She opens her mouth, gathers her breath, and I can’t let her do it again. The large sculpture has almost completely given way. And it will only take a few more well-directed breaths to see that the smaller one is history as well, leaving my soul completely exposed. Leaving the dagger to finish its hideous, downward course.
“I don’t see it like you do,” I say, my mouth so dry, I have to force the words past. “I don’t see the world as pain-filled. I see wonder everywhere I look. I see wonder in you.” I study her closely, pray the words penetrate. But one look at her face tells me it’s a total fail.
“You really need to work on your perspective.” She frowns. “You need to take off the blinders and see the world as it really is.”
I rub my lips together, desperate to get through to her. “Phyre, listen to me, please. This is not your destiny.” My gaze pleads with hers, but she’s quick to turn away in dismissal. “This is not destiny, divine law, or anything of the sort. This is your father’s madness run amok. You don’t have to go through with it. You can walk away from him and I’ll make sure you get the help that you need. Put out the fire, release my soul now, and I promise you that Suriel will never be allowed to go near you again. I will see that you are settled somewhere safe where he will never be able to reach.”
She tilts her head to the side and swings her torch haphazardly before her, filling the space with a cloud of acrid smoke that burns a path through my throat and makes my eyes sear. “Do you love me, Dace?” She turns, as though she hadn’t heard a single word I’d just said.
I rub my lips together, knowing it’s a test. Knowing better than to lie.
“Did you ever love me?”
I remain quietly in place.
She laughs a brittle, broken laugh, and lowers the torch to her side. “And yet another reason I love you. You’re always honest. Always honorable. More people should be like you. The world would be a better place. There’d be no need for Last Days, that’s for sure.”
“Phyre, for whatever it’s worth, I really did care for you,” I say, squinting my eyes, trying not to choke on the fumes.
“I know. Everyone used to tease me and my sisters because of the things my dad said. But you never did. You never judged me for the things that he did. For that, I remain forever grateful.”
“I still care about you. I’m also worried about you. The last two years you’ve been out there on your own, with no one to turn to. I understand. I really do. And because of it, you’re under Suriel’s influence. But what you’re doing now—this isn’t you. You’re nothing like your father. You’re your own person. Able to make your own choices. You have too much to offer to allow yourself to go down this path.”
“That may have been true once, but not anymore.” She smiles softly, singing the words, as she lifts the torch yet again and moves precariously close to the flames.
She’s losing it. Becoming so unstable, so unpredictable, that one false move—one false word—and I’m instantly annihilated as though I never existed.
Such a stark contrast to a few hours before when I was begging for release, and my wish was steadfastly ignored.
Be careful what you wish for, as Chepi always warned.
But now with Daire back in my life, I have everything to live for.
I risk a step forward. One that’s meant to go undetected. But then a wave of nausea ripples through me, and I falter, aware of my body tingling, cooling.
The energy infusion that Paloma and Axel gave me is now leaving my body.
In an instant, Daire’s by my side, trying to steady me. But I shirk from her touch. Knowing it will only spur Phyre on.
The ice is melting. My energy is waning. And I need to use what little time I have left to convince Phyre to end this madness while I still can.
“What’s the matter, Dace? You look a little pale. Is it because of this?” Phyre bites hard on her lip, as she lowers the torch yet again. Giving in to a fit of nervous giggles when the outer sculpture collapses, and the stake drops even lower. Its tip glowing fierce and red.
“I’m good,” I say. “Strong. Never been better.” It requires all of my effort to straighten my spine, square my shoulders, yet it still fails to convince her.
“Your brother is a natural liar. While you, old friend, are not.” She stifles a satisfied smirk, but her flashing eyes give her away.
“Speaking of my brother, I heard you paid him a visit.” I move toward her. Just one foot, slipping over the snow, sliding slowly before me. If I play this right, the other will soon follow. And then again. And again. Until I’m close enough to disarm her.
“What can I say?” She shrugs. “I miss you. And he’s the perfect stand-in.”
“We may look alike, but that’s where it ends.” I grit my teeth, clench my jaw, and struggle not to look otherwise pained as I bring my left foot forward until it surpasses the right. “Surely you’re aware of that?”
“Of course I’m aware. I’m not an idiot. Sheesh.” She shakes her head, mutters under her breath, then faces me again. “Cade is dark. You’re light. He’s yin. You’re yang. And just like yin and yang, you’re connected. Equal parts of the whole. One can’t exist without the other.” Seeing my look of surprise, she says, “I know all about it. You’re the polar opposites of each other. The positive and the negative charge of the universe. And the way you interact influences the destinies of all living things. Which is why I have to kill you. Still, there is a kind of beauty in such perfect symmetry, don’t you think?”
“I never thought about it that way,” I say, talking just for the sake of talking. Trying to keep her distracted, unaware of the slow but steady progress I’m making.
She makes a face. “Really, Dace?” She casts her gaze to the ground and sighs. “And here I’d convinced myself you were more introspective than that. Guess I only saw what I wanted to see.”