Nathan was the first to move.
He stepped close, cupping my face in both hands, searching my eyes like he expected to find someone else staring back. “Reverie… you just?—”
He didn’t even have words.
Jet finally found his voice, but it came out thin and unsteady. “You unmade Ubel’s magic. Have you ever heard of anyone being able to do that?”
He directed the question to Oren.
“Not in all of my studies.” He replied, still staring at me in awe.
“It didn’t hurt them,” Zeke said, staring at the fallen soldiers. “It released them.”
Torren dragged a hand through his hair, “Ubel has the ability of necromancy. I’ve fought people with that ability, though it’s rare. This wasn’t that. She didn’t control them—she freed them.”
Oren stood a few paces back, lightning flickered across his knuckles, like he didn’t trust the air around us anymore. His voice was quiet, but dangerous. “We need to move. Ubel didn’t leave because he was afraid. He left because he’s calling for reinforcements.”
Torren nodded hard. “There’s another portal, older and unmarked. But the Dark Faction has probably begun searching for it. After this…” He waved a hand at the bodies. “…they’ll come in force.”
Nathan pressed his forehead against mine, just for a moment. “We’re not losing you. Not after all this. We move now.”
Pantar rumbled at my side, tail flicking, ears forward. Even he felt the pressure in the air—like the forest itself was waiting to swallow us.
Zane stepped forward, voice low. “Precious girl… what did you feel when you did it?”
I swallowed. “Their fear. Their pain. They didn’t want to be trapped inside their bodies anymore.”
Zeke’s breath stuttered. “That’s not an Aurathion gift.”
“It is now,” Oren said fiercely. “And we protect her until she figures out why.”
Torren looked at me with something that wasn’t fear—something that was a mix between guilt and reverence. “Whatever you woke up… Ubel won’t stop. Trent won’t stop. And Selene will tear the world apart to get her hands on you.”
Jet’s jaw flexed. “Then we don’t give them the chance.”
“We’ll try the portal first, but if it’s being monitored, our only chance may be the resistance," Torren mumbled to himself.
A cold wind rushed through the trees—like Aurathia herself agreed.
Oren’s jaw clenched. “Portal. Now. We’ll discuss that if and when it might become necessary.”
No hesitation.
No argument.
They didn’t understand what I was turning into. Hell, I didn’t either. But they closed ranks around me like a shield, weapons raised, powers humming, senses stretched to the limit.
We were running again—fornow.
I lifted my chin in determination. I was going to learn how to use these new abilities. These men and our friends were worth everything I had to do from this point forward.
The portal was our only chance…
…and Ubel would be back with more than corpses.
I had a feeling Selene would be with him, and that was someone I would like to avoid at all costs. But if they backed me into a corner this time, it might be them running.
Chapter 24
