The Shadow Queen (Ravenspire, #1)(90)

Power burned in her palms as she dove into the water. Instantly, the force of the waterfall shoved her down, trying to crush her beneath its weight. She concentrated on the power rippling through her veins and opened her hands. Her magic struck the water, and a whirlpool swirled beneath her, moving faster and faster as it rose from the depths.

Be ready, she sent to Gabril as the whirlpool gathered itself and then shot upward, exploding through the surface of the water.

Ready for what?

For me. Almost there. She focused on the wild, untamed heart of the river and showed it Gabril waiting by the fallen oak. The river’s heart surged toward hers willingly. The whirlpool turned on its side and arced toward the fallen oak with Lorelai standing on top of it as if it was an enormous silvery bridge made of water. As it rushed forward, Lorelai said, Hold your breath.

My . . . what? Why?

Do it!

She felt Gabril’s obedience at the same moment that she felt his utter shock as the bridge of water burst through the trees to rush past the fallen oak. Lorelai reached down, wrapped a hand around Gabril’s and whispered an incantor to make him rise with the water. Then, as the river’s heart responded to the new direction in Lorelai’s, she pulled him up through the thick, churning wall of water until he was standing beside her, clutching her arms to keep his balance.

Sasha lifted herself out of a nearby tree and flew toward the princess. Lorelai winced as the heavy gyrfalcon landed on her shoulder, talons digging in. She’d left the brace behind with her travel pack.

The bridge of water streaked through the Hinderlinde, ripping leaves from the dying trees—that all looked as if they’d never come to life the night before and tried to crush Lorelai to death—until it reached the main road that led to the capital. It arced over the road, rushing above carriages and people heading back to the capital on foot. People screamed and dove off the road, but Lorelai didn’t spare them a glance. The water was above them. They were safe.

And she didn’t have a single second to spare.

Slow down. Let’s make a plan and take a little time to focus. If we do this, Irina will know you’re coming! Gabril’s voice was a shout inside her head.

She already does. And now it was time to tell him the true danger. Her stomach ached and her hands trembled as she said, She’s sent Kol to kill Ada and your sons.

The sense of desperation coming from him was almost too much to bear.

I’ll hold him back. I’m still connected to him. I haven’t lost him completely. We’ll go straight to your house and rescue them, and then I’ll deal with Kol and Irina while you get your family to safety. Show me what your house looks like and where it is so I can tell the water where to go.

His chest rose and fell rapidly, and he let go of her hand to grab his sword instead. I know you love the boy, Lorelai, but if he harms my family—

He won’t. Now show me the house and wall up your thoughts again so I can focus on keeping Kol from giving in to his dragon.

He sent her an image of a pretty brown cottage with a bright blue door and flowers in the window boxes. It was on the eastern side of the capital, well away from the main roads. She showed the water’s heart where to go and then focused on Kol.

I’m coming.

His fragmented thoughts sped up, and she felt his frantic need to keep her away from him.

You aren’t a killer, and I won’t let her destroy you like this. Have faith in me, Kol. My heart wants to save you more than hers wants to hurt you.

Save . . . you. His voice was rough, mostly dragon, and she heard a steady snarl of hurt, punish, kill beneath his words, but Kol was still there. Still fighting to remain himself despite the queen’s best efforts.

I don’t need to be saved. She does. Is she listening to me?

Kol’s terror was a bright flare in the darkness of his mind.

Can she hear me?

Hears . . . me.

Then make sure you respond to what I’m about to say, because it would be a shame for her to miss it. Lorelai’s heart pounded, but not from panic. There was no more room for fear. She was an implacable force of nature, and she was coming to reclaim what was hers.

The water bridge twisted and dove beneath the iron arches of the capital’s gate and plunged into the city, sending people scrambling for cover.

Are you listening? she asked.

Yes. His voice was faint, nearly drowned out in the insatiable bloodlust of his dragon’s heart. Of the queen.

Then you let Irina see this. You show her my thoughts, Kol. You tell that lying, cowardly usurper that this is the last day she will breathe Ravenspire air. This is the last day she will look out on the kingdom she’s ruined.

Ravenspire’s true queen has entered the city, and Irina’s time is over.

Kol was silent for an agonizing minute as Lorelai and Gabril plunged through the city streets, streaked around corners, and sped toward the eastern edge of the capital.

Angry. There was a shiver of fear in his voice, but there was pride too.

He was still there. Still Kol. Irina had once again underestimated the strength of a heart determined to withstand hers.

Her anger is nothing compared to the anger of this land and its people. Where are you?

He showed her the little brown cottage with the bright blue door. The image pulsed with red as his heart screamed for blood and the collar poured pain into his body until he could barely remember his name.