Page 25 of The Princesses of Ruin
We might die tonight.
The thrill of it has my skin tingling.
Or maybe that’s the cold winter air whipping against my face.
I lean down against Alastair’s back. His wings thump loudly on either side of me, a comfort from my dreary inner monologue. The pack shifts on my back, the massive crystal infused with Reina’s magic humming its low tune. Who knew the ancient cave-dwelling eksteinvas were more than myth and legend, let alone so useful?
We’ve been using Reina-infused crystals for months against the queen’s little drones, but those were tiny, easy for her to fill up with magic. The one in my pack is different. This one is goddess-ending size.
Hopefully.
Alastair banks around the outer cliffs of the Fynish Straight and we approach the palace from the north. A wave slaps against the black rocks below us, but the crash is minimal. There’s a cave along the waterline that can only be entered at low tide. Both Eyzanth and Nol’Ther have set for the night, and dawn will break soon.
It’s the perfect time to attack.
Wedrop low and I brace myself for my own flight. I want to use my wings, but Alastair said it would be too much magic. He’s right, of course, but it still peeves me. What fun is the end of the world if you can’t fly when you have wings?
“Get ready,” he says, his demonic voice deep and thrilling. I love when he talks to me in demon tone.
But now’s not the time for lust.
It’s time for war.
The cave comes into view in the low light. I leap, claws out, and throw Kazimir’s ward blocker against the wall. The queen’s magic shimmers in response. I land against the side of the cliff with a thud and dig in, anchoring myself.
I throw the other two ward blockers at the top and bottom of the cave, creating a triangular opening I can fit through.
Alastair lands above me with an earth-shaking thud, sending rocks scattering down around me.
“Be quick,” he whispers.
“Oh, no, I’m going to take my time,” I say with a broad grin.
He grunts in irritation. “I love you.”
“And I am going to make love to you, hard, this afternoon.”
I vault into the cave without waiting for his response—I know it was just flushed cheeks and mumbling anyway. My big husband is so adorable.
The scent of the sea is strong here, curling my nose. Dead things wash in at high tide and get stuck when the water flows out, making the ground a mishmash of squish and stone. I place my hand against the wall and begin my trek inward.
We don’t know how deep this tunnel goes, but I’ve saved up all my magic to make it deep enough. Even if I have to claw the last bits of rock apart by hand, I will get this bomb into the Dark Room.
It doesn’t take long for me to find the end of the cave. When I look back, the entrance is still far too close. I shake my head and get to work, commanding the stone to transfigure itself for me.
My green light brightens the space, illuminating all the hard surfaces…
And runes.
My stomach drops as the wall before me glows a malevolent shade of black that eats up my green. Symbols that I read rapid-fire spell my doom. Traps line the entirety of the cave, glowing back to the entrance.
She knew.
I turn and dash toward the exit.
“Alastair!”
He pushes off the wall and hovers, arms open to catch me.
