Page 63 of A Kingdom of Shadows

The Tibithian tilts his head to the side, possibly wondering what is the matter with me. But realizing my answer, I shut my eyes, count to ten in my head, and release a slow, steady breath. "When I found out whom the crescent carving belonged to," I start, "part of me was disappointed." Once I open my eyes, the revelation makes it all that more real. "I—I didn't know why at that moment, but now I think it is because I'd wished it to be someone else deep down, and I hate myself for that. I hate that I believed so much in a little piece of carving, thinking it was for my luck, and I hate that while I knew who the crescent belonged to, I would think of the other person." I lower my head. "Maybe that is why I tried so hard to despise—why I still try to..."

A charge of tense awaiting silence descends the cave. I lift my eyes to the scales, silently hoping, and then—the left scale drops, and a beacon of silver light bursts free.

Grimacing, I raise my forearm over my eyes as the light dims, and I blink through the blinding flash. Shock and wonder cloud over me when I realize it is the stone—an opal shine hanging mid-air.

It worked.

A confession I'd dared not say even to myself.

I reach for the stone, examining it closely in my hands. It bears the same sign of a crescent and sun interwoven as where I was separated from Darius. I half-grin, half chuckle in relief, glancing down at the Tibithian. He squeaks in approval though it is not long before the ground beneath me vibrates, and the Tibithian wobbles on his feet.

The walls roar, and within seconds pieces of ice crack off and fall.

My gaze jumps to the entrance. Even with the success of getting the stone, there had been a catch, and if I stay here one more second, I'll come down with everything there is in this place.

More chunks of the wall fall, and I spring into action, sprinting across the bridge.

"Come on!" I yell to the Tibithian as a rumble splits the air, and my head shoots up. Shards begin to smash onto our pathway, and I cross my forearms over my head, dodging each piece of ice that crashes across our path.

I'm not so lucky when another comes from above, shattering against the bridge. I stumble to a stop and slip with the stone falling from my grip. I draw back a gasp, trying to grab it, when the Tibithian jumps into the air, capturing it between his paws. He throws it at me, and as I catch it, I call out for him, sprinting toward the bridge's edge.

Dread scatters along my back for a second, but then I see him clinging to an icicle. He looks up at me, fangs peeking through his tiny smile. "Grab my hand," I tell him, straining my arm to reach him. His paw waves through the air. "Almost got it, that's it—" The bridge trembles, making him slip further down the stalactite.

This bridge won't hold us for much longer. My mind races for a solution as ice fissures under my legs. I yank a blade from my belt, flipping it so the handle faces the Tibithian. I don't care if it cuts me. I just need him to grab onto it.

He shakes his head as the blade rips through my glove, and blood drops from my palm. He whimpers, but I smile for him as I say, "It's fine. I'm okay. I will heal."

His small paw goes for it hesitantly. He's almost there, but the ice boards approaching the platform break apart individually. The ice splits as I turn my head back to the Tibithian. He retracts his paw as he looks at me, his eyes wide with affection rather than fear.

No.

Not again. Not again. Not again.

Any pain in my hand goes numb as I urge him to grab it.

He doesn't. He hugs the icicle instead.

I squeeze the blade, letting out a heartbreaking whimper. "Please," I whisper.

He smiles and squeaks what sounds like he's thanking me, but I'm shaking my head, half my body already over the ledge.

It is too late as the crack in the ice ruptures once again, along with my soul and heart, watching him fall with it.

Agony barrels its way into me, and time slips, slowing down as I stare at the dark pit. And as another plank breaks, I know I can't stay here. I retreat, drop the knife, smudging blood all over the ice, and an ache deep in my chest has me shout out of anger—anger at myself as I rise, and with the stone in my other hand, I stumble into a run.

I don't look back; I don't want to.

Still shielding myself when more ice comes down, I hear my name echoing from Darius on the other side, giving me enough determination in my veins to keep going.

My heart drums and thuds as hard as my legs go against the floor. I'm almost near the beginning of the bridge when part of it breaks off. My legs pump faster, and just as the rest of the path caves in, I leap across, my legs swinging in the air for what I count as an eternity, except for it is mere seconds before I land on the ground. Scrambling to my feet, I race for the entrance, fraught with intense distress as my blood smears all over the symbol, and I place it against the wall.

Seconds pass, and the ice blocking us slides upwards. It's not even halfway open when I push myself forward into the arms of Darius and collapse as he holds me in an embrace.

I cling to him like he is my reality and my only hope in all of this.

He smooths down my hair, his soothing voice a whisper against my hair. "You're okay, you're okay."

I must be shivering because he pulls back, his gaze landing on my hand drenched in blood and the other clenching the stone between my fingers.

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