The Shadow Queen (Ravenspire, #1)(39)

Before Kol could choose whether to continue with his plan to petition King Milek at the expense of his friends or whether to give Irina one more day to recover from her illness, someone knocked sharply at his door.

Instantly, Jyn disappeared into her room as if rushing to check the hallway outside Kol’s door. Trugg backed up, took a running leap, and landed beside Kol on the king’s balcony.

“I’ll answer that,” he said.

“I can answer my own door.” Kol decided to save himself the humiliation of trying to push past Trugg and into his bedroom first. “Besides, you aren’t wearing any pants.”

“I don’t need pants to deal with whoever has decided to disturb my king at this unholy hour of the night.” Trugg strode through Kol’s chambers and wrenched open the door.

Viktor stood on the other side, his hair damp as if he’d just finished bathing, and his clothing impeccable. He glanced once at Trugg’s lack of clothing and then looked pointedly over the boy’s shoulder.

“Queen Irina has recovered and requests an audience with King Kolvanismir,” he said, his measured tone giving no indication that he was face-to-face with a mostly naked Eldrian warrior.

In minutes, Kol and his friends were appropriately dressed and standing before the queen as she reclined on a white couch in a cozy office. A torn once-white coat lay on her lap, and her creepy snake was coiled by her side.

“I’m pleased to see that you’re recovering,” Kol said, though pleased hardly covered it. Eldr still had a chance, and Kol hadn’t had to sell himself into slavery to King Milek to accomplish it.

Irina leaned forward, her eyes lit with zeal. “We’re both about to get what we want, my dear boy.”

The queen lifted the coat, and Viktor hurried forward to bring it to Kol. It smelled like burned wood, spicy evergreens, and crisp snow with a hint of something softer underneath.

Something about the scent was familiar.

“Whose is this?” he asked.

Irina’s smile was fierce. “It was left on a rooftop in Nordenberg by someone fleeing my spell.”

“How does that help us?”

“Because the person fleeing my spell was the princess. I’ve just seen the body of the boy who was caught by my spell. It was her brother. My magic just discovered her location in the Falkrain Mountains, and now we have her scent.”

Kol stared at the coat in his hands, his hearts pounding. Slowly, he raised his head to look at the queen. “Our blood oath still stands. I’ll bring the princess to the castle, and you seal the ogres back into Vallé de Lumé.”

Irina’s smile disappeared. “I don’t require all of the princess, huntsman.”

A chill raced over Kol’s skin. “I don’t understand. Our oath said—”

“Our oath said that once you do the task I set before you, my magic will deliver Eldr from the ogres. The exact wording of the oath itself must be obeyed, or your blood will turn to poison, and you will die.”

“I agreed to bring the princess back to the castle.” Kol met the queen’s gaze and worked hard to hold it.

She leaned forward, her eyes pinning Kol where he stood. “You agreed to do whatever I asked of you. And I am asking you to bring me the princess’s heart.”

The breath left Kol’s body, and his fists dug into the coat while his dragon heart pounded fiercely. “I can’t . . . I don’t hurt people.”

The queen’s voice was lethal. “Hurt one person, or lose your life and the lives of everyone in Eldr. It’s your choice.”

It was no choice at all. His kingdom was in shambles. His people were dying. Even now, the ogres could be at the capital. And if he refused, if he broke his oath, he would die, and Eldr would fall.

Kol turned on his heel and left the room to hunt.




SIXTEEN


LORELAI’S EYES OPENED slowly. The canvas ceiling of their tent stretched above her. For a moment, she expected to hear Leo complaining about how early Gabril had awakened them, but then the truth hit with a fresh wave of pain.

Leo was gone.

Her chest was a hollow, empty space that ached with loss, and she wanted to close her eyes again and let sleep take her.

Wake up, wake up, wake up, please Lorelai. Please. Just wake up.

She blinked, and tears stung her eyes as she turned to see Gabril kneeling beside her, his shoulders bowed, his face pressed into the blanket next to her shoulder. She opened her mouth to tell him that she was awake, but he was already speaking again.

I don’t know what to do. What do I do, Ada? Leo, my precious boy, didn’t come back, and Irina must know where we are since Lorelai touched the ground. Where do I take her when I can’t carry her? How do I keep her safe now? I’m so alone.

Lorelai frowned. It was Gabril’s voice, but it wasn’t like anything he’d ever say to her. And he was talking to Ada, the woman he’d mentioned when he’d been out of his mind with fever. Was he feverish again?

The queen will be coming. I know it. What do I do?

He sounded desperate. Lorelai tried to lift her hand to lay on his shoulder, but her body didn’t want to obey her yet. She settled for saying, “Gabril.”

Gabril slowly raised his head. “You’re awake.” His voice shook with relief.

How do I save her, Ada?