Alar’s fingers closed over hers, successfully bringing her left hand back into a fist.
A deep silence settled.
Lara opened her eyes.
The fire pit smoldered nearby. The sky was clear. Around her, strained faces smeared with ash and soot stared back at her. Disappointment soured Lara’s mouth. The Slew had nearlybested them, and not just because her fire magic had almost failed her.
“You didn’t work together,” she rasped, her throat raw. Even now, the Shee and Marav stood apart as if an invisible fence divided them. “At this rate, we’ll neverreachThe Shattered Crown … let alone carry out our task.”
Discomfort rippled across their faces. Aye, they knew.
Something sharp and cold settled in the pit of her belly then. She’d never lost control like that before. When she’d tried to find that calm, still loch, her mind had refused to cooperate. She wasn’t just losing time or blanking during conversations. No, it was worse than that. She was slowly unraveling and powerless to stop it.
Lara’s gaze met Alar’s. The ends of his hair smoked, and an angry burn marked his left shoulder, but he paid none of that any mind. Instead, he gently released her hand. A half-smile tugged at his lips, and when he spoke, his voice was rough with relief. “You did it.”
“I did,” she whispered.
The world started to spin then. Suddenly, she couldn’t hear or see. Darkness rushed in, her knees gave way, and she toppled forward into the abyss.
Stepping forward, Alar caught Lara in his arms. Her head fell back, her lips parting. Alarm punched into him, and he ground out a curse. Twisting, he carried her to the fireside and laid her down. Reaching out, he felt for her pulse upon her neck. Sweat slicked her hot skin.
Her heartbeat fluttered against his fingers then, and he let out a shuddering sigh before sitting back on his heels.
The others had gathered close. They were all watching him. “She’s alive,” he assured them.
“She needs water.” Bree retrieved a waterskin and moved close, kneeling next to them. Lifting Lara’s head, she carefully let water trickle into her mouth. The High Queen swallowed before a moan escaped her.
Alar studied her flushed cheeks and flickering eyelids. That had been too close. The fire had almost consumed her. He’d sensed its power as he held onto her wrist and hand. Her skin had scalded his, yet he hadn’t let go. His palms were blistered in the aftermath. The skin now stung and throbbed.
He lifted his gaze then, taking in his companions’ faces. “She’s right,” he said curtly. He wasn’t blind; he’d marked how neither Shee nor Marav had moved to help each other. Or him. “We should have united tonight … but we didn’t.”
They’d fought together against the Circines, forming a circle in that glade. But that fight had been different. They’d clashed with men and women. Flesh and blood. “That’s the second time Lara has saved all our sorry hides,” he added.
No one answered, and the anger smoldering under his breastbone flared hot. “Do you disgust each other so much?”
Faces grew taut at this challenge. Cailean and Roth exchanged looks. The druids averted their gazes, while Eithne and Duana clung together, faces ashen. Only Bree met Alar’s gaze. She alone knew what it was to be torn between two worlds, and yet she hadn’t cooperated with their allies either. Meanwhile, the Shee bristled.
“It wasn’t deliberate,” Vyr said stiffly. “It’s just … instinctual … to protect our own.”
Tension rippled around the fireside. Meanwhile, Lara groaned.
“If I had my way, Shee and Marav alike would burn,” Alar said finally, even as ire pulsed in his chest. “You’re not worth saving.”Ashes.He missed the wulvers. Right now, he wanted to turn his back on these people. When the darkness came, let it take them.
“I share your anger, Alar.” His gaze cut to Mor, surprise rippling through him. Even sweaty, singed, and coated in ash and soot, she stood proud. Her face was all sharp angles, and her black eyes burned. She hadn’t yet sheathed her sword. Firelight glinted off its thin folded steel blade. “That was a near disaster,” she said as she surveyed her Ravens. They bowed their heads under her wrath. “If we don’t start working together, we’ll not last the distance.”
When Lara’s eyes flickered open, the first thing she saw was Alar.
Groaning, she shut her eyes once more.
“Lara?”
She made a sound in the back of her throat.
“Are you thirsty?”
She swallowed. Her throat was parched. Her mouth was sticky with a bitter taste. “Aye,” she whispered.
“Here.”
