The Arcana Chronicles 3: Dead of Winter

“Come clean about the injury, Gabriel,” I said.

“I was shot during a flyover last week.” He stretched out a wing, revealing a bullet wound in that feathery expanse. A hole went straight through the bony part. “I haven’t quite healed yet.”

From last week? So he had rapid healing, like Death and Selena.

“Unfortunately, wings provide a large target. As Joules says, ‘It’s like hittin’ the broad side of a barn!’” An Arcana weakness. “We can wait a couple of days, ladies, or I can take you one at a time tonight.”

“Tonight,” I quickly said.

“The problem is that we go one at a time on the return leg as well.”

“We need to get to Jack, now—hell or high water, and all that.” I turned to Matthew. “Any tips? Anything you’d like to tell me about our mission?”

“I already did.” He cast me a look of pure confusion. “Carousel? Struck? Ah! You listen poorly!”

Had he ever been this exasperated with me before? “Of course, sweetheart. I just meant anything in addition to that. Hey, maybe you could tell me how long till Violet closes in?”

“In a way, she’s here.”

“What does that mean? I thought we had more time before the twins joined up.” Had they already begun Jack’s torture?

“She’s here, in a way.” He’d just reversed his words.

My breaths shallowed. “Gabriel, I’ll cross with you first—and last on the way back.” I turned to Finn. “Get to work.”

“On it.” He rolled his head on his neck. “You guys will be able to see each other, but to everyone else, you’ll look like soldiers.” He began to chant in his mysterious magician language, the air blurring at his lips.

By the time he’d finished, the four of us looked like unshaven, middle-aged men armed with machine guns.

Finn had grown even paler. “Just try not to get too stressed. Sweating and increased heart rates affect my illusions. Good luck, guys.”

“Thanks, Magician.” I hastened outside, the others following.

Gabriel crossed to stand before me. “Empress, are you ready?”

I was putting a ton of trust in him, an Arcana. Though I owed Lark, her betrayal had done a number on me. “Uh, ready.”

When Gabriel gripped me under my arms, Selena jerked her chin at me. “See you on the other side.” She knew I was having doubts.

The trues only worked in this fort. Once we left, Gabriel could drop me in the drink.

For the High Priestess to drag down to the abyss.

I could use my body vine, the one that grew from my skin, to tether myself to him, but that might screw with Finn’s illusion. I would risk a dip to save Jack. I would risk anything.

—in our own way, in our own way.—

The Lovers’ call. It was loud because of proximity, but sounded staticky. “Let’s go, Gabriel!”

Without warning, he shot into the air, making my stomach plunge. I squeezed my eyes tight, fighting not to shriek.

“There’s nothing to be frightened of,” he said. “You can look now.”

I cracked open my lids. “Wh-why are we going so high?” We seemed to be a mile above the river. Up here, the winds were gale force. Were we making progress at all? Hovering in place?

“I don’t know the Priestess’s reach.” Another Arcana secret. “Better safe than sorry.” His voice sounded strained. From the pain in his wing? What if it gave out?

My heart was thundering. With his acute senses, he could surely hear it.

“For all that you’re the Empress, you’re still a regular girl, aren’t you?”

I’d revealed a fear of heights. Had they thought me fearless before?

I squinted against the wind, gazing back at the fort. Outside the minefield, I could make out lighter dots across black ground. The stone forest. After the Flash, men lacked cover for shootouts; instead of—oh, I don’t know—not shooting at each other, they’d built rock trees.

Gabriel followed my gaze. “From up on high, I see things that can’t be random—shapes, designs, clues—all the time.”

I blinked again. From here, those white stacks kind of looked like stars in an inky sky.

“Empress, I have the senses of both angel and animal, and I recognize the gods’ return.”

“Um, okay?” Cult crazy, cult crazy, I’m about to die.

“No matter what happens, I want you to know that I dearly wish you could end this game.”

What happens? Did he mean, like, any second now? I should’ve bound us in vine!

Just when I was sure he was about to drop me, he descended to the edge of the bluff on the other side. “You’re the only Arcana fighting for a different future than the one we’ve been dealt.”

As we touched down, I felt guilty for doubting him.

“I go now. For Selena.” Eager much? He saluted, then took to the air once more, the backdraft of his wings whipping my poncho.

Long moments later, he flew back with the Archer in his arms, holding her close, reluctant to let her go once they landed.

Oblivious, Selena pushed at him to stand on her own. Gabriel cleared his throat. “I return with Quintessence.” He disappeared into the murk once more.

As Selena and I waited, misgivings about my plan arose. “What if something goes wrong?” I tucked the end of my ponytail into my poncho hood. “What do you think the Lovers would hit back with? Would they use guns?” So far, most Arcana had spurned them.

Selena limbered up, stretching one of her long legs. “Some say the Lovers throw poison darts like Cupid himself. And wouldn’t that be adorable?” she added in a disgusted tone. “But I’d expect guns, considering their army.”

Poison didn’t affect me, and a bullet wouldn’t kill me. Not so for the others. Was I leading them to their deaths? I’d gotten used to being a leader, telling people what needed to be done. Still hadn’t gotten used to the responsibility.

“But check this, Evie—my arrow’s already in flight. So I don’t give a shit what the Duke and Duchess Most Perverse are packing. If you told me the twins could vaporize archers with their eyes, I’d still try to save J.D.”

Oddly, that made me feel better, as if she’d pep-talked me.

When Gabriel returned with a wide-eyed Tess, he said, “Allow me to detect Jack’s scent and get a lay of the land. It might take a few moments with these winds.”