Chapter 32

The Necromancer

Dorian lands in the snow and gently places me on the ground. His hand stays on my throat, and I feel my blood seeping through his fingers.

Archie lands beside me and tears at his wrist, pressing it into my mouth. I swallow. His blood will heal me. It always has. I manage to take it in, but when Dorian moves his hand from my throat, blood continues to flow freely.

‘It's not working,' Archie whispers as tears fill his eyes. He even tries dripping it over the cut. ‘It's not working!' he yells, looking at Dorian in desperation. ‘Why isn't she healing?'

His fingers curl around my throat as he tries in vain to make it stop.

‘Come on, you pain in the fucking arse. Don't give up on us now.'

‘Neve is dead,' Dorian tells him. ‘She killed her with Neve's blade. If Hel is dead, there is no such thing as blood magic any more. Our curses have lifted.'

On the floor, Shaw's body lies motionless. His eyes are wide, staring into nothing, and his skin is utterly bloodless. Shaw is free of his body. His curse.

‘If there's no curse…' Archie breathes, his gaze falling on me. ‘Our blood no longer heals you. Pix.' He looks up at Dorian. ‘Do something.'

‘All I can do is kill, Archie.' He rests his hand over his, helping him press down on the wound. ‘And claim her soul.'

‘You're… still… here.' The words are a garbled mess as they leave my mouth.

Archie's head tilts.

‘Where else would we be?'

‘You're… free.'

‘We're bound to you in every way,' Dorian replies. ‘We love you.'

They stayed. They chose me.

‘Forest…' I manage.

‘What?' Archie asks.

‘F-forest…' Blood fills my mouth.

I look up at Archie.

‘Shift…'

His eyes widen when he realises what I mean. He becomes his wolf, and now we can talk.

‘What do you need?'

‘A forest. A lush forest so I can use my earth magic. There is no life left here. Blood magic has killed it all. I may be able to heal if I can get enough power from the earth.'

He shifts back and shoves me into Dorian's arms.

‘Get her to a forest, Dorian. As quickly as you can. She can still use her earth magic, and she can heal.'

‘ARCHIE!'

They turn in the direction of Leo's voice. I look and see him holding Thalia's hand. Both are covered in blood and cuts, but they're alive.

Leo points to the distance.

‘The prince's soldiers are coming, Archie. Take her and run. They will never let her live now. Not any of you. Go.'

Archie nods as Leo and Thalia disappear into the dead forest.

‘Take her, Dorian,' Archie says.

‘What about you?'

‘I'll hold them off and follow.'

Archie kisses me on my forehead and steps back as I try to reach out for him.

‘Go North. Get as far as you can before you stop. They will slaughter her if they get the chance.'

‘Archie.' Dorian steps closer, but Archie shakes his head.

The sound of galloping horses draws closer.

‘Go. Now!'

He shifts.

Dorian keeps one hand on my throat, and his other holds me close.

And we fly into the snow clouds above.