The instant Ruby pushed through the trees, the rest of us turned to run. The blaze had parted for her, obeying her talent as water on a current, and she broke through with Junnie in tow. The bundle in Junnie’s arms was safe, though mildly singed , and the relief at knowing Junnie was alive was only surpassed by the relief of finally knowing she wasn’t the one. Junnie had not been a part of the attacks on me; all doubt over the responsible party was gone. And my bargain with Veil would be a good one.
I wasn’t certain where we were running to, where Rhys and Rider were leading us, but as we crossed a low ridge, two massive silver wolves crashed into me, knocking me solidly off my feet. We were not airborne for long, as my back slammed into a bank of dirt, eighty pounds of Keaton’s furry body landing on top of me. He chuffed, I gasped, and we both rolled to the side to cough air back into our lungs.
A kind of roar escaped someone on the ridge, and I forced my head up to find Chevelle. He stood before a barrier of flame, which I assumed was more of Rowan’s doing until I saw Ruby. Her body was rigid as she poured so much power into the wall, though I couldn’t bring my mind to comprehend her motives. A soft whine came from the wolf beside me and I followed his gaze to find Finn lying still among the ground ivy.
I crawled to him, relieved to see his chest heave with breath, and ran my hand over his side, searching for broken bones. Finn’s head raised, the silver-blue of his eyes meeting mine with more emotion than any ordinary beast could hold, and I understood. He’d taken a strike.
His nose twitched and pointed toward his shoulder. I brushed the fur aside, searching for the wound. There was a clean, small puncture directly beside the bone. I stared back into his eyes, knowing the pain I would cause when I turned him over, and lifted his legs to roll the other shoulder free. I glanced over my own shoulder, finding Keaton’s back to me as he stood guard. Anvil and Grey remained on the ridge by Ruby, Rhys and Chevelle were running toward us.
As I looked down once more, my hand crossed the point of something sharp on Finn’s side. I pulled my hand back, pressing the finger I’d pricked, and a drop of blood formed over the ash from Finn’s coat. I looked up at Chevelle as his boots landed beside me and he bent down to slide a hand around the base of my arm. But he wasn’t looking at the blood. He was looking at Rhys’s hand, which now held the weapon that had pierced Finn’s shoulder. The bitter tang of poison reached me through the shock, and my stomach turned as I stared at the spear of steeled ice.
Chapter Twenty-four
Blood and Bone
The hand gripping my arm pulled me to standing and Chevelle pressed my finger to his mouth. He turned his head and spat, and then nodded once, apparently satisfied it had not tasted of poison.
He glanced over my shoulder at Rhys. “Move him to the pines. We will free Ruby.”
My mind whirled, attempting to catch up, and I realized why Ruby had created a wall of fire. My feet were moving without thought. Finn would need her. We would face the ice.
“Ruby,” I shouted over the noise. Wind whipped the top of the ridge, and then was pulled into the inferno to strengthen the flame. The overcast sky had gone dark grey, bruised with purple and blue. Light flickered through the clouds and I glanced over Ruby’s shoulder at Anvil as the exposed skin of my arms prickled.
“Frey,” she whispered, not looking away from her barrier.
Her outstretched arms trembled and I placed a hand on the one nearest me. “Let it go, Ruby. Finn needs you.”
She swallowed, nodded, and dropped her arms. The fire remained as she glanced at me, and then fell to nothing when she turned away.
Anvil, Grey, Steed, and Rider stood alongside Chevelle and me atop the ridge. Barrier gone, we could see Rowan calling to the skies. I dared not look for Junnie, who lay at the base of the bank behind us, protecting the child. The wind was cutting without the heat of the flame. And though thunder rolled across the clouds, Rowan’s words still reached my ears.
“Kill them. Asher’s throne will be yours.”
For a moment, I couldn’t understand. But then I realized the flicker of light above had not been lightning, but a fey.
“Down,” I yelled, rolling from the edge of the ridge onto its slant.
Several shards of solid, toxic ice pierced the earth where we’d been standing, driving through both soil and stone. I glanced up as the attacker dove past and saw dark wings, adorned with flecks the yellow-orange of a monarch. Suddenly, a burst of power struck and I spun away as rock and dirt exploded beside me. I got to my feet to see Rowan cursing and spitting.
Chevelle and Steed remained on the slope near me, the others spread among the top of the ridge and opposite side. I hoped Junnie was no longer alone.
Chevelle flung a strike at Rowan, but he moved too swiftly and remained unharmed.
Steed eyed the air above us. “So that’s the ice boy, eh?”
“Not for long,” I answered, narrowing my gaze on the tiny bit of orange visible against the dark clouds.