Dead of Winter Read Free

“Did you send me a vision of my mother? Or did I dream?”
    Over his shoulder, he said, “Our enemies laugh. Smite and mad. Fall and struck.”
    That was his answer? Sometimes I wanted to grab him and shake him.
    â€œWe’re here.” Along the back wall stood a three-story structure, clad in metal sheeting. Matthew climbed a ladder to the top.
    I followed, leaving the wolf to prowl below. At every rung, I wheezed and winced. “Can we . . . please talk about . . . a rescue for Jack?”
    At the top level, Matthew tilted up a license plate, revealing a small slot. “Empress.” He motioned for me to peer out.
    â€œOkay, what am I looking at? Oh, wow.” We were high up on ablustery vantage with a sheer drop-off. A river that looked as broad as the Mississippi coursed below. An amazing sight. Before the rains, there’d been no bodies of water like this.
    â€œThe placement of this fort is genius.” That minefield moat bordered three sides of the wall, while this steep bluff and river protected the fourth.
    â€œJack,” he said simply. “Fort Arcana grew from you. The mission . . .”
    When he couldn’t find me at Death’s, Jack had targeted the Lovers for me—and for him. He’d had his own vendetta against the Milovnícis.
    I gazed across the water at an opposing bluff. Fires dotted the area. Tents stretched for what seemed like miles. A few rock ridges jutted upward, offering protection from attack.
    â€œIs that the Army of the Southeast?” It was huge. I tried to imagine where Jack was being kept. To be this close to him . . .
    â€œHalf of the Azey. Azey South. Azey North’s not too far away.”
    Which meant Violet wasn’t too far away either. How to get to Jack before she did? “I don’t suppose this wind ever dies down?” I could launch spores from here, putting all the soldiers to sleep. Then I’d take a boat across, stroll into their camp, and drag Jack out.
    â€œThe winds go all night. Which is all day.”
    There went that idea—
    Shots erupted from across the river, lots of them at one time. My stomach dropped as the sounds echoed over the water. I whirled around to Matthew. “Not him?”
    â€œNo. Daily execution.” How the Milovnícis kept the rank and file in line.
    I sagged with such relief, I almost felt guilty. Then I wondered how those shots had affected Jack.
    â€œHe believes no help is coming,” Matthew whispered. “Knows he can’t escape. Thinks his friends are dead.”
    The idea of Jack alone, with no hope, gutted me. “Is he . . . is he scared?”
    â€œCertain he’ll die. Surprised by how un frightened he is.”
    â€œYou can tell? You always had trouble reading him.”
    Nod. “Three months’ practice.”
    â€œBut you can’t read his future?”
    Matthew’s brows drew together. “Never wanted this to happen.”
    â€œCan you tell him we’re coming for him?”
    Without a word, Matthew crossed to the ladder and climbed down. I clumsily followed. Back on the ground, he said, “Your alliance is injured.”
    Did he mean that my allies were benched, or that my alliance was shaky? “Are you taking me to Finn and Selena?” I hadn’t seen them in months.
    â€œAcross the courtyard to the barracks.” Matthew started away again, heading in a different direction, balancing on the boards.
    With Cyclops at my side, I tromped along the mud-caked planks through a central area, like a quad ( courtyard might be a stretch).
    When Matthew stopped in front of a tent, I bade the wolf stay outside. He snuffled indignantly, plunking down in the mud.
    Taking a deep breath, I tugged down my poncho hood and entered, Matthew behind me.
    Selena and Finn lay on cots. The Archer’s arm was in a sling—her bow arm. An arrow stretched over her lap, and she