Silver Flame (Vampire Girl #3)(28)

Dean grabs my hand. "I know a way out," he screams over the beast’s war cry.

He runs forward…

Toward the beast.

I curse, then follow.

Then I see it. Next to Lopsi, half hidden by her wing, a door.

Dean rams himself in the entryway, bashing the way open. The rest of us follow just as Lopsi turns, swinging a giant claw behind us. She misses, hitting the wall and shattering stone. We’re almost safe—

Something flies by me.

And then pain tears into my arm.

Lopsi’s venom singed my dress, burning it above my elbow. My skin is scorching and red, but I’ve had worse.

Dean and Fen slam the door closed behind us, then keep it shut with their strength as Lopsi tries to push it open.

I look around. "Where are we?"

"It's the Way Room," Fen yells, spit flying from his mouth as he strains to keep the beast away.

Mirrors of different sizes and shapes fill the room, shimmering in a splendor of colors. Scenes flash in them: a swaying tree, a raging storm. "This is how Sly travels to different worlds," Dean says.

He points to a silver mirror on the left. "We can get back to Inferna with that one."

Fen shakes his head. "We'd be walking into a death sentence."

I have to agree with him.

Until the bat spits venom at the door and it rots away. Fen jumps to me, holding up his bare hands like claws, ready to fight.

"I don't think we have a choice!" I scream.

Dean runs for the mirror. "Everyone grab a hand, we go now!"

My hand lands on Baron as Fen reaches for my arm. I make sure Es and Pete grab onto me, and we rush through the mirror.

And step out in a familiar realm. Out of instinct, I glance back at the mirror, fearing Lopsi will follow, but see nothing but my reflection. I turn away, scanning the city ahead of us. It smells of wine and expensive oils, and though it is late and the moons are high in the sky, there is music and dancing and scantily clad men and women serving food on golden trays.

Dean smiles. "Welcome to my Pleasure Palace, Princess."





Chapter 6


YOU KNOW SO LITTLE


Kayla Windhelm


"You are a dog, And you will know your place at your master's heel."

—King Lucian




It takes a moment to steady my breathing. Adrenaline pumps through me, making my limbs shake. My sword is still clutched in my hand, ready to kill or maim, but there is nothing left to fight. The bear is dead. And the tiger… the tiger is somehow Tavian Gray.

This shouldn't be possible. This kind of magic doesn't exist.

Tavian is silent. Still. His caramel skin is striking against the white of the snow, even in the dark. Blood leaks out of his wounds, staining everything red around him. This is my chance to escape, to find out what happened to Fen and Ari—but if I leave he will die.

That's not my problem. He intends to sell me to Metsi as a prisoner.

But he also saved my life. Twice.

Bloody hell. This man is making my life impossible. Because I cannot leave him to die, but saving him means risking my own life.

I swear a string of expletives under my breath as I grip under his arms and half lift—half drag him back to the cave. He's heavier than he looks, a solid build of muscle, and it takes a lot to move him.

Once back in the cave, I kindle the fire and cover him with furs to warm him, then I set to examining his wounds. They are deep, but not fatal. Still, he's losing a lot of blood. I clean them as best I can with melted snow, then pull out my crystal pendant. Clutching it in one hand, with the other laid gently over his chest, I whisper the words I know will aid in the healing.

When I'm done, fragile pink skin tentatively holds together his wounds. He will need to take care not to rip them apart again.

Now all I can do is wait and keep him warm.

At some point in the night, the horse that abandoned me comes back, more loyal to his master than me, I guess. I tie him up at the edge of the cave and give him food and water, then return to my patient.

I keep telling myself I should leave. But as he fights imaginary foes in fevered dreams, his brow drenched and body twitching, I can't bring myself to walk away from him. I lay a hand on his face and note that he's finally cooling.

When I lift the furs to check his wounds, a large hand grabs my wrist. "You know, Princess, if you wanted access, all you had to do was ask."

I drop the furs and scoot back. Tavian props himself up on his elbows and flinches only slightly at the pain caused by his movement.

My witty retort dies on my tongue as he stares into me with his emerald eyes. This man is entirely too mesmerizing for my liking.

He smirks, as if he knows what I'm thinking. "I'm surprised you stuck around, Princess. Could have left me for dead and saved yourself."

"Could have," I say. "Probably should have."

"Why didn't you?" he asks as he slowly sits up.

I resist the urge to help him, crossing my hands in my lap instead. "I needed answers first," I say.

He raises an eyebrow. "Really? What kind of answers?"

"You shifted into a tiger? How? I've never heard of this kind of magic."

"Says the Shade who has lived with vampires her whole life." He grins as he stands. The fur drops away and my eyes are glued to the hard lines of his body as he dresses.