A huge laceration slid along the length of the prince’s abdomen. Blood poured out of it as intestines shone beneath. It was so deep and undoubtedly lethal.
“Dear gods,” I cried.
The creature’s claws had torn him open, and all because he’d been trying to save me from the snowgum’s jaws.
“My prince!” I yelled again. My heart exploded in fear just as a vibration of magic rippled through the air.
It was the only warning I got before the snowgum pounced.
CHAPTER 7
The force of the predator hitting me knocked the wind from my lungs. Its hot breath came next, wafting over my skin like smoke. The snowgum’s invisible body pinned me to the ground, my ribs screaming in agony under the feline’s immense weight.
All the while, the prince continued to lie beside me. Unmoving. Possibly not breathing. Perhaps even dead.
My heart threatened to burst, and I only had a second to glance at the prince before the creature shifted its weight and nearly crushed my chest.
I wheezed as my body sank more into the snow. Coldness seeped into my back. And the snowgum . . . I could feel its mouth opening. It was going to eat me even though I saw nothing.
Blessed Mother, I’m going to die. Prince Norivun’s going to die. Cailis will be alone.
Those last two thoughts had panic rising from me like an inferno. No!
Magic erupted in my gut.
I screamed. And then the realm tilted, as though everything were moving in slow motion. A rush of magic blazed out of me. Fire. Air. An inferno of power.
The snowgum roared as my magic burst free in a whip of blazing heat. It ripped beyond my control as one thought and one thought only seared my mind.
We can’t die.
My head whipped toward the prince. I needed to save him. Now.
The snowgum’s hide caught fire. The creature screamed again as its massive body erupted into flames.
My eyes widened at its monstrous size as I scrambled to Prince Norivun.
The snowgum continued to thrash like a demon from the underworld. Fire raged around it, lighting up its nine-foot-tall body with paws like small tables. It rolled in the snow, still roaring, as it slowly doused the flames.
The damage my fire had done cut off its magic, making it visible again, but even though I’d burned it, it was anything but down.
My fingers closed around the prince as an enraged snarl tore from the snowgum. Its massive body lowered on its haunches as it prepared to leap again.
“Prince Norivun! Wake up, now!” I shook the prince, grabbing him by the shoulders so hard that his blood seeped through my fingers.
But he didn’t move.
The snowgum lunged, leaping from its position.
This was it.
We would both die.
Agony like I’d never felt before cut through me, slicing me open as my arms enclosed the prince. Not today. Please not today. I don’t want to die.
My eyes squeezed shut as I pictured my sister. My parents. Tormesh. My village. All of it blended in a kaleidoscope of color.
My sister would be alone.
I can’t leave you.
I pictured the castle. Safety. Healers. Help.
The snowgum’s large body slammed into me, nearly tearing me from the prince as the reek of its burned flesh singed my nose. But I didn’t let go of the prince. I kept my eyes squeezed shut as I imagined the castle again. Murl. Safety.
The realm suddenly flashed out of existence, and then we were torn through mist and shadows, air and wind.
The next thing I knew, the prince and I were crashing onto the ground at the castle’s outer courtyard. Guards were only feet away.
Their shocked faces beheld me as my mind began to spin. The last thing I remembered was collapsing to the ground with the prince at my side.
A warm hand held mine. It was soft, smooth, and thin. Fingers brushed over my skin, back and forth, and I frowned when I detected the scent of roses, then the feel of smooth cream rolling across my palm. Someone was putting lotion that smelled of flowers on my hand?
My eyes fluttered open.
I blinked, then blinked again. Surely, I was dreaming, or dead and dreaming if dreams were possible for the deceased, because Queen Lissandra sat at my side in the Exorbiant Chamber. A beautiful scarf covered her head. The rich blue silk reminded me of the shawls I’d often worn back home to hide my hair.
She smiled faintly and picked up my other hand before slathering it with the rose-scented lotion. “I figured you would wake soon.”
She moved with sure purpose over my palms, coating my fingers. Her warm hands felt soft and comforting. The way my mother’s hands had once felt.
This couldn’t be happening. The last memory I had was of Isalee, the field, the prince, the snowgum—
“Where’s Prince Norivun?” Alarm skated through me as I snapped out of her gentle touch.
“In the healer’s infirmary. It’s thanks to you that he’s alive.”
A heartbeat passed before that reassurance hit me. I sagged back against the bed, only then realizing that my heart was pounding, and a tender ache seared my ribs. I’d thought for certain he was dead. That the snowgum—
But wait, how did we get back?
“The guards tell me that you mistphased him here,” she added in her serene tone.
I smoothed my confused expression as a blurry memory of slamming into the ground by the castle’s outer wall filled my mind. Frowning, I sat up more. “There must be a mistake. I don’t know how to mistphase.”
“Perhaps you don’t consciously, but your magic did.”
I swallowed, realizing my mouth felt dry. As though sensing it, the queen lifted a cup from the table near my bed and held it out to me. “It contains a tonic that will help soothe aches and pains.”
I glanced down at myself. “Am I injured?”
“You bear no cuts or abrasions, but a large bruise has formed on your chest and back. I expect you’ll be tender for several days unless you drink this.” She nodded toward the glass, her voice soft.
Bringing the cup to my lips, I sniffed. I scented nothing. I took a drink, and a burst of bubbles coated my tongue, then the hint of fruit. Tilting my head back, I finished the entire glass in three gulps.
“Murl said you would be thirsty.”
I frowned. “He did?”
She nodded. “You’ve been asleep nearly a day.”
My eyes popped. “I have been?”
“You’ve been sleeping since you returned, most likely because you completely drained your magic and needed to replenish it.”
“But my training—” I was supposed to have met Matron Olsander. She’d been expecting me. And then Sir Featherton had planned to stop by to finish explaining the Trial.
The queen returned to slathering lotion on me, unperturbed. “King Novakin has excused you from your Trial duties until tomorrow, unless you choose to return earlier.” Her lips pressed together, and a flash of what almost looked like anger scoured her face before her expression smoothed, making me wonder if I’d imagined that intense moment of rage.
“And Prince Norivun, how is he?”
“Awake and flaming mad.” She smiled, as though not the least bit surprised at her son’s behavior. “He’s insisted that he be discharged from the infirmary and brought to see you, but Murl won’t let him leave. The cut on his belly went too deep, and he’s likely to tear open the healing Murl has done if he leaves too soon.”