He was fearless. He’d jumped off a building the day after his shadows awakened because he wanted to see if they’d save him.
Nothing terrified Rafe…except for fire.
After the fire that ended our military careers, Rafe could hardly be near candles, let alone a fireplace. He’d even had a fake one installed in his bedroom in Skye’s dorm and only kept it on with unnatural colors to trick his brain.
The shadows were flickering in and out in time with Rafe’s ragged breathing, unable to react the way we needed.
“Can’t you fucking help?” I snapped at one shadow that seemed to be hiding behind me.
It disappeared.
I growled in frustration.
Wyatt, a sweet voice called out to me.
My heart rate spiked.
Skye, stay away. I’m getting us out.
I couldn’t focus on keeping more than just Rafe and I safe. I ran my hand across the stone, and my affinity vibrated down my arms.
I could move this. I could move the stone if I could focus–
I don’t know where I am. Crusader is here. He knows who I am.
Oh, my God.
This was what he’d wanted. He’d managed to separate Rafe and I from Skye and Aiden, and…I didn’t know where Aiden was, but if Skye was calling out tomeof all people for help, something must’ve happened to him. I could faintly feel Skye’s anxiety, but even that was too weak to pinpoint.
Rafe gasped from next to me.
“She needs us,” he croaked, then sucked in a sharp breath as the smell of smoke wafted toward us.
Fuck.
It was now or never.
I turned around, facing the wall completely. I placed both my hands on the stone and tried to center myself.
I let my stress fade away.
Rafe’s fear.
Skye’s safety.
Aiden…in general.
Willow’s disappointment.
Mia’s disdain.
The ground began to rumble, and then the rock in front of me began to crunch.
“Fuck,” Rafe said breathlessly. He gripped my calf, breathing heavily as he put his own hand to the stone, summoning whatever shadow he could manage.
With the both of us working together, the stone began to separate, shifting and twisting to make an opening big enough for us to fit through.
The moment the ground stopped rumbling, the smoke thickened.Rafe coughed, then whimpered, and I shoved him as hard as I could through the opening.
