planned, but I did want to take one of her fingers.
But at the bottom of the stairs, I froze. Someone new had arrived—at the top of the amphitheater. There stood the shadowy prisoner, silhouetted against the moon. Ah, so that was why they were terrified.
Thick black smoke rose from his body and a low, primal moan emanated from his chest, rumbling over the stone. Screams erupted around us, and the High Elves began surging away from him. Revna ran toward her father. King Gorm drew his wand.
And yet the prisoner’s eyes were on me. With magic curling around his beautiful face, he began to move down the steps of the amphitheater. He seemed to be coming for me. Another person who wanted me dead, I thought. I had no idea what he was, only that he scared the living shit out of everyone around me, so I’d best keep my distance.
“Everyone stop moving,” King Gorm shouted. “Revna, show him the ring!”
Realization flashed across Revna’s face. Dropping her wand, she held up the bloody ring.
“Marroc!” shouted the king. “We have your soul. Another step, and you’ll be cursed forever.”
The prisoner stopped where he was, midway down the steps. Black magic coiled off him as he stared at King Gorm, his eyes now dark as the Well of Wyrd. He didn’t speak, and I had no idea what he wanted… but he seemed intent on me.
It was as if the whole Citadel held its breath, waiting to see what would happen next. No one moved—except me. While they were all staring at the prisoner, I was slipping off my boot. The vergr crystal lay inside it.
Then, silently, the prisoner started moving down the steps once more.
“I’ll end this now!” Revna spun and hurled the ring into the Well of Wyrd.
It twirled in the air, gleaming in the moonlight, then plunged into the darkness.
The prisoner was nearly upon me when I reared back and threw my boot with all my might, aiming for the far side of the well. I had good aim and a strong arm, and it landed in the stone seats opposite us.
“Fara!”
A flash of purple light, and I exploded out of my own boot on the far side of the well, bits of shoe leather raining around me. The vergr crystal lay at my feet, and I snatched it up.
In the seats all around the amphitheater, chaos reigned. Around me, High Elves streamed up the stairs, oblivious to my presence, focused only on getting as far from the prisoner as possible. I turned back to look at him—towering over the others like a god of darkness. He picked up a High Elf and threw him into the Well of Wyrd. Then his dark eyes were on me again.
I whirled, racing up the steps of the amphitheater, trailing behind the others. My thighs burned, lungs heaving as I chased the throng of High Elves. No one was looking at me. They were all running for their lives, and I was at the back of the crowd.
What the fuck was that guy?
By the time I reached the top of the stairs, my bootless right foot was frozen. But I kept running, turning onto the curving stone walkway. At this point, I was just following the others, racing behind them. I kicked my remaining boot off and ran in my socks, which was cold as shit but less awkward for running.
I was sprinting so fast that I nearly missed the shadow of a moth passing over me. I glanced up just in time to see its rider launch a hex at my head. Diving to the side, I took shelter behind a parapet for a moment. When the spell bounced off the stone, I leapt to my feet again.
The elves ahead of me were running for a door in one of the spires, holding it open for each other. I wasn’t exactly sure what I’d do when I got inside, but maybe I’d blend into the chaos, make my escape from the lower floors.
But just as I reached the door, it slammed shut before me. My heart sank as I heard a bolt sliding across.
With my pulse racing out of control, I pulled on the door’s handle. Locked up tight.
Could I use the vergr crystal here? I turned, heaving for breath as I peered over the walkway. Clouds puffed around me, and the lights of Boston glimmered welcomingly a thousand feet below.
It was just as I’d thought—far too high to toss the