Spirit of the Fae (Dragon's Gift The Dark Fae #4) - Linsey Hall Page 0,46

the guards, sprinting into the Dark Necromancer’s office, Tarron at my side.

The three Aranthian Crystals sat right where we’d left them.

“Hurry!” Tarron ran for them.

I followed, and we each reached the hearth just as the ether began to pull on us.

Our time is up.

I grabbed one crystal and he grabbed another, then the ether sucked us in, pulling us through space.

Moments later, it spat us out in the middle of the throne room.

Panting, I staggered and nearly went to my knees. Tarron grabbed my arm and pulled me upright. I straightened, finding the king and queen standing in front of us, avarice on their faces as they eyed the glowing Aranthian Crystals.

“You got them,” the queen whispered reverently. “Two of them!”

“Give them here.” The king gestured.

I gripped mine tight. “We want two resurrection stones in exchange.”

“No.” The queen’s voice was sharp. “It’s not possible.”

“Two or you don’t get the stones,” Tarron said.

“We don’t have two,” the king said.

I nearly growled, but I could see from the look on his face that he was telling the truth.

Shit shit shit.

Panic began to flutter in my chest. I shared a look with Tarron, and memories of what he’d said in the fight ring flickered in my mind.

I knew how he was going to try to play this.

Even so, I didn’t see his actions coming. He didn’t even hesitate—he just grabbed the Aranthian Crystal from me and gave them both to the king and queen, then barked, “Give her the resurrection stone.”

He stepped back and crossed his arms over his chest, looking stoic.

“Aren’t you lucky.” The queen looked at me, and I wanted to hiss at her.

She shoved the resurrection stone into my hand. Before I could force it toward Tarron, she recited an incantation in some ancient Fae language. I tried to catch it, but I was too slow. I began to glow with a golden light.

Next to me, a golden portal appeared.

Tarron didn’t glow at all.

“No!” I begged. “He has to come with me!”

“No.” The queen’s voice was hard.

“Please!” I’d never begged for anything in my life that I could remember, but I’d beg for this. Even if it wasn’t possible. “Please. He has to come with me.”

He couldn’t die here. I couldn’t bear it. His soul, gone forever?

No.

Panic tore a hole in my chest as I began to glow brighter. The ether inside the golden portal tugged hard at me. I looked frantically at Tarron.

“It’s all right,” he said. “I know you can save them.”

“But I want to save you!” Tears started to prick my eyes.

This was so damned unfair! I couldn’t lose him again.

“Go!” he said, his voice firm. “Go before I throw you through that portal.”

“We’re both going.” Somehow.

“If she doesn’t go, she’ll be extinguished too,” the queen said.

Tarron apparently couldn’t tolerate that. A tortured expression flashed across his face as he grabbed me and began to carry me toward the portal. “Go, Mari. For me. Please.”

“No!” I kicked and screamed, my mind racing.

I wouldn’t settle for this.

“You have to go.” Tarron begged.

“Not without you.” There was no way I’d let this happen.

I called upon my amplification magic, focusing it on the charm in my hand. The magical signature was distinct, and I forced it to grow stronger. Power swelled inside me, forcing outward and into the resurrection stone. The stone glowed brighter. I pushed the magic toward Tarron, clinging tight to him and trying to envelop him in the same golden glow that surrounded me. I forced it to grow bigger, to grow stronger.

It began to work. Tarron glowed as well.

“No!” the queen shrieked. “No! This shouldn’t be possible.”

But it was. After facing my fears here in the Court of Death, my magic was stronger than it had ever been.

Except, it wasn’t as strong as it needed to be. I could feel something—a barrier. It was like the magic was almost powerful enough, but not quite. We couldn’t push through to the other side.

“No!” the queen shouted. She thrust out her hand, shooting a blast of power at us.

It slammed into us, throwing us back.

The golden glow faded.

The portal disappeared.

No!

“The incantation.” Tarron struggled to his feet. “We must say it again.”

The queen stood over us, rage on her face. I stood, shoving the resurrection stone into my pocket.

“Only one may leave!” she shrieked. Again, she threw out her hand.

Before the blast could hit me, Tarron shoved me aside and shot a blast of water at her that was so strong she slammed back into the stone wall and