I nodded, becoming more unsure of my decision.
But before I could say anything, I heard a scream. A chilling, terrified, pained sound. I turned toward the field, still full of hundreds of Lumerians trying to escape.
My stomach dropped. Aemon was walking across the center of the arena, and behind him were two dozen akadim. Another dozen were already in the stands, attacking whoever was near.
Rhyan’s eyes widened. I could see the moment he realized what he was looking at, the shock in his face, his mouth falling open. I didn’t know what was going on, or how they’d come to be. These akadim were smaller, just like the ones that had been with Morgana. They were just as fierce as the others we’d faced, just as fast, just as strong. And there were too many. Lumerians were being cut down left and right.
“It’s day,” Rhyan said, blinking rapidly like maybe what he was seeing was a result of his injuries.
I nodded. “They’re different. They’re evolving.”
And if anything, they were more violent, more calculated. I could see it in their movements. They coordinated, plotted, and attacked together, capturing one person and handing them off to another.
I refocused on the protection spell, until I remembered.
Akadim were impervious to magic. And Rhyan had none. We had to get out of there.
But the only exit from the row we were in was full of people, all jammed together. And I was starting to lose my energy, my magic was burning through me. I couldn’t carryRhyan, and keep the dome enforced, and fight at the same time.
“Put me down,” he croaked.
And since we couldn’t move yet, I did.
He leaned his head back against the wall, his entire body drenched with sweat. His breathing was rapid, but his chest barely rose and fell with each gasp. I pushed his hair off his forehead.
“You can’t stay with me,” he said, his eyes now on the field. On Aemon. On the akadim. “Fight.”
“I’m not leaving you,” I cried.
“Lyr, you need to. It’s okay. I’ll find you, I swear. In the next life.”
“Rhyan. I’m only going to say this one more time. So you fucking listen to me, because I am in charge. And you promised to follow the chain of command.” I pressed my forehead to his. “Rhyan My Godsdamned Hart. You’re not dying.” I gripped his cheeks in my hands, and I could feel the warmth in my chest again, feel it start to spread. “Don’t you dare give up! Swear! Swear to me right now that you’ll live!”
“I can’t,” he said, his voice cutting through the screams behind me. “I’m at your command. Always. But I can’t … break an oath. Not to you.”
“Then don’t break this one.”
“Lyr.Mekara.” He shook his head.“Even you can’t heal me now.”
“Anything is possible,”I cried. “Just hold on. You’re alive.Rakame.Your soul is mine. You’re my soulmate. Mine in every way, and I do not release you.”
“How?” he asked suddenly. “How did you do this? Get here? It didn’t seem … possible.” He coughed.
“Rakashonim,” I said.
“Lyr.” He shook his head. “No.”
But then our row started to clear.
I swallowed and prepared to pick up Rhyan again. “We’re leaving.”
But just as I grabbed his waist, his eyes widened, and something like clarity came over him. “They’ll all turn. Like Garrett. It won’t end. They can come out in the day. They’re loyal to Moriel. We’ll be overrun. Innocent people … they’ll die. I couldn’t save him.”
“Garrett?” I asked.
He nodded. “I’m too weak to fight. But if I do this … I can make it right this time. Not just for Garrett. But for Haleika. Leander. I know it haunts you, too. You can stop it. And I … I can save you.”
An akadim growled, and started down the row coming for us.
