Az is reaching out for it, to touch the flat space between its sparkling eyes.
Part of me wonders if I should call out to him, warn him that the beast is as dangerous as it is beautiful. But then again, Az would have fit the same description, so he likely recognizes the monster for what it is.
But when Az reaches out for the beast, it doesn’t maul him like I assumed it would.
It’s perfectly still, though Az’s blood drips down its snout as he pets it. Its papery tongue laps at the blood that dribbles onto its snout.
I think for sure this will be the moment it attacks. That I will watch my friend turned enemy be ripped to shreds in front of my face, as I’m unable to look away.
The beast does nothing. Not even when Az brings his blade to its forehead and slices.
Az wipes his hand on the bleeding wound, then brings the silvery substance to his mouth.
Something about Az changes then, though in my drunken stupor, my eye can’t quite make sense of it.
And when Az whispers something to it, it…bows?
Then the beast turns. It roars, a command that sends a flock of ravens cawing, sprinkling the stars with darkness as they flee.
It calls, and its pack answers.
They cross through the Rip, the runes shining bright as stars as they do.
Binding runes—that’s what Blaise thought they were, but Az made some modifications of his own. Then he shared blood with the beast, though that makes even less sense to me.
I remember then that opening the Rip was supposed to do something for Blaise, but I can’t quite remember what. Whatever it was, it seems she must have gotten it, because she’s gone.
That’s when I hear the voice.
I recognize it, though it isn’t Kiran’s.
I guess I hoped it would be Kiran’s. But Kiran is in Avelea. I should know that, since I sent him there.
So who does this voice belong to? The one that whispers in my ear, “It’s going to be okay. I’ve got you.”
Someone slips his arms underneath mine, dragging my body through the grass. He’s huffing, straining under my weight.
I want to scream, want to warn this not-stranger that this won’t work, to watch out for the silvery beasts. Surely he can see them? But maybe not. Az wasn’t able to see the Fabric, after all.
Someone else yells ahead, and Az’s gaze snaps to them. The person dragging me uses this distraction as an opportunity to haul me over his shoulder, but it’s no use.
I hear someone shout my name.
There’s enough possessiveness in the voice that I can’t confuse it with anyone else’s.
Then the Other lunges at us.
There’s a scream, and I hit the ground.
I don’t get to see what happens to my almost rescuer as another of the creatures approaches me, sinking its fangs into my hair and dragging me away.
CHAPTER 45
MARCUS
Shadows swirl about me, the product of my paldihv as the silvery Other crashes into me from the side, knocking Asha’s limp body from my grip.
The force of the impact would have knocked the breath out of me on a normal day, but with Abra’s poison necrosing my system, there’s very little breath to banish.
My back hits the ground, the rear of my skull slamming against the earth, firing stars through my vision as my bow digs into my musculature.
Above me, the Other bears its paws down into my chest, yawning its fangs.
I groan, then stab upward with my dagger, missing the Other’s major artery, but landing a blow to its throat all the same.
If this were a matter of my bow and arrow, the Other would have taken a blow straight through the airway. But alas. I really am better suited to long-range combat.
Still, that I’m the only one among our party who wears paldihv made me the obvious pick for infiltrating Az’s ritual and sneaking Asha away, relying on my shadows for protection.
I stab the Other in the neck again, and this time a spray of silvery blood spatters all over my face, yet another reminder of why I don’t enjoy close-range combat.
The Other sways, then slumps. It takes almost all of the strength I have left to shove its heavy body off of me. By the time I’m out from under its grip, I can hardly breathe, but I scan the perimeter just the same.
Asha is gone.
CHAPTER 46
ELLIE
