Dead of Winter (The Arcana Chronicles #3)(13)

Tess had balked when she’d had a chance to stab Death—but what if she hadn’t? I never would have known the real Aric.

Yet then, had I truly known him? The man behind the armor? “Tess, if you’d gone forward that day, you would’ve been too late. Death was already getting free. You don’t owe me anything.”

“I know I’m the laughingstock of the Arcana,” she quietly said. “But I can’t stop being that unless I do something meaningful. I’m asking. Please.”

Gabriel studied her expression. “She’s going,” he decided. “She can help. Do you have your bandanna?”

Tess nodded eagerly.

Selena raised her brows at the angel. “Do you know something about her powers that I don’t? As in, do they ever work?”

On the day I first met Tess, Matthew had listed some of her mind-blowing abilities. Teleportation, levitation, time manipulation, and more. She was the World Card, the great Quintessence. Unfortunately, she struggled with her gifts.

“She could surprise you, Archer.”

“So she goes.” Selena hiked her shoulders. “You’re in luck, Evie. If we get chased, she’ll be even slower than you are.” To Tess, she said, “You screw this rescue up, and I’ll skewer you with my new sword.” She unsheathed a few inches of it with a threatening look.

Gabriel frowned at that, fluttering his silky black wings. Again, he grimaced with the movement.

“Come clean about the injury, Gabriel,” I said.

“I was shot during a flyover last week.” He stretched out a wing, revealing a bullet wound in that feathery expanse. A hole went straight through the bony part. “I haven’t quite healed yet.”

From last week? So he had rapid healing, like Death and Selena.

“Unfortunately, wings provide a large target. As Joules says, ‘It’s like hittin’ the broad side of a barn!’” An Arcana weakness. “We can wait a couple of days, ladies, or I can take you one at a time tonight.”

“Tonight,” I quickly said.

“The problem is that we go one at a time on the return leg as well.”

“We need to get to Jack, now—hell or high water, and all that.” I turned to Matthew. “Any tips? Anything you’d like to tell me about our mission?”

“I already did.” He cast me a look of pure confusion. “Carousel? Struck? Ah! You listen poorly!”

Had he ever been this exasperated with me before? “Of course, sweetheart. I just meant anything in addition to that. Hey, maybe you could tell me how long till Violet closes in?”

“In a way, she’s here.”

“What does that mean? I thought we had more time before the twins joined up.” Had they already begun Jack’s torture?

“She’s here, in a way.” He’d just reversed his words.

My breaths shallowed. “Gabriel, I’ll cross with you first—and last on the way back.” I turned to Finn. “Get to work.”

“On it.” He rolled his head on his neck. “You guys will be able to see each other, but to everyone else, you’ll look like soldiers.” He began to chant in his mysterious magician language, the air blurring at his lips.

By the time he’d finished, the four of us looked like unshaven, middle-aged men armed with machine guns.

Finn had grown even paler. “Just try not to get too stressed. Sweating and increased heart rates affect my illusions. Good luck, guys.”

“Thanks, Magician.” I hastened outside, the others following.

Gabriel crossed to stand before me. “Empress, are you ready?”

I was putting a ton of trust in him, an Arcana. Though I owed Lark, her betrayal had done a number on me. “Uh, ready.”

When Gabriel gripped me under my arms, Selena jerked her chin at me. “See you on the other side.” She knew I was having doubts.

The trues only worked in this fort. Once we left, Gabriel could drop me in the drink.

For the High Priestess to drag down to the abyss.

I could use my body vine, the one that grew from my skin, to tether myself to him, but that might screw with Finn’s illusion. I would risk a dip to save Jack. I would risk anything.

—in our own way, in our own way.—

The Lovers’ call. It was loud because of proximity, but sounded staticky. “Let’s go, Gabriel!”

Without warning, he shot into the air, making my stomach plunge. I squeezed my eyes tight, fighting not to shriek.

“There’s nothing to be frightened of,” he said. “You can look now.”

I cracked open my lids. “Wh-why are we going so high?” We seemed to be a mile above the river. Up here, the winds were gale force. Were we making progress at all? Hovering in place?

“I don’t know the Priestess’s reach.” Another Arcana secret. “Better safe than sorry.” His voice sounded strained. From the pain in his wing? What if it gave out?

My heart was thundering. With his acute senses, he could surely hear it.

“For all that you’re the Empress, you’re still a regular girl, aren’t you?”

I’d revealed a fear of heights. Had they thought me fearless before?

I squinted against the wind, gazing back at the fort. Outside the minefield, I could make out lighter dots across black ground. The stone forest. After the Flash, men lacked cover for shootouts; instead of—oh, I don’t know—not shooting at each other, they’d built rock trees.