rested enough to continue, to at least steal a weapon to defend myself without magic if I must. My fists will only get me so far if I’m unable to use magic against those who will wield it against me.
A moment of hope turns bitter on my tongue as I’m attacked from behind. The claws rake down my back, taking my breath from my lungs, and push me forward. My body catapulted from the hillside, and I go down hard. Sky spinning with the earth belowme, like a horrible dance of agony. I grind my teeth, trying to hold back the cries of pain that threaten to spill from my throat. My head careens forward one last time, and I come to a stop, hitting a boulder at the bottom of the hill with a sickening crack. The last thing I see before I succumb to more darkness is a wolf lunging over me, attacking the Raskin that just sent me to what very well could be my death.
Chapter twenty-seven
Groggily, I roll thestiffness out of my shoulders as I attempt to sit up in bed. This time, when I woke up in the moonlit infirmary room, I recalled everything that happened with the others in the hall with striking clarity. I was glad to see only Ginny in the room when I opened my eyes. I can’t handle seeing all of them right now. I asked her to keep my waking unknown for the time being. I need to get my bearings about what I did—the magic I used. Right now, I feel like I’m drowning, and the most terrifying thing is that I know every emotion I’m feeling is my own this time.
I remember feeling this way when I was looking for answers about my family. The unyielding sadness. The heavy pressuresettled in every bone and muscle in my body. I feel it all again now. Perhaps this isn’t living at all, instead dying a slow death. I wonder if perhaps I did something in a previous life to deserve only guaranteed misery and despair. I wonder what that means for a kingdom that I am meant to rule.
Closing my eyes slowly as tears build and my lip quivers. My breath comes out shakily, while I let the tears fall. Silently promising myself that I will only allow this moment of weakness for just that—a moment, because from here on out, I have to prove to the gods and Dax that I can be what my mother perhaps foresaw—destined for greatness.
My heart aches for the way my thoughts are spinning. What if I was wrong about Dax? What if he isn’t out there still? What if he’s actually gone? As the thoughts whirl through my mind, I grit my teeth as anger replaces the sadness in me. My face begins to heat with each influx of breath I take. I snap my eyes shut. Fisting my hands into tight balls at my side, and right then… I feel it. For the first time since the battle. The thrum of magic that has only ever been Dax brushes over my mind.
My tears dry, my heart steadies, and when my eyes finally open, a raven sits on the window’s ledge. Its large head tilts to the side as it looks in through the glass panes where I sit on the bed. The bird’s chest puffs before he lets out a croaking cry. I feel it vibrate through my very soul, then it spreads its wings and disappears into the shadows of the night before it even launches into the sky. It’s the sign I’ve been begging for.
“Ginny!” I call out for the vampire healer. The door swings open silently as she rushes into the room.
“Is everything okay, my queen?” I don’t think I’ll ever get used to people addressing me as queen. Her eyes scour the room, then land on me wide and ready to defend me if needed.
“Sorry for startling you. I—I need a favor from you.” She bows her head slightly, and when she looks back at my face; hers blanches. I catch a glimpse of my reflection in the mirror just beyond her and see why. My eyes glow like the moon. My skin gives almost a blue hue to its ethereal paler in the moonlight filtering through the room.
“I need you to tell the others I wish to speak with them, but only after I am gone.” As I finish the sentence, she is already shaking her head in refusal, confusion settling between her eyes.
“Please don’t ask me to do this, my queen. Please don’t ask me to aid you in putting yourself in danger.” She pleads, still shaking her head.
