The Shadow Queen (Ravenspire, #1)(74)

THIRTY


IT WAS TIME to make her next move against Irina. Lorelai’s pulse raced, and her stomach ached. Just days earlier, she’d provoked Irina by using magic and had nearly died, pinned underwater by a statue sent by the queen to kill her. There was no telling what spell would lash out or what creature would awaken and submit its heart to Irina’s this time.

Maybe the queen had been so weakened in her battle with Lorelai for control over Kol that they were no longer in danger from her. Or maybe she still had enough strength left for another terrifying fight.

Lorelai needed to be ready to defend herself and the others. She needed to be ready to run if necessary. And she needed Kol and Gabril to be ready to do the same.

Which meant she had to win an argument that had been simmering for almost two weeks.

“Before I destroy the roads, I’ve got one very important thing to take care of.” Lorelai locked eyes with Gabril as he hoisted his travel pack onto his back while Kol finished rolling up the tent in the silvery light of the stars.

“What’s that?” Gabril asked.

“Your leg.”

This should be interesting. Kol raised a brow and shoved the tent into its sack.

“I told you, you aren’t wasting your energy on me when you need it for Irina.” Gabril’s voice was firm, and a spark of anger flared in Lorelai’s chest.

“It wouldn’t be a waste of energy at all if I didn’t have to overpower your stubborn heart.” She stalked forward and stood toe-to-toe with him.

“How do you know that?” he demanded. “Every time you’ve healed someone, you’ve fallen into a deep sleep for hours—sometimes days!”

“Not when I healed Sasha.”

Hearing her name, Sasha swooped out of a nearby tree and perched on Lorelai’s shoulder. Stubborn human. Limp, limp, limp.

I’m trying to change that. Lorelai glared at Gabril.

Bribe with treat? Mouse? Rabbit?

No bribery. He’s going to bend to my will one way or the other. Lorelai lifted her chin and said to Gabril, “This is a stupid argument to have. I’m healing your leg.”

He stepped back. “No, you aren’t.”

“Gabril—”

“What happens if using magic on me incites a response from Irina, only you’re unconscious and can’t defend yourself?” He matched her glare with one of his own. “I’m not going to be the reason you die.”

“And I’m not going to be the reason you die!” She lifted her hands, and magic was already stinging her palms. “When I destroy those roads, Irina will attack. I have no idea what weapon she’ll use, but we have to be ready to fight or to flee. You can’t run, and I can’t be distracted worrying about you.”

“But—”

“This makes the most strategic sense.” She took a deep breath and forced herself to sound calm. “If you submit to me, the cost to my body should be minimal. If Irina attacks after I heal you, and for any reason I can’t defend myself, Kol can get me away from here.”

I don’t really think he’s going to like the idea of sending me off alone with you. He sleeps with a sword between us, you know. I’m not high on his list of people he trusts.

This isn’t about trusting you. This is about him trusting that I understand my limitations and my power.

You should tell him that. Kol hefted the tent’s pack onto his shoulders and nodded toward Gabril.

Gabril took a deep breath of his own. “I appreciate your concern, Lorelai, and I love that you want to help me. But even if I submit to this, and even if it doesn’t cost you physically, there’s a chance that Irina will realize you’ve used magic, and that she’ll retaliate before you’re able to destroy the roads. What then?”

She held his gaze. “Then I’ll use magic to destroy both the roads and whatever she sends at us. Or, if that’s not a possibility, we’ll flee and regroup, and I’ll find another way to do what I’ve set out to do. Either way, your leg will be healed.”

“Lorelai—”

“You need to trust that I know what I’m doing.” Her voice was firm. “If you can’t trust me in this, how can you trust me to face Irina or rule an entire kingdom?”

Good point, Kol said quietly.

Gabril remained silent for a long moment, his expression as stoic as ever, and then he wrapped his arms around her. Resting his chin on her head, he said, “You’re right, and that scares me more than I care to admit. I’m used to being the one who looks out for you, and knowing that I can’t help you win this fight is hard to swallow.”

She returned his hug and then stepped back, her hands wreathed in brilliant white light. “You’ll help me by being at full strength. And by trusting me to know what I’m capable of.”

He met her gaze and slowly wrapped his bare hand around hers, barely flinching as her magic licked his skin. “I trust you.”

“Then come on. We’re going to do this beside the intersection so that I can send your injury into the ground and give the command to destroy the road at the same time.”

Together the three of them left the copse of ebony trees behind and walked across a field of brittle brown grass with clumps of bushes that smelled like rot. Sasha flew overhead, scouting the immediate area for travelers, though few would use the road at night when visibility was so poor.