There’s a breathless surge of Etherlight the moment the lines merge. My body glows a hazy gold that flickers weakly againstthe thick, crimson scourge.
“Isola! You can’t turn yourself into a human sigil, that’s—”
“The best chance we’ve got,” I grunt between breaths, pinning him with a glare. We’re so close in this tiny chute. Close enough that I can feel his panicked breathing. “The armor sigil will keep us safe in here—it’ll block more scourge from coming in. The other one draws Etherlight from the Font. I’m going to use it to balance the Ether of the room, to put Etherlight and Ethershade in balance and, hopefully, clear the scourge.”
“You should’ve let me do this.” He reaches up. His fingertips graze my cheek, warm and callused.
“Too late for that.” I give him a wild grin. I think it’s an expression Saipha would wear—far braver than I feel.
“The scourge eats Etherlight, no? Won’t this just draw it to you faster?”
“The scourge is a product of imbalance. That’s the secret, Lucan. Too much Ethershade is bad, and so is too much Etherlight—but the Creed doesn’t want to admit that part,” I say softly, as if someone is listening through the door. “But if you put them back in balance, you have harmony. You have Ether, justEther, as it was meant to be. I’m betting that I can draw enough Etherlight to neutralize what’s in the room.”
His fingertips have yet to leave my jaw. “Will it be enough without killing you, though?”
“I’m bettingI’mstrong enough.” The words are little more than a whisper.
When I was a small child, I never dreamed of going on the walls. I never wanted to play hero. I wanted to be a researcher, like Mum. I wanted to save the world, but not with valiant acts. With pen and a vellum-packed journal and a workshop.
It doesn’t matter if I’m Valor Reborn or not. As long as I draw breath, I’m going to do whatever it takes to defend my home.
“Then I’ll bet on you, too.” His hand leaves my face, and beforeI can ask what he means, a hazy yellow glow combines with the light radiating off my body. It outlines him, filling in the gaps and gilding his face.
Lucan’s eyes are locked with mine. We share a single inhale and exhale, perfectly in sync. His hands drop to my waist, and the glow envelops both of us. I still can’t tell if he sees it or not. But something in his gaze assures me he does. Like this isoursecret. Precious, dangerous, and forbidden.
I steady myself and draw through the first sigil I drew on my body—the one to pull Etherlight up from the Font.
The rush is so overwhelming that it goes straight to my head, making everything spin. Making me feel like I’m weightless. Like we’re the only two people in the world.
Even as my breathing thins, and it feels like a thousand hands are clawing at me, scraping under my skin, searching for purchase. Even as the freshly healed scars on my back throb, there’s only us.
I stay focused on the Etherlight that flows around us, between us,within us. The barrier I’ve created with Etherlight and my body with the armor sigil is enough to keep more scourge from attacking us. Thanks to the flood of Etherlight drawn from the Font, the clawing at my back lessens and the scourge in the room begins to ease.
But, as the seconds drag on, my skin begins to feel too tight. My scar is on fire. My heart flutters, shuddering.
Skip.
Skip. Skip.
I draw a shaky breath and sag, fingers pressing hard into the stone opening to keep myself upright.Not yet. I’m not done yet. He’s not safe.
“Are you all right?” Lucan’s grip tightens on me.
“I’m fine. It stings, a little. But not very much.”
“You’re such a bad liar.”
“Fine, the pain is excruciating.” My vision blurs, and my thoughts jumble.
“Stay with me, Isola,” Lucan whispers, pulling me back to consciousness. “You’re safe with me.” Those hazel eyes, illuminated by gold flecks, are all-consuming. If not for the laughably dangerous position we’re in right now, I might believe him.
“Lucan…are you really on my side?” I whisper.
“Always.” No hesitation. No change in his tone.
I don’t want to believe him…but I do. “Because the vicar told you to be?”
“Because Iwant tobe.”
