Queen of Thieves

chapter 34

Alice was dying.

White hot pain prickled her skin. Two strong arms were looped around her back, carrying her, but it didn't stop flames from licking down her spine. She screamed, arching her back, and a male voice swore. Des's face swam above her own, a cloud of hazy panic.

"What's wrong with her?"

"An energy surge." Cirdrissa's voice. "She's used way too much."

"Damn." Des's jaw was tight. "We need navitas."

"It's in the palace," Cirdrissa said, and her voice was crisp. Business-like. "Let's go."

Des began to move, and Alice gasped out a breath, tears pricking at her eyes. She felt like her bones were dissolving, breaking in half and then knitting themselves together again. Twin pokers were being branded into her chest. For the first time, Alice wanted to die. Here. Right now. She couldn't take it.

She was dimly aware of doors being thrown open, and then Alice was being rushed through a corridor, marble columns flashing above her head. Someone pressed a hand to her forehead, and she twisted away, whining at the shock of cold against her hot skin.

"Des," Lamir said grimly. "Her temperature is off the charts."

Someone swore colorfully.

A door slammed open. "I just got back." Bea's voice. "What's going on?" She broke off, sucking in a sharp breath. "Holy Sage. Is that blood coming from her eyes? Des, I've never seen anything like—"

"Bea?"

"Yes?"

"Shut-up," Des snapped, and the girl fell obligingly silent.

A door was smashed open, and there was the sound of glass shattering as someone swept glass phials off of a table. And then Alice was being lowered down with enough force to make her teeth rattle. She wanted to scream, but the oxygen in her lungs felt thin and reedy. Her tongue had turned into tissue paper.

"Lamir." Des's voice was tight. "The navitas, please."

A green phial was pressed into his hands. Alice's mouth was forced open, and she twisted away instinctively, thrashing against the hands on her face. A burning liquid was tipped down her throat, and it blazed a path through her chest, turning her insides to fire. Someone shrieked. She thought it might be her.

"It's not working." Des. He sounded angry. "Why isn't it working?"

"She's too far gone," Cirdrissa whispered. "The navitas isn't enough to replenish her energy." She sounded scared. "The prophecy was right."

There was a silence. Alice thought it lasted an eternity. Her spine was pushing outwards, and for a terrible moment, she thought that it might explode through her back. She couldn't breathe. A cloying, metallic taste filled her mouth, and she realized that she was choking on her own blood and sweat. A low whimper escaped her.

Des cursed colorfully.

"Screw it," he growled.

Alice flinched as her body was jostled, and it took her a second to realize that Des was the one moving her, scooping her up into his arms. He took out a sharp knife, slitting the skin three inches above his wrist. Cirdrissa sucked in a sharp breath.

"Des." She sounded horrified. "What are you—?"

"She needs energy," Des growled.

"Not like that."

"Do you have any other ideas?" he shot back, and Cirdrissa was silent. "I didn't think so." Calloused fingers gripped her chin. Des tried to direct her mouth toward the open wound, and she twisted away. "Come on, Alice," he muttered. "Take the damn energy."