“We need to get everyone out. Now,” I said.
The second that one snake found its way back to Imperator Hart, he’d be here. And it would be fast. I’d seen what those nahashim could do. They could fly. They could travel, and there was no telling how close he was already. He’d most likely started tracking us the same hour we escaped.
Rhyan crossed the hall, took my hand, pulling me against him, and I was back in the room with Meera and Jules.
“We need to run,” I shouted. “Now! Get your shoes on, leave everything else behind.”
Rhyan vanished, and I checked the peephole. The remaining snakes had retreated. They’d only shown themselves to draw us out—to confirm we were here.
Several minutes passed and Rhyan returned, his face red with exertion.
“I took everyone else,” he said breathlessly, “back to the woods. We’ll hide out there, find some caves, maybe a wild ashvan or gryphon can get us further.” Then he moved toward me, his arms open, but I shook my head.
“Jules and Meera first.”
His brow furrowed, his mouth opening in protest, but he snapped it shut and reached for Jules.
“Hold on tight,” he said, and they were gone.
“Is it like last time?” Meera asked.
“Yes. One escaped, I’m positive it’s going to Rhyan’s father.”
“Shit,” Meera said.
Rhyan returned, stumbling toward the wall. He was using up so much energy and he’d barely slept in twenty-four hours.
“Take her,” I said. “I’ll run and meet you there.”
“Lyr!”
“Go! I’m just as fast.” I opened the door, tearing out of the room.
I flew down the stairs, jumping the last few steps and landed in front of a shocked Cal, and the woman I presumed to be Marisol.
“Is everyone all right?” Marisol asked.
“Imperator Hart is on his way. He knows we’re here. I’m the last one to leave. Run, if you have to. Please. Be safe!” I yelled as I raced through the door. “And, thank you!” I pumped my arms, running down the alley and across the street, dodging a soturion standing idly before a bakery. Then I made my way to the park, into the woods where Rhyan was standing next to Meera. He was still recovering his breath.
“Go!” I yelled, taking his hand in mine. “Everyone stay together. Keep running straight ahead.”
“There’s woods maybe a half mile away we can vanish into,” Rhyan said. “And draw him away from Cal and Marisol.”
“And then what?” I asked.
“West. To the human lands,” he said. “As far as we can get.”
I looked anxiously at Galen. Sleep combined with the magic of his soturion strength had worked miracles the last few hours. But he was still injured, still running too slow, like the mages.
“Partner,” Rhyan said, his voice full of emotion. In that one word, he seemed to convey a hundred things unsaid. A thousand promises of what was to come between us. An oath of strength and love, and a future of fighting together.
I pulled him against me, my lips meeting his in a quick, fierce kiss, trying to say just as much. To tell him I knew, I understood, that I loved him. I wanted him to know with one brush of my lips that we had so much ahead. And I didn’t care where we went next. As long as we went together.
I let go of his hand. “Take Jules,” I ordered, and reached for Meera. It was the only way we could make up for their lack of speed.
Rhyan’s mouth tightened, but he did as I asked, urging Jules forward.
I yelled for Galen to help Tristan, and Dario to help Aiden. If the soturi used their strength to push the mages along, we could make it. Vanish into the woods and hide. Ambush any more nahashim that came along. And fight Devon Hart.
