Page 101 of The Blood Queen

I’m afraid of being without Alyth.

What I said to her earlier. About not having a home until her.

I don’t wanna lose that. And who knows what’s waiting for me in the after? All I know is she won’t be there.

Alyth’s standing just as stricken next to me, the click-clack of spider legs on the floor the only sound save for our gasping breaths.

I step toward her, ignoring the flurry of tiny bodies that scurry out of my way as I touch Alyth’s arm. She turns to me, her face haunted and heavy.

The light orb she made hangs on its own as she reaches to her bodice. She plucks out a slender black needle. It emits a faint glow—Red Cap magic.

“The High Blade’s blood is in it,” Alyth whispers.

Around us, that symphony starts up again. “Death,” the voices say, like they’re in pain. “Not here. Not here. She is not welcome among us. Death, death.”

“We touch it to that tool with the loom,” I say.

Alyth nods. “The shuttle, yes. It had blood on it. It’s what the Faerie Queen was using when she died. It should locate the High Blade’s thread, and then—”

Her voice falters to silence.

Outside this room, the battle rages, weapons clash, and people cry out in pain.

But the two of us stand here.

Stalling.

We’re… We’re both stalling.

My brow furrows. She thinks she’s gonna do this. She really thinks I’m gonna let her kill herself for this.

Silly girl.

My girl.

I force a smile, bright and just for her. It throws her for a beat, I can tell. Makes her frown and study me, confused.

I lean in and kiss her. Brush my lips across hers, tasting her exhale.

One last time.

My chest squeezes, selfishness scouring me clean, and I want her to know. I need her to know. What she’s done for me, how she’s saved me, what an honor it’s been to know her, to feel her, to just bask in her. So I tell her as best I can, kissing her with every ounce of devotion in my body.

It’s half a distraction.

My other hand, the one not holding my sword, is reaching for the needle.

I’m going to take it and run for the loom. Maybe, if I push Alyth back into the webs, she’ll get stuck and not be able to chase me. She’ll hate me for it.

But she’ll be alive.

My fingers brush hers.

And the doors to the throne room burst open.

The two of us jolt apart. The spiders all start hissing at once, a flurry of motion as spider silk rains down around us and thousands of tiny bodies race toward the now-open doors.

In the doorway, drenched in gleaming scarlet blood, is the High Blade.