Starkeeper of the Fractured Crown - Page 188

“Kyra,” Trick snarled, walking after her. “You have to stop. You’re going to burn out.”

But she didn’t, she wouldn’t. Why would she? Evanora took the one thing from her that she had left. Her last reason to keep fighting.

I turned back to the first pile of dust, the one closest to Kyra now and froze.

“Kyra!” Trickshouted.

“We’ll see each other again, Kyra,” Evanora finally said before waving open a swirling portal of gray and white. She stepped through, Kyra managing to get one arrow through it before the portal disappeared.

“Kyra,” Trick snarled again as she stopped just at the edge of the massive pile of dust. “You have to stop using it or you will die.”

But she was already swaying on her feet and dropped her hands, the bow disappearing as soon as her hands released it. The electricity in the air disappeared with the weapon as she searched for her brother in the ashes. “Mark?” she called, dropping to her knees. “Little fox, where are you?”

She was barely holding herself up, but she wouldn’t stop. She wouldn’t slow.

I would have run to her at any other time. I would have, but now?

“Trick,” I said, turning to him.

He had the same look in his eyes that I felt, along with shame and anger.

“Mark?” Kyra called again, her voice barely a whisper as she sifted through the piles, only to collapse a moment later.

Trick walked over to her, crouching beside her, sweat plastering his hair to his neck, his own motions shaky. “Angel.”

She was still trying to sift, her hands coated in that dust. “I have to find him,” she quietly sobbed, her skin as pale as Trick’s was. “He’s mine to take care of. Mine.”

“Trick.”

I turned at the familiarvoice, finding Lora standing yards away, concern in her eyes, whether it was real or not, I couldn’t tell, and I honestly didn’t care. “Lor? What are you doing here?” She shouldn’t have been here. Why thefuckwas she here?

“I got a message,” she answered, walking over.

My brows furrowed. “From who?”

“It doesn’t matter. If you want her to live, we need to go.”

Trick straightened, such a rage in his eyes, I didn’t have to wonder if he would have shifted had he had the power. “You’re not taking her to Oridian,” he said coldly. “I’m not going to Oridian.”

Lora paused, that anger touching her eyes. “I don’t care if she lives or dies, Trick, but I’m sure you do. So either let me take you or leave her here to rot with the rest of them.”

He snarled, but we both knew there was no other option. Hiking through these woods for an hour would only waste time, Lora was the only way we could make sure Kyra lived. “Take us to the Vaserax Mountains.”

Lora rose a brow. “You want me to take you and this dying girl to the snowy mountains out of what? Spite? She will not survive that cold, Trick.”

I turned back to Kyra who was trying with all her might to dig through a large pile of ash, her eyes nearly closed, her words nothing but a whisper.

“That’s where I want to go. Take me there orI’lluse what magic I have left to take her there myself.”

“And kill yourself too?” She scoffed. “That’s real smart.”

And then Kyra stopped. Stopped talking, stoppedmoving.

“Lora,” he growled.

“It’s a stupid idea, Trick, just take the hand and let’s go.”

I walked over, hitting my knees, grabbing Kyra’s head. I lifted it, my heart thudding. “We have to go.Now.” She was unconscious. Eyes closed, lips blue.

Trick snarled this feral sound and picked Kyra up without effort. “I’ll take her myself.”

Lora sighed dramatically, clearly frustrated. “Gods, you are so gods-damned stubborn.” She grabbed his arm and met my eyes. “You hopping a ride or cleaning up?”

I looked over the pile of ashes and then back to Letak, studying the demon carefully, my heart weighing when I couldn’t see him breathing. “I’ll stay,” I decided. “Clean this place up. Come get me later.” This cottage meant too much to her to leave it like this.

Lora nodded. “I’ll be back in a day.”

I nodded once before finding Trick’s eyes, seeing something else flash through them, something deep and dark, fearful. Whether it was real or not, he was her only hope at surviving. “Make sure she lives.”

Trick’s lip curled up. “She doesn’t have a choice.”