Valkyrie's Sacrifice (Academy of Immortals 3)

Agis is still going strong, his rage unrelenting. I have to assume that under all the anger he’s hurting—caught in this cycle of desperation. I know that deep down, Agis can be gentle. He revealed that side to me when he came to me as my winged lover. But now…

“I don’t know how to get to him,” I say.

“Maybe it’s like Armin in the arena,” Marshal replies. “We go in, get the ring on his finger, and snap him out of it.”

Rupert gazes out at the battle in the center of the eye. “That seems easier said than done.”

“There’s six of us,” Marshal says, ever confident. “And we have a sure-fire weapon—his mate.”

Rupert raises his eyebrow, like he’s considering the idea, while Armin crosses his massive arms over his chest and says, “I don’t like it.”

“It may be our only choice,” Rupert says. “Maybe she can distract him long enough to get the ring on his finger.”

“So what? You just want to use me as bait or something?”

“You said it, not us,” Marshal says, planting a kiss on my cheek. “We’ll go in the other boat and get close enough to him to make our attack.”

There doesn’t seem to be any other option and Agis definitely doesn’t look like he’s going to slow down any time soon. I do notice that even in the eye of the hurricane the sun has shifted, which means that even if the storm itself doesn’t move, night and day still pass. Going after Agis in the dark seems like a bad idea, so now is our best opportunity.

Marshal opens his armory for us to gather weapons. I check my dagger and take a pair of cuffs. If I get close enough to Agis, I can snap them around his wrists and slide the ring on his finger. All of this is more complicated because he can fly.

“If I have to, I’ll toss this over his wings,” Rupert says, reading my mind. He holds up a finely woven net, most likely used for fishing, and pulls at the rope. “It should hold, for a few minutes at least.”

I turn and see Armin and Marshal loaded down with weapons, and Luke securing blades to his wrists. He struggles to get one tight and I walk over, taking his muscular forearm in mine. “Let me get it.”

I pull the leather strap tight, cinching it around his wrist. He grunts and flicks his blue eyes to mine. “Are you sure about this?”

“No,” I reply, “but he needs me, and I need him. This is what we do for one another. We fight until there’s no fight left. We’ve done it for decades, centuries apart. This time, we do it together.”

“You seem so sure.”

About saving Agis? I’m not, but I don’t tell him that. “I believe in our bonds, I believe in what we’re fighting for, and I know the Guardians believe in us.” I push the end of the strap through the buckle. “What do you believe in, Luke?”

He frowns, deep lines marring his perfect face. There’s an answer on his tongue but he swallows it and nods over my shoulder. “They’re ready.”

I wonder for the briefest moment if he’s going to betray us—that this is a long con in association with his father. There’s no way to know other than to just have faith. If he betrays us, we’ll kill him and lay his body at the feet of his father before we end him, too.

As if the anchor has been lifted, the smaller boat surges forward, like it’s being reeled in by an invisible force. The plan came together quickly, probably too quickly, but only the gods know how much time we truly have. Watching Agis fight like this is exhausting. Can his body continue at this rate? What happens to him once we remove him from the circle?

While the others make a show of force on the boat’s deck, I huddle out of sight. The plan is for me to get to the tower. See what he’s protecting so fiercely and do whatever I can to get the ring on his finger.

Armin had planned to make the first move, trying to get the upper hand, but from the furious roar that bounces off the water, it’s clear we’re now in Agis’ sights. My allies quickly move into position, while I wait until he’s fully occupied. A loud cry and the clatter of metal on the deck gains my attention. I look out from my hiding spot and see Marshal flat on his back. “Mother fuck—” he curses, quickly getting back to his feet. I gape but he winks in my direction. “Any time now, love.”

I steady my resolve and jump up, holding my dagger in my hand. The ring is secure on my finger and I rush to the side of the boat. My allies are both at the bow and on the ground, attacking Agis from all sides. Armin uses his gift, tossing aside massive boulders with the flick of a hand. One crashes into Agis’ side. I see the regret on Armin’s face—he doesn’t like going after one of his own—but that doesn’t stop him from giving it his all. He lifts another rock, but this time Agis is ready, swinging his Reaper’s scythe. The boulder-sized rock shatters into a million pieces, raining down on his enemies. Rupert jumps back, barely getting out of his way. The explosion is the distraction I need, and at the edge of the boat, I sling my leg over, and hang by two hands. I look down and see the shallow water. With my eyes closed, I jump and land with a splash.

I move quickly, unsure of what demons live beneath the surface, and slosh to the shore. Agis is completely occupied, and I run to the tower, placing my hand on the cool stone. I run in a circle, looking for the entrance. There is none. I look up, the only way in is at the top. How the hell am I going to get up there?

I run my hands over the surface, looking for juts or indentations for me to use for leverage. There aren’t any. Whoever designed this tower didn’t want anyone to get inside—or rather, for whoever was locked up there to get out. I’m about to give up, when the sound of fluttering comes from behind me. I spin, dagger raised.

“Don’t!” Elizabeth whisper yells, her hands up. “I saw you were stuck. I can get you up there.”

Wings on her back unfurl, a shiny purplish blue. They’re a far cry from the wicked wings jutting from Agis’ back, but they seem sturdy. A shimmer of magic gleams off the wings. “I can carry you up.”

I don’t get the chance to agree before she flings her arms around me. A heartbeat later we’re in the air, wings pushing us upward. I glance down and see our allies in the throes of battle, but Rupert pauses, glancing upward. That allows Agis to get in a hard blow, knocking him back to the water. The prince is stunned and before he gains his senses, black tentacles slither from the water, threatening to drag him back down.

“Rupert!” I shout in warning, but Elizabeth clamps a hand over my mouth.

“He’ll kill us if he sees us,” she whispers. We land on the balcony, and I exhale in relief with something solid under my feet—also because Luke has spotted Rupert’s struggling. From high above, we watch the Nephilim charge toward the water. His sword is out, and he chops at long arms of a demon deep under water. As soon as I see Rupert is okay, Elizabeth drags us into an opening that leads into the tower.