The Shadow Queen

by C. J. Redwine

  Irina shrieked in fury as Lorelai’s magic surged into Kol’s mind, found the thick curtain that obscured his thoughts from hers, and tore it to pieces.

  Irina’s cold voice said, She can’t get rid of me. The best she can do is hear your thoughts as I turn you into the predator you were meant to be.

  He had a brief moment of clarity, and he knew.

  Lorelai might be able to tear through the curtain in his mind, but she couldn’t break the collar. She didn’t hold his human heart hostage. And she didn’t control him.

  Irina did.

  Even now, his talons were out, his chest heating with his dragon’s fire. He wanted to hurt, punish, and kill. He wanted it with a desperate hunger that roared through him until he felt like he’d never be satisfied.

  With Irina in his head, it wasn’t a question of if he’d become a killer, it was a question of when.

  The only choice left to make in the last moments of his self-control was whether he’d kill Lorelai or go after Gabril’s family instead.

  Kol, no. Lorelai’s voice was full of horror as he pushed her away from him and turned toward the entrance to the cave.

  Irina laughed as he dove into the water and began moving toward the capital.

  UNCORRECTED E-PROOF—NOT FOR SALE

  HarperCollins Publishers

  ..................................................................

  THIRTY-SIX

  LORELAI’S LEGS FELT too weak to hold her as she stumbled to the edge of the cave and peered into the thick sheet of water, still shaking from the remnants of the pain Irina had sent into her through her connection to Kol. She couldn’t see Kol, but she could sense his thoughts—fragmented, full of agony, and poisoned by the presence of Irina in his head.

  It didn’t make sense. If Irina had so much power over Kol, why hadn’t she used it weeks ago when she’d first taken his heart? Why let Lorelai heal him and create a bond with her magic?

  Kol sent her an image of the vicious whispers of his collar. Of the way Irina’s control over him felt far more powerful than it had before.

  Lorelai sent back an image of her pursuing him as he raced to the capital with the speed of his dragon, and then ignored his instant objection as she tightened the laces on her boots. Just a few hours ago, she’d felt triumphant. Certain that she’d weakened Irina’s heart to the point of ruin and that confronting her at the castle was a battle Lorelai could win.

  Now, Lorelai had lost the battle for Kol, had lost an ally who could help her fight with fire, and was separated from Gabril while Kol raced to kill Gabril’s family. She had no time to plan, no time to gather information and figure out how to swing the odds back into her favor. She had to act swiftly, or Irina would win the war before Lorelai even arrived at the battlefield.

  Standing at the edge of the cave, droplets of frigid water misting her skin, she called up Gabril’s face. The shape of his mind. The way he’d erected a barrier between his thoughts and hers.

  Hours ago, Lorelai wouldn’t have dreamed of destroying the wall he’d put up to keep his thoughts private from hers. But now she didn’t have the luxury of asking permission or of hoping her magic was strong enough to do what she needed. If Irina could break into any mind she’d already bonded with, then so could Lorelai. She just had to want it. And right now, she wanted it with a desperation that burned through her body with every breath.

  Clenching her fists, she thought of Gabril and felt her power tingle down her arms. She imagined tendrils of power leaving her body and seeking him out in the Hinderlinde.

  “Nakhgor. Find the one I seek.” Power burst from her palms, parted the waterfall, and blazed a path toward the forest.

  Seconds later, she felt Gabril’s mind, still steadfastly keeping her out. “Pros`odit,” she said, and the wall in his mind cracked.

  Gabril, don’t block me out. We’re in trouble, and I need your help.

  There was a flash of shock, an instant of resistance, and then his calm, stoic voice said, Where are you? How can I help?

  I’m in a cave under the waterfall to the west but—

  I’m coming.

  No! I’ll come to you. It will be much faster.

  Only you? Where’s Kol?

  For a moment, she faltered, her throat thickening with grief and her heart aching.

  What happened? The sympathy in Gabril’s voice snapped Lorelai back to her senses. He could see her thoughts. He’d felt her grief for Kol. She had to be careful what she showed him.

  Irina broke into his thoughts—which gave me the idea that I could break into yours, and I’d apologize, but we have a huge problem. She’s controlling him through the collar and through his hearts. I’m not exactly sure how because all I can see are his thoughts, not hers. But whatever she’s doing, it’s far worse than it was before. It’s like she either finally decided to stop toying with him and to display what she’s really capable of, or she found some way to increase her power.

  Is he going to hurt you? The sympathy was gone and in its place was a warrior ready to defend his princess. She had to find a way to tell him that she wasn’t the one who needed defending.

  No. He fought her hard enough to get away from me without hurting me, but he only left because he thinks I can’t help him. He thinks he’s going to break and do her bidding. Already, I can feel his thoughts disintegrating, turning into a dragon controlled by pain—

  He’s going to be okay. Gabril’s voice was a steady lifeline for her to cling to, but she couldn’t.

  He’s going to be all right because I’m going after him, and so are you. Now show me an image of where you are.

  She took a deep breath and flexed her muscles as Gabril showed her a huge fallen oak tree lying close to the shack. Her muscles were stronger. Less shaky. The effects of Irina’s curse was wearing off as her own magic coursed through her veins, lending her strength. It was time to tell Gabril the truth and put a plan into place that would save everyone.

  Everyone but Irina.

  I’m coming to you. She’d tell him the truth when she got to him. Otherwise, he’d race toward the capital without her, and that was exactly what Irina was hoping for. Gabril chasing down Kol. Lorelai chasing Gabril. None of them focused on the true threat.

  None of them focused on Irina.

  She raised her arms above her head and whispered, “Voshtet. Rise with me and fly.”

  Power burned in her palms as she dove into the water. Instantly, the force of the waterfall shoved her down, trying to crush her beneath its weight. She concentrated on the power rippling through her veins and opened her hands. Her magic struck the water, and a whirlpool swirled beneath her, moving faster and faster as it rose from the depths.

  Be ready, she sent to Gabril as the whirlpool gathered itself and then shot upward, exploding through the surface of the water.

  Ready for what?

  For me. Almost there. She focused on the wild, untamed heart of the river and showed it Gabril waiting by the fallen oak. The river’s heart surged toward hers willingly. The whirlpool turned on its side and arced toward the fallen oak with Lorelai standing on top of it as if it was an enormous silvery bridge made of water. As it rushed forward, Lorelai said, Hold your breath.

  My . . . what? Why?

  Do it!

  She felt Gabril’s obedience at the same moment that she felt his utter shock as the bridge of water burst through the trees to rush past the fallen oak. Lorelai reached down, wrapped a hand around Gabril’s and whispered an incantor to make him rise with the water. Then, as the river’s heart responded to the new direction in Lorelai’s, she pulled him up through the thick, churning wall of water until he was standing beside her, clutching her arms to keep his balance.

  Sasha lifted herself out of a nearby tree and flew toward the princess. Lorelai winced as the heavy gyrfalcon landed on her shoulder, talons digging in. She’d left the brace behind with her travel pack.

  The bridge of water streaked through the Hinderlinde,
ripping leaves from the dying trees—that all looked as if they’d never come to life the night before and tried to crush Lorelai to death—until it reached the main road that led to the capital. It arced over the road, rushing above carriages and people heading back to the capital on foot. People screamed and dove off the road, but Lorelai didn’t spare them a glance. The water was above them. They were safe.

  And she didn’t have a single second to spare.

  Slow down. Let’s make a plan and take a little time to focus. If we do this, Irina will know you’re coming! Gabril’s voice was a shout inside her head.

  She already does. And now it was time to tell him the true danger. Her stomach ached and her hands trembled as she said, She’s sent Kol to kill Ada and your sons.

  The sense of desperation coming from him was almost too much to bear.

  I’ll hold him back. I’m still connected to him. I haven’t lost him completely. We’ll go straight to your house and rescue them, and then I’ll deal with Kol and Irina while you get your family to safety. Show me what your house looks like and where it is so I can tell the water where to go.

  His chest rose and fell rapidly, and he let go of her hand to grab his sword instead. I know you love the boy, Lorelai, but if he harms my family—

  He won’t. Now show me the house and wall up your thoughts again so I can focus on keeping Kol from giving in to his dragon.

  He sent her an image of a pretty brown cottage with a bright blue door and flowers in the window boxes. It was on the eastern side of the capital, well away from the main roads. She showed the water’s heart where to go and then focused on Kol.

  I’m coming.

  His fragmented thoughts sped up, and she felt his frantic need to keep her away from him.

  You aren’t a killer, and I won’t let her destroy you like this. Have faith in me, Kol. My heart wants to save you more than hers wants to hurt you.

  Save . . . you. His voice was rough, mostly dragon, and she heard a steady snarl of hurt, punish, kill beneath his words, but Kol was still there. Still fighting to remain himself despite the queen’s best efforts.

  I don’t need to be saved. She does. Is she listening to me?

  Kol’s terror was a bright flare in the darkness of his mind.

  Can she hear me?

  Hears . . . me.

  Then make sure you respond to what I’m about to say, because it would be a shame for her to miss it. Lorelai’s heart pounded, but not from panic. There was no more room for fear. She was an implacable force of nature, and she was coming to reclaim what was hers.

  The water bridge twisted and dove beneath the iron arches of the capital’s gate and plunged into the city, sending people scrambling for cover.

  Are you listening? she asked.

  Yes. His voice was faint, nearly drowned out in the insatiable bloodlust of his dragon’s heart. Of the queen.

  Then you let Irina see this. You show her my thoughts, Kol. You tell that lying, cowardly usurper that this is the last day she will breathe Ravenspire air. This is the last day she will look out on the kingdom she’s ruined.

  Ravenspire’s true queen has entered the city, and Irina’s time is over.

  Kol was silent for an agonizing minute as Lorelai and Gabril plunged through the city streets, streaked around corners, and sped toward the eastern edge of the capital.

  Angry. There was a shiver of fear in his voice, but there was pride too.

  He was still there. Still Kol. Irina had once again underestimated the strength of a heart determined to withstand hers.

  Her anger is nothing compared to the anger of this land and its people. Where are you?

  He showed her the little brown cottage with the bright blue door. The image pulsed with red as his heart screamed for blood and the collar poured pain into his body until he could barely remember his name.

  I’ll be there soon. Don’t hurt them.

  Hurt . . .

  No, you will not hurt them. You are not a killer. You are stronger than Irina thinks you are. Hold out a little longer. I’m almost there.

  Wait. He seemed to be struggling to find another word. As the water surged around another corned and plunged down the cobblestones toward the cottage, he sent her an image of himself with a scarf tied around his mouth.

  She won’t let you tell me something?

  The water arced gracefully toward the cottage’s tidy lawn.

  Kol was nowhere to be seen.

  Gabril readied himself to jump as Lorelai spoke softly to the water’s heart.

  And then as the water deposited Gabril and Lorelai on the withered grass beside the blue front door and receded back toward the Silber River, Kol whispered, Trap.

  “Gabril, watch out!” Lorelai cried as what looked like an entire regiment of the queen’s soldiers, their eyes glassy and unfocused like the villager’s eyes had been in Nordenberg, stood up from their hiding places behind trees, fence posts, and the surrounding cottages, and converged on Lorelai and Gabril.

  Instantly, Sasha rose into the air and arrowed toward the closest soldier. Gabril pivoted, sword out to face the threat, and Lorelai caught a flash of movement inside the house.

  Kol? Are you inside with his family?

  Must . . . hurt. His voice broke. No. I won’t. Help . . . me.

  I’m going to help you as soon as I take care of the soldiers attacking us. She crouched and pressed her hand to the ground, careful to tell its heart that she wanted no injury to come to any of the soldiers. No one else in Ravenspire was going to die for the sake of Irina.

  The ground rippled and shook, and thick strands of wiry grass shot out of the dirt to wrap around wrists and ankles, sending soldiers crashing down where they remained shackled to the lawn. With her back to the house, Lorelai focused on sending a snare toward each approaching soldier while also trying desperately to keep Kol focused on her.

  “Gabril!” A woman’s voice rose in panic, followed by screams of terror. Gabril wheeled away from Lorelai and ran toward his house.

  Kol! What are you—

  Kol sprinted around the corner of the house and launched himself in front of Lorelai as a group of soldiers, taking advantage of Lorelai’s momentary distraction, cut themselves loose and attacked.

  Why did Ada scream? Lorelai asked, dreading the answer until she saw that Kol didn’t know. As soon as he’d seen that Lorelai was under attack, he’d abandoned his mission in favor of defending her.

  So what had scared Ada? The sight of soldiers running toward her husband? Before she could figure out the answer, another wave of attackers rushed onto the property and straight for Lorelai.

  Sasha screamed in fury and attacked, colliding with a woman and then whirling midair to dive toward another.

  Kol was a blur of motion. He spun into one man and then sent a woman to her knees. Lorelai ducked as a sword fell toward her neck, and then Kol was there, grabbing the sword with his bare hands.

  She cried out a warning, but Kol didn’t need it. The heat from the dragon’s fire in his chest had spread throughout his body, and the blade melted as he held it.

  Lorelai somersaulted beneath another sword and slammed her hands onto the ground again, desperately calling up more vines, trying hard not to use her magic to hurt those who were only fighting because a mardushka had bespelled them.

  No matter how many vines she called forth, however, more soldiers kept coming. And not only soldiers, she realized. Nobility. Upper gentry. Peasants. Even children.

  A chill swept over her. She couldn’t defeat them all without injuring them. There were too many, and she didn’t dare use up her strength when she still needed to face Irina. She had to stop fighting and start running.

  It was time to flee this cottage.

  Let’s go, she said to Kol, but he ignored her in favor of launching himself at a well-dressed man in a silk cravat who was coming at Lorelai with an upraised cane.

  These are innocent people, and we can’t defeat them without hurting them
. Are you listening to me? Kol!

  She felt the change in him before she saw it. The darkening of his mind. The burn of agony that ignited his dragon heart. The cold, precise thoughts of a predator.

  He turned toward her, his amber eyes feral.

  Run. His voice was guttural and hoarse. Prey.

  Don’t let Irina have you. Fight this, Kol. Her heart pounded and magic screamed through her blood as she reached for him. She wasn’t going to lose him. She wasn’t going to lose another person she cared about to Irina. A flicker of awareness crossed his face as she stepped toward him, followed immediately by horrified fear.

  And then his thoughts opened wide to her, and it wasn’t his voice anymore. It was Irina’s.

  The Eldrian king is mine. Gabril and his family are mine. My guards have them halfway to the castle by now. You have no one left. You’re a little fledgling mardushka, and you are no match for me.

  Lorelai lunged for Kol, her hands reaching, but he was gone. Twisting away from her. Running toward the castle. Following the crowd of soldiers who’d already taken Gabril and his family to Irina.

  UNCORRECTED E-PROOF—NOT FOR SALE

  HarperCollins Publishers

  ..................................................................

  THIRTY-SEVEN

  “KOL!” LORELAI YELLED, but it was too late. He was too fast, and she was surrounded by a throng of bespelled people determined to kill her to satisfy their queen.

  She threw herself to the side, narrowly avoiding a woman who came at her with an ax clutched in one hand and a baby on her hip. Three men old enough to be grandfathers lunged at her from behind, and she flipped forward only to dive into a shoulder roll when a girl who couldn’t be older than twelve ran at her with a shard of metal in her hand.

  Gabril and his family would be nearly at the castle by now. Kol’s mind was a cold, dark place that refused to acknowledge her.