I press my lips together.
“Don’t give up without fighting. Please.”
I suck in a long breath and let it out slowly. He’s right. It’s hard, and I’m terrified of what may come, but destiny or not, I’ll work toward the best possible outcome.
I’ve been there so many times it’s hard not to continue looking down when it feels like I’m falling.
But I won’t let that fear be my end.
I will cling to what I have with every breath.
“We’ll find a way to kill them without destroying ourselves, okay?” he tells me.
My lips tick up into a false smile, and I rise to my feet, pushing away from the words of my nightmare. The threats have caused the dark power inside my heart to stir. My muscles and mind are restless.
Only a few long strides and I’m standing right next to the massive glass window looking out at the winter wonderland that is the Frost Court. The edge of the town can be seen to the left, but everything else is rolling hills and frost-covered evergreen trees.
It’s certainly beautiful here, and the view acts as a small distraction. The bite of cold that reaches me, even from inside these walls, is another diversion.
It’s not enough, though. It never is. My mind still considers all the ways the Night Bringer can bring my nightmares to life. The ways he can hurt me and everyone I care about, despite the bargain Rev negotiated to keep us protected.
I shiver.
Rev’s fingers drift over my waist, his chest pressed against my back. He pulls me against him, lending me his warmth. He’s been like this—caring and devoted—since I came back from my last stint of banishment. After we’d bonded. He’s mine, and I am his—for these few days, at least.
It’s an incredible luxury that I know I can’t keep for long. But Rev was right when he said we should take every moment of happiness we can get before our paths diverge. Because they will. Rev is the High Heir, destined to rule the entire continent for a hundred years. I am the rightful heir to the Shadow Court, and I intend to take my place there. We can’t both achieve our dreams and remain together.
Not that duty and distance will change our hearts, but it will never be likethisagain.
“It’s beautiful here,” I say softly.
“Mmmm,” he says in response, nuzzling my neck.
“Are you cold?” he asks.
I shake my head.
“You keep shivering.”
I lay my head back against his shoulder. “I’m okay.”
Rev is better suited to the cold here in the Frost Court, considering he grew up only a hundred miles away, where snowstorms would occasionally hit his lands.
In the Shadow Court, we had cool winters, but it only snowed a handful of times. And when it did, it was very uncomfortable. We didn’t have fur coats or heated buildings to keep us warm. We had a tiny hearth behind rickety wooden walls and old woolen blankets.
“What are you thinking about?” he asks. “Really.”
“I’m trying not to think about it,” I admit. “But my mind keeps jumping back to all the ways they can hurt me.”
Rev grabs me by the upper arms and spins me to face him. The intensity on his face takes my breath away. “Then, focus on howwecan hurt them.”
The problem with that is that we have very few options. I nod quickly, even so. He’s right. Focus on the proactive. Create a plan. It’ll help me not fall into the panic.
“We need an ancient,” I state the obvious. Because the only way we can balance the power difference is by soliciting the help of other beings like them—the ancients.
The Night Bringer and his mate are each more powerful than any fae could ever hope to be, even with the spell book and a bargain. We need more power, or we’ll lose.
“There are three other ancients still alive,” he says. “The Light Ancient that has already tried to kill you and destroyed the High Court.”
