My mind raced. I could help. Ihadto. I gripped my dagger and called its magic.
Overhead, the nightmare roared. My head spun, but I slapped a palm against the horse and poured out magic in the form of energy and speed. The diseased purple trees smeared as the beast surged faster.
Kyven grunted in surprise.
Within moments, the manor appeared over a rise, an imposing mass of columns and gables. My gaze scaled the heights to Amryssa’s tower. Shit.
Her lamp was lit. Worse, her silhouette darkened the window.
Every nerve stretched to a length of razored wire. My veins emptied of blood, then filled back up with night and rage and darkness, as if I could recruit the storm to help me. As if I could forge it into a blade wicked enough to cut apart the intervening distance.
I poured more power into the horse.
Close.
Closer.
Nearly there.
Up in the tower, Amryssa unlatched her window. The sky screamed as she swung the panes outward.
“You’ll have to catch her,” I hollered.
“What?” The rising cacophony almost stole Kyven’s answer.
“When she jumps. You’ll have to catch her.”
He stiffened. I could practically feel him measuring the distance, the impossible drop. Even if he tried, the fall might kill her. It might kill them both.
But I would chance it. And ifhewouldn’t, I’d make him. I’d save her through sheer fucking will, if I had to.
I fisted my dagger tighter.
Our horse rocketed into the drive. Amryssa clambered onto her windowsill as I launched myself from the saddle.
I hit the ground in a tumble. Crumpled limbs. Gravel everywhere. Pain. Wet blossoms of blood, and then I was up again, sprinting. Just yards to go.
I skidded to a stop under Amryssa’s window. She balanced on the sill, her hair a flying white pennant, her nightgown a wind-torn tumult. Gray eyes reflected the storm. Her mouth moved, but the gale snatched the words.
Somewhere nearby, the horse screamed. Kyven appeared, pawing at my skirts.
“What’re you doing?” I swatted at him.
“Making a landing pad,” he shouted. “It’ll make for a softer touchdown than I will.”
He fisted my hems and whipped my skirts wide, opening a cradle of fabric. Which...okay, actually made sense.
Amryssa lifted her foot into nothing.
Time splintered. The world hung suspended, a teardropthump-thumpingin time with my heartbeat. There was sound. Wind.Fear.Unassailable, unstoppable fear.
Amryssa jumped.
A scream ruptured my throat. I flung up a hand, and all my love, all my willpower, exploded in a jet I couldsee, a purple funnel that spiraled from my palm. I jerked back, but quicklymanaged to steady myself. The magic poured from the dagger, but also from the storm—I couldfeelit. Energy coursed through me, lighting my veins, bending to my will.
Amryssa plunged earthward. But my spiraling magic netted her, coiling around her limbs.
She slowed, then floated, then came to rest in my skirts as gently as a babe laid in its cradle. The violet magic blipped from existence.
