Page 179 of Fortress of Ambrose
But my brother is still speechless.
“We have an extraction room set up and ready,” Quell says. “We can stream the Sphere’s toushana into you directly. But we will transfuse your blood with his so that he survives the procedure. His body isn’t strong enough otherwise. And as you know, if he dies,alltoushana dies.”
“He has to turn over Nore first,” I say. “Now. You already have half of all magic.”
Ambition glints in the Dragunhead’s eye. Yagrin stares horrified.
“You and I could be great together, Quell. Born into an ancestral bloodline, bound to toushana,andwith immortal blood in your genes. You’re unique.”
That’swhat she meant. That’s what he wants—to put the magic inher. It would be stronger and greater because she is already bound to dark magic.
“Show me you can do the right thing by us for a change, and I’ll consider it,” she says.
The Dragunhead shoves Nore toward us. She lands in Yagrin’s arms, and I finally exhale.
Seventy-Three
Yagrin
Nore held on to Yagrin, and the pace of his heart slowed.
“Are you alright?”
She trembled but pulled herself upright and dusted her clothes off.
“Quell is a genius,” she said, and it was the last thing Yagrin expected to hear. Quell led the Dragunhead toward Dlaminaugh. Jordan trailed behind them. Yagrin hardly recognized his brother.
Nore slowed her pace. “There are Darkbearers in the forest. And Ellery out there.”
Yagrin’s jaw hardened. He had the one thing he wanted—Nore, back in his arms. All he had to do was break the Pact and kill his brother. The brother who’d just fought to save Nore’s life. His hand grazed the shadow glove in his pocket. Now was the perfect time to pull him aside and take his heart. Nore was all Yagrin wanted. He could care less what happened with the Order and magic.
If that was true, why did he feel so ill about it?
Because his brother just saved Nore’s life.
“Jordan,” he called his brother, who he had thought was as good as dead. Jordan stopped. Yagrin eyed his brother’s chest. Nore grabbed his arm. But she didn’t need to say a word. Yagrin knew he was staring at someone he’d never met before. His brother was no longer consumed with power, the one he possessed over people because of his last name andtitle nor the one humming in his veins. He’d set it aside somehow. He’d stopped carrying the world on his shoulders.
Hadn’t Yagrin pushed Nore away for a similar reason?
Power corrupts.
But if that were true, why was Nore still alive thanks to his brother? Yagrin’s chin hit his chest.
“I can’t do it,” he muttered. His brother watched him, perplexed.
Nore shook his arm and gasped. “That’s it! Yagrin, you don’t have to.”
“I gave the dead my word.” His heart thundered.
“Your word about what?” Jordan asked.
“Nothing. Nothing at all, brother.” He looked toward the forest. “Ellery’s in the forest where we saw Darkbearers earlier,” he said. “I took out a few, but I’m sure there are more. Where am I most helpful?”
Joy gleamed in his brother’s green eyes. Yagrin may as well have said,I love you.
“I don’t know what Quell is doing, but I trust her,” he said. “Do what you need to do about Ellery and the Darkbearers. I’ll come and help as soon as I can. Nore, I hope you’re okay.”
“Thank you, Jordan.” Nore smiled, and it was a real one.
