Fall of Ruin and Wrath (Awakening, #1)

“Come out,” Lord Samriel called, his tone gentle and coaxing. “You will be safe if you do.”

I reached up, curling my fingers around Grady’s sleeve, wishing I hadn’t sheathed the lunea blade. I wasn’t sure what I’d do with it. Then again, I hadn’t expected being able to use it before, but I didn’t dare breathe too deeply or make any other movement. Not even as the air turned frigid around us.

“Please don’t hide from me.” Lord Samriel’s voice was drawing closer. “We want to help you.”

We?

Through the gap in the curtain I saw a ni’mere land on one of the bookcases, its back to us as it stretched out its massive wings. Its head twisted from side to side in the quiet.

Then I heard a soft, trembling voice call out, “You . . . you promise?”

The ni’mere’s head swiveled to the right as I jerked forward. Grady’s arms tightened around me.

“Don’t,” he whispered in my ear.

Heart sinking, I shuddered. I told her to hide— not to come out. Why hadn’t she listened? I wanted to scream at her, but I couldn’t. I knew that, but my entire body strained against Grady’s hold.

“Of course. I promise,” Lord Samriel assured, his voice so syrupy it dripped poisonous sugar. “Come on— ah, there you are.”

No. No. No.

The ni’mere shook out its wings, a cruel, bloody smile twisting its lips.

“That’s not her,” another voice answered, one both Grady and I recognized. Hymel. What was he doing here, with them? Hymel was a bastard, but he couldn’t be involved in this.

There was a heavy sigh and then Lord Samriel said, “Kill it.”

It.

Kill it.

Allyson. Her. Not it. Her.

“Stop,” another voice intruded, one that was colder, flatter.

The ni’mere listened, tucking its wing back as it strained from where it was perched on the bookcase.

“You said it was here.” The unknown male spoke again. “Are you sure?”

“I’m positive,” Hymel answered, and my stomach hollowed. I had never heard him sound so scared. “I saw her run with Allyson. She has to be in here, Your Highness.”

I suddenly understood why Hymel sounded so afraid, because that man he spoke to was a prince. Was it Prince Rainer? But why would he be here when his Court burned?

Grady stiffened behind me. They were . . . they were talking about me. My thoughts raced, a mess of confusion and fear.

“Then we shall see,” the Prince said.

Suddenly, Allyson’s scream ripped through the air, high-pitched and terrifying. I jerked forward, knees nearly collapsing. Grady held on, keeping me standing.

“Shush now,” the Prince ordered, that voice of his almost gentle if not for the iciness, and Allyson’s screams ended in a soft sob.

Then there was . . . there was just the sound of my heart pounding.

“I’m going to give this lovely creature a chance,” the Prince said, and through the curtains, I could see the ni’mere twist its head back and forth. “And I’m going to give you a choice.” There was a pause. “Lis.”

I went rigid against Grady, heart pounding. I could barely get enough air into my lungs.

“Come to me, and she will not be harmed,” the Prince said. “Don’t?”

There was a crack. A deafening, sickening snap.

Allyson’s sharp, pain-filled scream pierced the air. My entire body jerked.

“That was just one small bone,” the Prince continued. “There are many more to break. I don’t want to do it. I also don’t want to spend precious minutes searching every inch of this manor for you. Come to me.”

Grady’s other arm came around me as he pressed his cheek against mine, his body shaking just as violently.

Another snap shattered the silence, cracking my heart and something deeper, more important. My soul. I didn’t know why this was happening. Why this prince, whoever he was, was looking for me. What Hymel had to do with any of it. But us standing by and doing nothing, letting this happen? I knew Grady didn’t want to. I didn’t, but the moment we reached the alcove, it was like the years in Archwood had never happened. It was just Grady and me against the world, watching out for each other and only each other. It was how we survived this long, but Allyson’s screams . . . I wanted to pierce my eardrums. I wanted to claw out my own eyes. She didn’t deserve this. My gods, none of those who had suffered tonight deserved any of this. And us? Me? What did we deserve for letting this happen? What did it make us? The monster Thorne had asked if I thought he was. That’s what it made us. I slammed my eyes shut against the tears, my fingers digging into Grady’s sleeve.

“Don’t,” he whispered just above a breath.

I shook my head frantically as Allyson’s screams turned to moans. I couldn’t do this. Just like I couldn’t ignore my intuition when it guided me to intervene. I couldn’t let myself become this. I wouldn’t let Grady become a monster just to protect me from whatever it was that they wanted.

“Please,” I whispered to Grady. “Please stay hidden.”

“Lis—”

I didn’t give myself time to think too much about what I was doing or time for Grady to prepare. Fear and desperation were a heady mix, giving one strength one normally wouldn’t have. Or maybe it was adrenaline. Maybe it was something else— something that came from that hidden, deep part of me that had erupted when I’d grabbed Hymel’s arm. I didn’t know, but when I lurched forward, I broke Grady’s hold.

“Stop! Don’t hurt her!” I screamed as I rushed through the drapes, and I was fast— faster than I had ever been. I flew into the library.

And into a new nightmare.

Because Grady was right behind me. I should’ve known he wouldn’t listen. He caught me with the arm around my waist, hauling me back as the ni’mere turned toward me, feather wings whipping out as it screeched a warning. I skidded to a stop as I saw the Hyhborn who had to be the Prince. It wasn’t Prince Rainer. This male was blond like Lord Samriel. Blood splattered the exquisitely formed jaw and cheek. He held Allyson to his chest by her throat, forcing her onto the tips of her toes. Her left arm hung at an awkward, deformed angle. Her wide, terrified gaze met mine as Grady tried to edge me back, but I saw past them, to where Lord Samriel stood to the Prince’s right, a towering icy beauty. He smiled as he took a step forward.

Grady shoved me behind him, brandishing his sword. I cried out, grabbing his arm, but he shook me off. “Don’t come up any closer,” he warned, and the Lord halted.

The Prince tilted his head to the side, his grasp on Allyson easing up.

“Yeah, that’s right. You all are going to stay right there and you’re going to let my friend here leave,” Grady continued. “You’re not going to stop her.” He spared a quick glance over his shoulder. “Get out. I’ll catch up with you.”

Shock blasted through me as I stared at that brave, loyal fool in disbelief. Did he really think I would leave him? That I would run and leave him behind even if the Hyhborn allowed it? “No.”

His nostrils flared. “Damn it, go! Get the hell out— ”

“No,” I repeated, trembling as I grasped his sides, holding on to him with everything I had.

His head kicked toward mine. Panic filled his eyes, and I hadn’t seen that since . . . since the night in Union City. “Please.”

Tears burned my eyes. “I told you to stay hidden,” I whispered.

“So very charming,” Lord Samriel said, and I jolted. There was no impatience or annoyance tainting his words. He . . . he sounded like he meant it. He lifted a pale hand.

Grady cursed as his sword was ripped free of his hand. Lord Samriel snatched it from the air.

“Iron and steel? Cute.” Lord Samriel tsked softly. He slammed the sword down into the floor, piercing the wood. The sword reverberated from the impact. “Seize him.”

It happened fast— too fast.

Figures drifted out from the stacks, wispy gray tendrils seeping out from the openings of their cloaks and spilling along the floor. They moved so quietly and quickly they could’ve been wraiths, but the Rae weren’t spirits. They were bone and . . . some flesh.