The slightly hysterical thought appears and vanishes within a moment. Focusing, I fight to keep my hands straight.If you can help, now would be an excellent time. Can you help me reach him?
I try to tuck my body in, to move faster, but the distance between us does not change.
He’s just a boy, I whisper to the maegis. But it doesn’t move.He should not have to face this alone.
Nothing. The gap between Leo and I seems to get wider.
Grief threatens to close my throat. “Please!”
Damn them. Breath shuddering, I push the maegis back, and concentrate.
Wings.
Wings, wings, wings—
They unfurl at my back, my muscles already screaming at the strange movements, and I slow, the air catching beneath them and slowing my descent as they beat in heavy movement at my shoulders. Wafts of air brush my cheek with every dull thump.
Elation and frustration war in my chest. I need to getcloser—
The shadows burst from my hands. They do not slow, or falter, or curl around me.
Theyshoot, straight and true as if directed by feathered fletching and iron point, straight down to where Leo tumbles, mercifully unconscious.
Careful—
They wrap around him, slowing him. My breath becomes trapped in my chest, ragged and raw.
Come back. Bring him back. Gently.
They start rolling, slowly, back toward my waiting arms as if guided. Leo comes with them, his small body carefully carried until he gets close enough for me to cradle him close. The shadows wait, lingering, holding him in place until I settle him against me. My wings tremble with the weight, but I keep moving them.Thank you.
They don’t vanish. They hover in the air, as if waiting. I shift Leo. His head buries against my neck, my hand cupping the back of his head. Motionless.
Perhaps it’s a blessing, if he sleeps through this.
Because my wings will not lift us.
Tears slide down my cheeks as I pump my wings with every bit of strength I have, caught in mid-air in the center of this void with Leo tucked against me, desperately trying to raise us and unable to move.
I did not get so close to fail now.
I refuse.
But ithurts. A cry peels from my lips, agony lancing down my back, across my shoulders, as I force them to keep going.
The dullthump, thump, thumpfalters.
And grows faster.
But nothing changes. Or… I can’t tell. Not with the darkness. Everything looks the damned same. Maybe our combined weight is pulling us down instead of up.
Gripping Leo tightly, I breathe him in and try not to panic. I think of Merrick’s face. And of someone else.
The battle is not won yet.
I hold onto those words. I can still win this.
So I keep going. The shadows move with me, hovering around us as my wings beat, thump by painful thump. They brush against my cheek, helping me feel a little less alone. And all the while, Leo sleeps, his head nestled into my neck.
