Valkyrie's Sacrifice (Academy of Immortals 3)

“Oh my gods,” she declares, wings shrinking away. I look past her to the large bed. A figure sleeps as the battle rages outside. Elizabeth and I both slowly walk over. We need to confirm who Agis is protecting, but the horror on the fairy’s face says what my gut feels.

Sure enough.

It’s me.

Well, some Hell-contrived version of me. The Hildi in the bed looks like I did after the arena—back at Miya’s garden—stomach full of teeth marks and healing. I wasn’t sure what to expect, not after our fight that day. I’d sent him away after learning that he’d known for months I was his mate. He’d fought me, lied to me, denied me over and over, while secretly coming to me at night, glamour masking his face, making love to me in a way that brought me peace and balance.

Now in this realm, I’m his prized possession.

“What do we do?” Elizabeth asks. “If all of this is to protect you...”

“It’s like Armin. We have to break the spell. I have to get the ring on his finger.”

“But—" she starts, but the words catch her throat. The light is extinguished from the room and I glance back. A shiver runs down my spine as I see that the God of Death has arrived, scythe in his hand. The expression of fury on his handsome, brutal face chills me to the bone.

“Agis,” I start. He growls in reply, eyes glazed as though they’re covered in a film. His mind and body are locked in this world—I know that. I’ve seen it time and time again with the other Immortals. None are as stubborn or angry as him.

“Look at me,” I say, trying to coax him away from the window. I nod at Elizabeth, needing her to get into a better position. “I’m the Hildi you’re bonded to. I’m your mate.”

His eyes narrow and he spins the scythe in his hands. The blade, once shiny, is coated in blood. “The Devil sent you, didn’t he?” he asks, his voice clear and strong.

“No, Agis, you’re already in Hell. This is the fifth circle and you’re completely caught up in it.” I nod to the bed. “That person, she isn’t me. I’m me. I’m here. I want to take you home.”

I try to hide the tremor in my hand as I offer it to him, hoping that maybe if he feels my touch, if he’s close to me, maybe he’ll snap out of it. The warrior stares at my hand, his jaw tight with tension.

“Please?” I lift my hand.

His forehead furrows and his

shoulder seem to relax, the blade lowering to the ground. I exhale and keep my eyes pinned to his. Maybe he’s not so lost after all.

Tentatively he reaches forward, his hand grimy with death. I swallow my fear, thinking we’re close, so close, when something behind his eyes shutters, and he grips my arm, slamming me against his chest.

“The Valkyrie never says please. She’d never beg. She’s stronger and smarter than the pathetic illusion in front of me.” With his mighty strength, he lifts me, tossing me into the air. I land on the floor, my back cracking against the hard, stone surface. He lunges for me to finish the job, but his body stops suddenly. I can barely move, my entire body shaken from the fall, but I see the shiver of magic around his ankles and wrists, Fae magic. Elizabeth stands behind him, her face contorted in concentration.

I struggle to my feet, easing the ring off my finger. We’ve got one shot, one, because I don’t see how we’ll get another. I grab his hand and fight against his clenched fingers, sliding the ring on. I step back, looking for the relief, for the dark magic of this place to dissolve, but his face pinches with rage and in a furious motion, he snaps the binds at his wrists, then feet. He reaches for the ring, pulls it off his hand and crushes it between his fingertips, tossing it out the window.

“No!” I cry, running futilely toward the window. I don’t make it there before two hands grab me by the waist and fling me toward the sky. I scream, fighting until I realize that Elizabeth is soaring across the sky, carrying me back toward the boat. A shadow crosses over us, and I look up, seeing Agis’ dark wings blotting out the sun.

“Hold on,” Elizabeth says as we land hard and fast on the deck, our bodies toppling over one another. My crash is stopped only by hitting the side of the boat, my head slamming against the wood.

“Gooooooo!” a voice cuts through the air, Luke? Marshal? I’m too woozy to determine. The battle rages on the deck, my allies fighting, but it’s obvious their energy is fast waning. I’m seconds away from admitting defeat, demanding that that boat captain turn the vessel around and head back to safer water, when a gust of cold air blows across the calm waters and in the distance, I hear a sound I never wanted to hear again.

The howl cuts to the bone, chilling me in a way I didn’t know was possible. Everyone on the deck stands still, eyes focused on the sky. Even Agis pauses, his head tilted.

It starts as a speck, the wings getting closer and closer. The wind grows colder, and I look down and see the water has turned an inky black. Another howl rips through the sky, night falling quickly, and I know what’s coming. Who is coming? Is it just one? Or more?

Agis turns and faces the monster, six eyes, sharp teeth, skin tearing claws. The God of Death grins, his scythe raised, and he shoots straight up in the air. Agis and the monster clash above us.

“Go,” I whisper to no one—anyone. “Get us out of here.”

Marshal glances back, blood dripping down his face. He shouts at the captain, “Retreat!”

The engine roars, and the boat swings wildly to one side, water crashing over the side. Overhead, Agis and the monster continue to fight, which gives us a chance to escape. At best we need to regroup. At worst we’re totally fucked.

As the boat sails back to safe water, we all keep an eye on the fight above. The monster seems to be a viable foe, not something we want. We need Agis back in one piece. The God of Death seems to understand this and escapes from the monster, flying back to the tower. A moment later he vanishes inside. The monster swoops through the air, circling the structure, until it flaps its mighty wings and sails in our direction.

“Shit, shit, shit,” Luke mutters, blades ready. Armin and Rupert get into position. Marshal grips his sword. Elizabet and I stand. If Agis can’t take one of these beasts, then there’s no way we can. Not with our injuries. Not ever.