“Aerix will win.” Her gaze drifts past me to the fight, a small, knowing smile curving her bloodstained lips. “I’ve watched him snap necks and tear out hearts. He’ll kill Riven just like he killed all the others—quick and merciless.”
The detached way she says it makes my stomach turn.
“Aerix isn’t going to win.” I move around her, positioning myself to watch the fight just as Riven blasts Aerix with a surge of water that sends him crashing to the other side of the room.
The Night Prince recovers in time to block Riven’s next blow, but when Aerix has an in to go on the offensive again, he misses it.
Tracking their movements, I search for a way to use the Star Disc to help while keeping Zoey restrained at the same time. But it’s too risky. Aerix and Riven are moving too fast. If I throw the Disc and it accidentally hits Riven instead of Aerix…
The heart-crushing pain would take me out right along with him.
“He’s holding back, you know,” Zoey says, bringing my attention back to her. “There’s so much you don’t understand about him. Aboutus.”
“Then enlighten me,” I challenge, tightening the ice bonds when she shifts her weight. “What exactly am I missing here, Zoey? What could possibly justify kidnapping you, keeping you as a pet, turning you into a vampire against your will?—”
“He didn’t turn me against my will,” she snaps. “I asked him to turn me, and he gave me exactly what I wanted—because he loves me and wants to be together forever.”
I shake my head in disbelief. “That’s the manipulation talking. The real Zoey would never?—”
“You have no idea who I am anymore.” She laughs, her gaze drifting to the fight where Riven and Aerix are still clashing, the air crackling with magic.
“Is that really what you think? That you’re not the same person anymore?” I ask her, but it just makes her laugh again.
“Say it,” she challenges me. “Say that you still know who I am.”
I open my mouth, but the words don’t come. They can’t.
Because they’d be a lie.
“Thought so.” She gives me a cryptic smile that freezes me to the core.
I don’t reply. What’s the point? I know it as well as she does—this Zoey isn’tmyZoey. Aerix’s manipulations have clawed their way into her heart, just like how his venom has poisoned her veins.
But it’s going to be okay. Zoey’s in there somewhere. When this is over and Aerix is dead, her mind will clear, just like Matt’s did. I’ll have my best friend back.
As it is now, I reinforce the bonds and keep her held down, so she won’t do something stupid like try to interfere in the fight again. All I can do is keep her controlled and wait this out.
Riven will kill Aerix.
And then, finally, we can go home—wherever our home turns out to be.
RIVEN
My blade slicesthrough the air, missing Aerix’s throat by inches as he twists away, wings flaring to steady himself. I follow with a blast of water that makes him fly back and hit the wall with enough force to break off a few small pieces of stone. He’s kept his wings retracted during our fight, which is too bad, because otherwise that hit would have broken them.
“Is this the best the Night Court has to offer?” I taunt, frost spiraling up my arms as I advance.
Rage flashes in his midnight eyes. He summons a whirlwind that tears across the room, but I counter with my own air magic, dispersing his attack before it can reach me. The collision sends furniture splintering against the walls, tapestries billowing like sails in a storm, and books flying across the room.
“You think your Winter Court training makes you superior?” Aerix snarls as ice daggers form between his fingers, hurling them at me with deadly precision.
I don’t dodge. Instead, I create a scalding-hot water shield that melts them on the spot.
“I don’tthinkit makes me superior.” I drop the shield, letting it splash to the ground. “Iknowit does.”
My sword sings through the air, enhanced by summer magic that makes the blade glow with dual power. Aerix tries to parry with a hastily formed ice sword, but my weapon melts it on impact and slices across his shoulder, opening a deep gash that wells with blood.
He hisses in pain, pressing his hand against the wound as frost forms around it, slowing the bleeding as it stitches together.
