And then a tall, mist-enshrouded figure rose up behind the storm fae like a wraith from my worst nightmares. A pair of sapphire eyes gleamed in the shadows.
Strong hands grabbed the storm fae’s head. Surprise flickered in the silver eyes. The Mist King twisted hard, snapping the enemy’s neck.
I sucked in a desperate breath of air as the storm fae collapsed. Pain still ripped through my neck, and dark spots flickered in my vision. But I could breathe, and Kalen was here. Relief and hope tangled in my gut. He was here.
He caught me before I fell. With a shuddering breath, he yanked me to his chest, and the scent of snow consumed me.
* * *
Iawoke with my head on his lap and his fingers caressing the strands of hair that had sprang free from my braid. His hand tensed when he spied me staring up at him, at the mist swirling across his jaw.
“Thank the moon. You’re awake.” His voice sounded rough, and the look in his eye was the whisper of a ribbon curling around my heart. For a moment, I forgot to breathe, too caught up in the heat of him, the feel of his hand against my hair, and everything still unspoken between us.
Swallowing, I sat up and felt my neck. It was tender on one side, and my back hissed with pain. The wounds must have reopened during the fight.
“What happened?” I asked as I pressed trembling fingers to my forehead. Every single part of me felt wrung out, like a dirty rag left too long in the sunshine.
Kalen’s eyes flashed. “The bastard tried to choke you. So I snapped his fucking neck.”
My memories flashed back to the moment Kalen had risen from the shadows like some kind of avenging god. I shuddered, though not from fear. He’d looked so...powerful and deadly. And while I knew he’d killed the storm fae because of the threat they posed, I also knew that part of the reason was me.
“You saved my life,” I whispered. “Again.”
His eyes sparked. “You saved me first. Although, I should be angry at you for rushing out into the fight, risking your life like that after I told you to stay inside.”
“I do what I want, Kalen.”
A tantalizing smile curled his lips. “Yes, I’m well aware of that. Now, explain to me what happened. One minute, I couldn’t use my powers. The next...”
I filled him in on everything, how I’d confronted the god, smashed the gemstone to release her grip on his power, searched for the Mortal Blade and come up empty, then ridden Midnight out into the storm.
My gut twisted at the thought of the horse.
“Is he all right?” I asked. “The fae hit him with an arrow...” Sorrow pulsed through me. I couldn’t bear the thought of him dead because he’d helped me. I couldn’t stand the thought of him dead at all.
“Midnight is no normal horse. He’s almost fully healed.” Kalen brushed soft fingers against my neck, staying clear of the tender spot. “The storm is over. As long as you’re all right to travel, we can leave this cursed castle now.”
I sagged in relief. “And the god? Did I destroy her?”
His lips flattened, and his eyes grew haunted. “I’m not sure, love. We can only hope. It seems unlikely a wooden stake could do something as powerful as that, but you didn’t do what she asked, so I don’t think you released her, either.”
“Wherewasthe Mortal Blade, Kalen?” I asked. “Why wasn’t it in your bag?”
“I took it out into the storm.”
I frowned. “I thought you couldn’t use it.”
“I can’t.” A grin spread across his face. “I thought you might go after it and try to use it against them. I didn’t want you risking your life, though it appears you found a way to do that anyway.”
“Seriously, Kalen? I want to be annoyed at you for this, but...”
His voice dropped. “But what?”
I stared at the blanket, my heart pounding. “I’m just happy you aren’t dead.”
“Is that so?” he murmured.
“And I know you’re not happy about what I did, but—”