Clash of Wills (15 page)

“Don’t worry,” he murmured. “I’ll return soon.”

“See that you do.”

After Julian released Mara, he caught Samantha’s stare. “What?”

She bit back a smile. “Nothing.”

Her brother cleared his throat. “Samantha, you and I will step through first. Nick, give us fifteen minutes and transform before you follow us. If any guardsmen are still around, they won’t be able to tell the difference between you and an animal. You should be able to approach the castle without trouble.”

“Right.” Nick nodded. “Watch yourselves.”

Fear took hold of Samantha then. “Give me a moment.” She walked off a few paces to collect herself.
I don’t want to die…but somebody has to destroy Aurora. A fire demon is the natural enemy of a snow demon. I was born to be a weapon, and it’s time to fight.

Julian put his comforting hands on her shoulders. “You don’t have to do this.”

Her chin lifted. “Yes, I do. And I’m ready now.”

She let him bind her wrists with a piece of rope. As the two of them stepped into the faery ring, their surroundings changed. In the kingdom of the Fae, the morning had dawned warm and beautiful. In Aurora’s kingdom, however, it was as if they were now in the dead of winter. Ice coated every growing thing, and the sky overhead was filled with dark clouds.

Julian led Samantha from the circle of toadstools and then began to kick the toadstools over, one by one.

“What are you doing?” Samantha exclaimed. “Stop, Julian!”

“Shut up.”

As the sharp point of a bayonet pierced her back, she gasped. Snowy guardsmen had silently filled the clearing and the forest beyond. Julian finished destroying the faery ring and gave the soldiers a baleful glare. “Make way. She’s my prisoner and I’m to deliver her to the queen myself.”

The soldiers parted, and Julian gave Samantha’s rope a cruel yank. As she sprawled in the snow at his feet, he laughed. “Little fool. You never should have trusted me.”

Nick checked the pouch of silver-tipped darts he’d had fashioned for him at the smithy. Now that he was about to go into battle, he wished he’d requested more.
How many darts does it take to kill a demon?
He sighed and gave Mara a smile. “I guess it’s time.”

Mara handed him the crossbow. “Stay safe, Lord Nicholas, and good luck.”

“Thank you. I have the feeling I’m going to need it.”

After he slung the crossbow across his back, Nick transformed himself into a horse. With a snort, he stepped into the faery ring…and nothing happened.

Mara’s eyebrows drew together. “Something’s wrong!”

Nick transformed back into his human shape. “The gateway’s shut! Is there another faery ring nearby?”

“No. You must leave the Fae kingdom through the tunnel, and return to Aurora’s realm from the Stairs of Tears.”

“I hope I’m not too late.”

He transformed into a horse and instantly galloped off, his pace spurred by fear. That the gateway was closed was not a good sign. Furthermore, the tunnel was ten minutes away at top speed. Once he’d returned to Aurora’s realm, the ice castle was at least the equivalent distance. Samantha and Julian were counting on him and he was in grave danger of being absent when they needed him most.

A burst of speed brought him to the tunnel faster than he thought possible. Without pausing to transform, he lowered his head and trotted into the darkness. As he reached the other side of the tunnel, cold air made his breath cloud. When he emerged, a strange scene lay before him. Wills was surrounded by Aurora’s guardsmen. Although the prince was wielding his sword at blinding speed, he would soon be overwhelmed.

Rearing up on his hind legs, Nick came crashing down on the nearest guard. The guard disintegrated, and then Nick used his forelegs to strike down the next. Together, he and Wills managed to vanquish the guards. Afterward, Nick noticed Blair lying motionless and bloody in the snow.

“It’s no use; he’s dead.” Wills’ chest was heaving with exertion. “Take me to the ice castle! Samantha’s in danger!”

The prince grabbed a handful of mane and leaped upon Nick’s back. With no time to lose, they sped toward the tunnel marked by a pentagram.

When at last Julian and Samantha reached the castle, she was so thoroughly chilled she could no longer feel her feet. No amount of her pleading would slow Julian’s pace, nor induce him to answer her entreaties. Her hands were scraped and bloody from falling on ice, and a large raised welt had formed underneath one eye when he’d struck her with the back of his hand. Although she’d planned to feign tears before, no pretense was necessary now. She sobbed openly for the loss of her brother’s soul and Wills’ friendship.
At least Nicholas is safe with the Fae, and Wills is on his way home.

Julian dragged her into the throne room and shoved her to her knees. Samantha whimpered in pain, but Aurora showed little emotion.

“Forgive me for taking so long, Your Majesty. Samantha escaped to the Fae Kingdom. I followed and won back her trust. Do with her what you will.”

A brittle smile. “And what of Prince Wills and Lord Nicholas?”

“Dead.”

A ray of hope began to warm Samantha from within. Julian
knew
Wills and Nicholas were alive. If he were truly under Aurora’s thrall, he wouldn’t lie about that.

Aurora nodded. “You’ve been a good and loyal servant to me in the past, Julian.”

“I would do anything for you, my queen.”

“Really?” A tinkling laugh. “Do you think I’m a fool?”

The tip of a bayonet appeared in the front of Julian’s tunic and then disappeared again as a guardsman ran him through. A red stain appeared and rapidly began to spread. Julian stared down at his own blood in disbelief before sinking to the ice. Samantha’s screams obliterated any guardsman within twenty feet. Flames freed her from her rope bonds, and she crawled over to her brother. Although blood was trickling from his mouth, he managed a weak smile.

“I’m sorry for hurting you, Sam. I was desperate to make her believe me.”

She clutched him to her. “I know that now. I love you so much.”

“This is so touching.” Aurora gave a happy sigh. “Suffering is what I live for.”

Live? The only reason she exists is that medallion.
Thoughts, emotions, and pain warred with one another inside Samantha’s mind. Her first instinct was to destroy the medallion in the strongest blast of demon fire she could muster.
Wait! If I can force Aurora to remove the medallion without destroying it in the process, maybe I can use it to help Julian.

Tears streamed down Samantha’s cheeks as she raised her eyes toward her grandmother. Her gaze fixed on the medallion, and she imagined it getting hotter and hotter. A look of confusion came over Aurora’s face…followed by a ripple of fear.

“Stop that this
instant!”

Hotter.

“I command you to obey!”

“Not this time, Aurora,” Samantha said. “I’m already on my knees, my brother is dying, and I have nothing left to lose.”

As the temperature of the medallion increased, water began to stream down the throne room walls. The floor cracked and shuddered as the castle melted, but Samantha continued to heat Aurora’s medallion. Her grandmother fought back with a burst of frigid arctic air that nearly stopped Samantha’s breath. In the next moment, Aurora shattered her throne into lethally sharp shards which she flung across the room at top speed. Samantha threw herself across Julian to protect him. Several of the ice splinters pierced her skin, drawing blood and turning her veins to ice.

Chapter Nine

Unvarnished Truth

W
ILLS
L
AY
F
LAT
A
GAINST
Nick’s neck as they emerged from the tunnel into Aurora’s kingdom. No guardsmen were waiting, but a thick blanket of snow hampered their progress through the forest. After a few minutes, the snow took on a slushy consistency, and droplets of melted ice were dripping off the ends of tree branches.

When the ice castle became visible, Wills was alarmed to see parts of the towers were missing, having cracked off and crumbled to the ground. On closer inspection, he discovered the previously icy moat had turned to water, the drawbridge was fully submerged, and the castle was now surrounded by a lake.

Nick skidded to a halt several yards shy of the waterline. Wills slid to the ground and kicked off his boots. “We’re going to have to swim across.”

Nick returned to his human form, a stricken expression on his face. “I-I can’t swim!”

“Can’t you turn yourself into a fish or something?”

“It doesn’t work like that. Most wizards can’t manage more than one animal form.”

Both Wills and Nick flinched as a mighty crashing noise indicated another one of the towers had fallen.

“The castle is coming apart. I’ve got to get Samantha and Julian out before they’re killed!” Wills exclaimed.

Nick thrust the crossbow and darts into his hands. “You’ll need this. If I figure how to cross, I’ll join you.”

Wills nodded and stuffed the pouch of darts into his shirt. He gritted his teeth as he ran into the icy water and began to swim. His sword—impervious to water—was secure on his belt, but he tried to keep the crossbow dry by swimming with one arm. When he was halfway across, however, he was dismayed to realize the bank up ahead was teeming with mud demons. He couldn’t enter the castle without the creatures attacking him first.

The castle was quaking and cold water was sheeting across the floor, but Samantha wouldn’t give up. With dogged determination, she fixed her grandmother with a steely stare. “Give me the medallion or you’ll burn along with your castle!”

With one final shriek, Aurora lifted the medallion from around her neck and flung it away. “You’re just like your father!” The glowing metal sizzled as it skimmed across the water-slick floor.

Ignoring the shooting pain in her muscles, Samantha crawled toward the medallion. Aurora snatched up a guardsmen’s bayonet and advanced. As the point of the weapon arced downward, Samantha escaped injury by rolling to one side. Her grandmother’s towering rage was turning the melted water on the floor to ice. Samantha grasped the medallion and struggled to stand. She darted toward Julian, but her feet slipped out from under her and she landed on her back. Stunned and winded, she was helpless to move. The bayonet raised up once more, but as it came down, a silver-tipped dart pierced Aurora’s side. The snow demon shrieked, and her bayonet faltered.