I saw him fighting in my mind, surviving each time, escaping, winning.
And now, I was supposed to believe his strength had suddenly failed? That he was locked up?
If they actually went through with it, he’d lose all his power, all his magic. And he would … he would die. In the worst, most painful way imaginable.
I still remembered Kunda Lith, the examiner from Lethea—the way he’d explained magic when I was terrified and half-naked in my cell. The way he’d explained stripping still haunted me.
Magic exists in physical form within the body. Inside your muscles and bones. It’s why you feel like crawling out of your skin when you’re bound, why stripping almost always kills. The magic must be extracted from every inch of the flesh, and the process—painful, yes—causes organs to shift from each other. I am close to finding a method that will allow the Lumerian to live, though I can’t yet deny the pain.
“Lyr? Lyr?” Someone was calling my name. But I didn’t recognize the voice. It sounded far away and distant. Then they called me again, their voice louder.
I whirled on my heels, turning toward Tristan and reaching out a hand, wrapping it around his neck.
“Lyr!” he yelled. “It’s me. It’s Tristan!”
I released my hand, and he reached for his neck, coughing.
“Lyr, you’re scaring me. You’re scaring everyone,” he said.
I looked down. My hands were shaking, my entire body was shaking. I tried to still, but I couldn’t.
Jules stood up, and walked over to me. She placed one hand on my shoulder.
At once, my heart began to warm, to glow. The light of the Valalumir lighting up, heating from her touch. But this time, it didn’t hurt. I was too cold, too far gone to feel the pain. I realized in that moment the idea of losing Rhyan hurt farmore than any fire or flame ever could. I was dimly aware of the pain, of the sensations I felt when Kane had ignited the red light inside me. It would never hurt me again. Nothing would. Not like this.
I looked into Jules’s eyes, and said softly. “He was right about you. You’re Hava.”
She frowned. “Lyr? What are you talking about?”
“Meera will explain. It’s related to what she did with the snakes.” I swallowed. “Is it happening now? Where is he?”
Jules took a deep breath. “I was trained to see clear visions of what will pass. But my timing,” she shook her head. “It’s not always accurate.”
“So there’s a chance it hasn’t happened yet. That it could be stopped?” I asked.
Jules nodded.
“Lyr,” Meera said. “What are you going to do?”
“I’m going to go get him,” I said.
Dario stepped forward. “You’re farther than Lethea. You can’t just go get him in the capital.”
But I could. I could. I felt the light still inside me. And I touched Asherah’s chest plate, felt her blood—my blood—running through my veins. My connection to my power, my ancient Goddess self. I didn’t care what Mercurial or Imperator Hart said about my strength. I was doing this. I may have pretended I was weak in the arena, but I’d been training my ass off with Rhyan. And I’d been practicing my magic in my mind.
“Yes I can,” I said, my voice cold and hardened.
“Lyr, wait,” Tristan said. “We need a plan. Decide who should go with you.”
“No one is coming with me.” I yelled. I held up my hand before he could protest. “Galen is wanted for murder. Tristan, you yourself aided his escape. Jules is an escaped chayatim. And now Imperator Hart knows that Dario and Aiden have betrayed him. Meera is too big ofa pawn in all of this. It’s impossible. Not one of you can return to the capital.”
“And you will?” Dario asked. “You’re guilty of everything you just said, not to mention wanted as a bride by both Emperor and Imperator. Your face is too known, and so is your hair. It’s a dead giveaway this far south.”
“They’ll have to catch me first.”
Dario nodded, and cracked his knuckles. “Well then, it’s decided. Let’s go. I’m coming with you. I’m your bodyguard.”
“No,” I said. “Once I get Rhyan, and free him, he’ll travel with me away from the Palace. He can only handle one person at a time. I can move faster if I’m alone. If you’re there, you risk your life and slow us down. I’m not the the one who needs protection now. Everyone else I care about and love is in this room. And I know Rhyan feels the same.” Though there was one notable exception for me. One sister I could not reach. But there was nothing I could do about that now.
