Elurra gasped and sat up as she emerged from stasis.

I need to find the Kutsal Stones and tell Blade to search for a way to infiltrate the castle. If I get the Kutsal Stones out of the palace, defeating Nitiri should be simpler. By the time I reclaim my throne, her man will have Terrin. If he brings him to Lur Alava and Nitiri is no longer in control, there will be no reason to hold him. Terrin will be safe. I could even try to patch things up between us…

Butterflies filled her stomach at the thought. She missed him so much it physically hurt, but it was a good anguish.

How shall I get myself out of these handcuffs?

She studied the lock on the heavy band of metal and remembered how she managed to get through the last lock standing in her way. She closed her eyes and focused on what she wanted to happen. The command she needed surfaced in her mind. With only a little difficulty, she managed to twist her wrists so she could hold the lock in one hand without causing herself too much anguish.

“Cuʼn twaŏ fi.”

The force of the explosion threw her backward. Chunks of the lock scattered across the floor, and black scorch marks decorated the ground. Relieved, she removed the heavy metal handcuffs and took a few deep breaths. She stood up shakily and realized she hadn’t used her legs in ages. That and the energy drain toppled her against the wall. She caught herself and leaned against the stones unsteadily. She stood there for a few seconds and rested her head against the cool surface.

Terrin is right. I really need to take better care of myself.

After a few shaky steps, she regained her balance and walked toward the door with as much confidence as she could muster. She was so focused on what she’d do when she got outside. She didn’t hear the approaching footsteps until she was about to turn the doorknob. She froze when she identified the sound of an armored guard. She pulled her sword from its hiding place automatically, and its reassuring presence filled her. She heard two male voices, but she couldn’t understand what they were saying. Then, she heard a thump, a sharp cry, and a body hit the floor. Elurra pressed herself to the door as the handle turned.

She was terrified. She couldn’t get caught, or her plan would be ruined. She kicked the door hard, and it crashed into whoever was on the other side. The man grunted as he reeled away from the heavy oak surface, cradling his head. She grabbed a fistful of his hair and pressed her sword to his neck. He raised both hands in surrender, but then he uttered a spell. Lightning crackled between his fingertips.

“Release me!” he demanded.

She took in his dark skin, familiar voice, and disheveled black hair incredulously. She confirmed his identity when his sleeve slipped and revealed a familiar snowflake bracelet.

“Terrin? What on Incari are you doing here?” she squeaked.

He stroked his chin with false contemplation. “Complete coincidence, actually. I heard of Nitiri’s renowned culinary skills, so I was interested in—” He threw his hands in the air as he gave up his sarcastic façade in exasperation. “I’m here to save you, of course! What else would I be doing here?”

“I can do this alone! I do not need saving!” she informed him. She was trying to remain incredulous, but it was difficult to curb the joy and relief bursting from her heart. He was alive. He was safe. He was there.

“But you don’t need to be alone anymore, Snow!” he countered as he rested his hands on her shoulders. Her lip quivered as she looked into his sincere lilac eyes.

“Why would you follow me after those awful things I said? Did Lira show you the note?”

Terrin nodded.

“I had to make sure you didn’t get yourself killed,” he retorted.

“Nitiri was not going to hurt me because you have the stone, but now she will kill us both. Go back to Tipet! I could never forgive myself if you got hurt again at my expense.”

Her voice cracked, and she looked at him pleadingly with her large, blue eyes. He averted his gaze.

“If I died here, it would not be your fault,” he said. “Please remember I chose to be here. Go find the dwarfs. The revolution is right downstairs. Go lead your people to victory while I take care of your aunt.”

“What are you talking about? This is my quest, not yours! You are the heir to the throne of Tipet,” she countered.

“This isn’t just your fight, Snow. I need to protect you. The rifts have to close for good, but I don’t want you to watch…what I have planned.”

“What do you mean? If you do not want me to watch, then leave, because I am not going anywhere.”

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They glared at each other defiantly for a moment before Terrin wrapped his arms around her. She stiffened in surprise, and her legs turned to jelly. She closed her eyes and returned his embrace, realizing just how much his absence hurt her. To her surprise, he brushed her golden hair back with one hand and kissed her gently. A shiver ran down her spine, and she took a shuddering breath as he pulled away. Elurra sensed anxiety and panic rolling off him as he took a shuddering breath of his own.

“Please, Elurra, just do what you’re told. I don’t want you to be here when it happens. Please…” He rested his head on top of hers and took a few deep breaths.

Elurra could tell something was very wrong.

“Terrin, what are you planning? If you are determined to take on Nitiri with me, then we will work as a team. We can finish this together—”

“No, Snow. I need you to go before—”

He stiffened, and his hand jumped to the sword at his side. Elurra spun around and saw Nitiri standing at the threshold of the open door with her arms crossed. Four guards accompanied her.

“If I were planning a touching reunion, I would personally move the unconscious body from the middle of the hallway and close the door, but to each their own,” she said coolly. “On the bright side, it looks like I found the leader of our little uprising. Terrin, not only did you save me the trouble of kidnapping you, you also brought all my enemies out of hiding. I am eternally grateful. Guards, get him.”

All four guards advanced. Terrin stepped in front of Elurra and pulled his sword out of its sheath. Purple light danced across the translucent parts of the blade. Before the guards could question what kind of weapon he had, Terrin lunged forward and attacked the first man. Streaks of light followed his pale blade as it flashed through the air. The sound of metal against metal echoed in the small room. Terrin knocked the sword out of the man’s hand and hit him over the head with his hilt. The man crumpled, but Terrin didn’t see him fall. He was already locked in combat with the next guard. Elurra stopped watching the fight when she saw Nitiri pull out a cylindrical tube about the size of a finger from her pocket.

Before Elurra could warn Terrin, Nitiri said, “Colefe veit ńai,”[i] and pointed the object at her.

A bright stream of pinkish light shot out of the object’s tip and enveloped her. She yelped as her feet left the ground. Nitiri tilted the device upward, and Elurra floated toward the ceiling. There were two guards left standing, but everyone was distracted by her sudden levitation.

“I didn’t want to show you my Guardian items, but I thought it was only fair I even the playing field if you have one of their weapons,” Nitiri said to Terrin. “This room is about ten feet tall. I wonder how many of her bones would break if I dropped her? I would love to find out.” She carelessly swung Elurra from side to side.

Terrin closed his eyes and lowered his head in defeat. He set his sword on the ground. Nitiri grinned.

“Elurra, I thought you said you two weren’t getting along.”

She advanced toward Terrin, which caused the device in her hand to shake with each step. Elurra squeaked as she dropped a few inches.

“Terrin, I know you can use magic. I would rather not deal with any more of your tricks. Put your hands above your head, please.”

He obeyed reluctantly and grimaced as his sleeve slipped down to reveal the bracelet. Nitiri’s eyes lit up.

“No wonder you didn’t want me to bring him here!” she cooed. She twirled the device, and Elurra jolted around the room.

Do not get sick. Pretend you are a bird, she thought, feeling nauseous.

“The Kutsal Stone was right under my nose the entire time! Maybe it’s a good thing you didn’t end up on some slaving island in the middle of the ocean. Guards, get that bracelet off him.”

The guards looked at the bracelet critically and tried to pull it off, but it wouldn’t budge. Elurra knew there was no latch on it.

“If you want it, you are going to have to cut it off my dead body,” Terrin growled.

Nitiri shrugged. “Fair enough. It is about time I kill you, anyway.”

“Wait! It only responds to people with a connection to Magic,” Elurra informed Nitiri hastily.

The queen raised an eyebrow. “Thank you, Elurra.”

The guards took a step back to give Nitiri room. Terrin gave Elurra a look of disbelief, but she only shrugged helplessly.

She can kill me if she wants, but I will not let her hurt Terrin, she thought with determination.

Nitiri removed the bracelet from Terrin’s wrist with one hand. He glared at her, and his fingers twitched. Elurra could tell he wanted to strangle her, but he knew Nitiri would let her drop if he tried anything. Nitiri gave Terrin an ugly grin, and Elurra felt herself moving slowly as Nitiri directed the device to point straight up. Elurra’s foot brushed against the ceiling, and she spun lazily through the air.

“Are you happy, you witch?” he spat.

Nitiri gave him a malicious smile. “Colefe veit va.”[ii]

The pink glow around Elurra vanished, and she plummeted toward the ground with a shriek. Terrin leapt forward. She landed on top of him, and they both crashed to the ground. Elurra’s head bounced off the floor, and stars flashed before her eyes. She groaned in agony and rubbed her forehead. Terrin didn’t move.

“Are you alright?” she demanded.

He was completely limp in her arms. Elurra pressed her ear to his chest, both to make sure he was alive and to rest her throbbing head. She was relieved to find he was only unconscious. She rubbed her temples and tried to focus. Her mind felt foggy.

Where is Nitiri?

Her priorities snapped into focus, and she located the queen regent at the edge of the room. She was examining the last Kutsal Stone, a look of victory on her face.

“Nitiri, don’t!”

A deranged smile lit up Nitiri’s features. With a gleeful laugh, she pulled out the other two stones and placed them in a small pile on the ornate table in the center of the space. Elurra wanted to lunge forward to grab them, but when she tried to stand, she lost her balance and fell to her knees. She held her head and blinked a few times, trying to stop the world’s spinning. The room started to grow darker, and two Demons appeared from the shadows. One was Tiberius, but the other was a new, yellow-eyed monster. Nitiri’s guards let out twin yelps of terror and bolted for the door, but the Demons closed the distance and enveloped them. Horrific screams soon followed, and Elurra clapped her hands over her ears. The howls of agony brought Terrin to his senses. He moaned and held his head.

Elurra turned and watched a crack of light split the air above the stones, like frost expanding across a pane of glass. It grew until the fissure erupted into a vortex. It quickly stretched more than two meters in diameter. Nitiri shouted gleefully, the sound clashing with her dying guards’ wails. Elurra’s stomach felt like it was laden with rocks.

They had failed.