Chapter 40

In the chilly room that had been our temporary home I awoke to rain tapping lightly at the window. The door was open slightly, letting in the cool, damp morning air. Sylos sat on a stool by the fire, hovering over a pot that simmered to a boil. He'd made himself quite comfortable in each of the small spaces we'd inhabited. A talent he had—wherever he traveled he had but a few creature comforts to keep him happy, most of which included drink. I had no such things.

The kindness of the Dwarves was remarkable. Tilak had managed to arrange safe lodging for us wherever we roamed. He'd also taken Lorelei back to Ciúin under the cover of night. I rose to collect my belongings. It would be our last stay in this place and it had served us well.

"So, have you given any more thought to this mad plan of yours?" Sylos looked up at me, waiting my response with raised brows.

I nodded, thinking of her mouth on mine. "I have."

"And?" he said with impatience. "Must you keep me guessing? Will you convince her to come away with us? Return willingly to her father, as I suggested?"

I dropped my pack on the floor and shut the door with my foot, noticing his muddy boots. "I strongly doubt that plan would work," I said.

His expression shifted slightly, although not quite the disappointment I'd expected. "Then you have resigned us to failure."

I smiled to myself. "On the contrary. I'd say it has been quite successful."

Sylos sighed and went back to stirring his pot. "Believe me when I tell you that whatever you think can be gained from this quest, it can only do more harm than good."

I glanced curiously at the wet mud caked to his boots. "You were out early this morning."

"Aye," he replied, then shook his head. "You know, this infatuation of yours is going to get us both beheaded."

I chuckled and slapped him on the back. "Don't be dramatic, Sylos. You know Oberon prefers hangings. Less mess."

I could tell he did not think my comment funny. With good reason. He had cause to be worried. We all did, and yet, I wasn't. We were a day away from freedom, and from that point onward anything was possible. I'd found a way back into her world. Sure it involved relying upon the most unreliable beings of the realm. But Lorelei would never agree to remain here once she knew her world was in jeopardy.

"It will all be fine, Sylos. Trust me, it's almost over."

"Yes. It is."

The pounding of hooves in the distance was unmistakable. It was not the erratic, undisciplined sound of riders out of formation, like yesterday. You did not live as long as I had without recognizing the sound of one's personal army.

My head turned toward Sylos as the sick realization hit me. I pointed to the door. "The Unseelie Knights are riding toward us," I said, waiting for him to look at me.

He didn't.

"Why would my mother's army be so far from the Winter Court?"

Again no reply, but the unspoken answer formed tight knots in my gut.

"You? You did this." I nodded. "How had I not seen it sooner? So many clues I'd been blind to."

"You would have," he said quietly, "had you not fallen so blindly under her spell."

Metal hissed through the room as I drew my sword. My hand itched to strike, but killing him wouldn't do me any good. I could not stay. I had to warn Lorelei and Adrius. Tell them not to come. That plans had gone impossibly wrong.

"Do you have any idea what you have done?" I seethed with cold fury. The tip of my blade inched closer toward his heart.

He didn't even do me the courtesy of raising his own weapon. "I hope whatever bargain you made was worth it."

"My life—that was what I bargained for." He rose abruptly. "I gave you the chance to do the right thing. To return the girl to her father. But you had no intention of doing that. You left me no other choice. Oberon's reach is far and strong, but Mab's wrath…there is no escaping it.”

All through this journey he'd insisted we leave no one we questioned alive. Suddenly, it was clear why. Sylos was not covering his tracks for my benefit, but for his own. When you were cheating two powerful Faerie courts, it would be best not to leave witnesses to tell the tale.

My hand twitched as I glared at him. Traitor. I should take off his head for his betrayal. But the hooves drew closer. "I've spent far too much time trying to make order out of chaos to admit that it cannot be done. And right now I don't have the time to kill you," I said. Then I slammed the hilt of my sword against the side of his head.

I did not stop to see if the blow had knocked him unconscious. The army would know where I was planning to meet Lorelei and Adrius. I had to reach them before the riders did.

I covered the distance with lightning speed. Up ahead was the shack where we'd agreed to meet. There was no sign of movement. I made it in time. I would wait for them in hiding and warn them before the riders arrived. And if the riders arrived first—then the Unseelie Army would take a great blow this day. If I had to kill each and every one of them with my bare hands, I would not let anything happen to her.

Hushed voices emerged from behind the hut—Adrius followed by Lorelei's voice. I crept forward, then stopped. Something sharp bit into my side. A dart was embedded in my flesh, in the center of a growing red stain. I plucked it out, took another step forward, and faltered. I collapsed to my knees.

Get up. You have to save her.

"Even now, poisoned by your own toxic darts, you still try to rescue the girl instead of yourself." Sylos stalked toward me, a trickle of blood dripping from his temple. "You are a fool, old friend. Lay down your weapon and come with me. I can make certain you live long enough to stand trial."

I didn't move.

Sylos frowned. "I'm trying to help you here," he said, inching forward. "Believe it or not I am still on your side, Zanthiel, and you will have my protection on the journey back to court."

"I think you misunderstand which of us is in need of protection right now." I smiled. "You've made a double deal. Betting one royal kingdom against the other. Who offered the biggest prize for my head? Tell me. What sum would make you turn me from an ally, into your worst nightmare?"

"Always so sure of yourself. I told you that smugness of yours would get you killed one day. It seems that day may have arrived."

I shook my head, venom filling my veins. Betrayal of one I'd trusted—it turned my blood to ice. Instead of striking him dead, I conjured a small tornado of snow, whipping slivers of ice at his face with razing speed. The winds settled, and he was covered in a slew of bleeding wounds.

I shook my hand out, steadying the tremble, and retracted my sword. I knew the toxins in the dart he used would not give me much time to get away. Only a few minutes. It was all I needed. I stalked past him, clutching my side, and fighting to remain upright. My hand slashed, striking his leg, cutting a wound that brought him to his knees. Then at the very moment the cavalry of mounts reached us, I dashed from sight at blinding speed.

Shatter.

I hit something.

Hard.

Then fell.

A razor-like sting cut into my flesh. I could scarcely open my eyes to see my surroundings.

Sylos stood over me, shaking his head. His dark eyes were laced with sadness and anger. Blood ran down his leg like a crimson river. How he managed to stand confounded me, but I hadn't time to wonder before he jabbed a third dart into my neck.

"Who are you working for?" I clutched his arm, faltering. "Mab or Oberon?"

He chuckled. "Why choose one allegiance or the other when serving both has so many more benefits?" he said, attempting to pry my fingers from his arm. "For whatever it’s worth, old friend, this was not what I wanted."

Sylos leaned over me. I tried to reach for his throat, to wrap my hands around it and squeeze the life from his treacherous body, but I couldn't. Every muscle in my body froze deeper into paralysis. And yet, I felt a sensation. A growing pain spread across my side.

With the last of my strength, I dug my fingers deeper into his arm, using it to pull myself closer. "Do not call me friend."

"This isn't goodbye forever, old friend. Only for now. Until you've had some time to come to your senses and rethink your choices. This girl means too much to you. Eventually you will see that I am doing you a favor."

"You. Will. Pay."

"You're still trying to save her," he said with disgust. "What is it with this girl? You're a fool to want to give her so much of your life, when you have so little left."

"I don't care about my life." I grunted. "If I don't help her, she dies, I've foreseen it. I'm offering you one last chance, Sylos. Release me. Or die."

His shook his head, his lips twisted in a frown. "I wish that I could. But sadly, you are the one who is dying." He pointed to the source of pain I felt with sudden intensity.

Struggling to lift my head, I looked down at the steel rod piercing my torso through, pinning me to the ground. The poison of metal had spread. The area surrounding the wound was drained of blood, the skin was pale, chalky, and lined with a web of black veins.

I lifted my head, but it fell back, heavy as lead. My body was deadened weight, and I could not move. I fell into darkness, fighting motionless against it, before it won.