I hugged River around the neck, breathing her in. Then I crossed the clearing to where Shayde stood, facing the stone wall Arrow had selected for the chasm. He and Orion had led us deep into the Golden Crest and up narrow trails to a secluded outcrop overlooking the ocean. He’d insisted only the twins come—both pairs—and River, who wouldn’t have stayed behind even if ordered.
I lowered to the ground beside Shayde, and we began painting the rune shapes. Arrow told us the mixture had to be exact. The runes would illuminate once powered, then vanish until it was time to return.
We worked in silence. The shapes curled up the wall until they reached above our heads, meeting in the center of the arched design. Once finished, we stepped back. The only sound was the distant crash of waves below.
I closed my eyes, ready to channel—when Scarlet’s voice stopped me.
“Wait.”
Her boots scuffed over the rock until she was at Shayde’s side. I glanced over to see her place a hand gently on his shoulder. She looked up at him.
“Bring her back. Please.” Her voice sounded broken as she addressed the man who’d delivered her to the enemy just months ago.
Shayde said nothing, but held out his pinky instead. Scar’s eyes glossed at the gesture; her gaze flicked between his pinky and his face.
She wrapped her pointer finger around it. “And yourself,” she whispered.
His pinky tightened around hers. “I can’t promise that.”
Scarlet’s eyes dimmed. She let go and stepped back, her crimson gaze finding mine. She stopped beside Rhodes, folding her hands behind her back as he draped an arm over her shoulders. Shayde glanced briefly at his brother, but I was already turning to face my father and River one last time.
Inhaling deeply, I closed my eyes. Holding my palms to the sky, I channeled earth and water. Power stirred at my fingertips—dust in one hand, droplets in the other—and I released them slowly toward the rune-marked wall. They drifted into the painted shapes like offerings.
I pictured the closest spot to Tyria where I’d set foot—somewhere I’d reached on a recent mission for the Hollow. Less than a day’s travel to the northern wall of the Barrens, hidden within jagged cliffs and a maze of secret tunnels.
As I set my mind there, light burned behind my eyelids. The painted runes flared, bordering a purple swirl of light that hadn’t been there before. Unease churned at the unpredictable magic in front of me.
Could I trust my father’s word? How did I know this wasn’t a trap—his way to rid the world of Shayde and me in one sweep? A consequence for my disobedience?
I didn’t have time to overthink. I took my enemy’s hand, and we stepped into the unknown together.
Chapter 36
The world around me fell silent. As the chasm’s light faded, my throat constricted. My chest ached; my heart hammered against my ribs. The backs of my eyes burned, and I closed them to hold back tears.
Fallon might act like a loner, pretending she cares only for herself. Maybe we’ve carried our trauma in different ways—armor forged from pain. But deep down, I know the truth. She cares—so fiercely about those around her that she has to protect herself the only way she knows: guarding her heart against heartbreak.
By loving people at a distance.
By only allowing herself to belovedat a distance.
When I thought my time was up in that shed, Fallon was the one who broke me free. Even after I almost wasted her efforts and nearly got myself trampled, she woke me up—made me realize my life was worth saving. She left Captain Thorne’s elemental documentation for me. She burned down my cottage so I wouldn’t have anywhere else to go. She helped me hold my mental gates when truth powder was used as a weapon against me.
She made sure I kept going.
She gave me a fighting chance.
She gave me the five words that carried me through:You are meant for more. She needed to look in a mirror and see the same truth—that she was meant for more in this life.
And now… I had to trust the one who had almost destroyed me to keep her safe. Shayde had better bring her back. He had to. I didn’t care whether the mission succeeded. I didn’t care if the world burned to ash around us.
I couldn’t lose her too.
I was braiding my damp hair when someone knocked on the door of my hut. I cracked it open just enough to block the chill, only to find glowing gray-blue eyes staring back at me. Rhodes stood ready for flight—winter leathers, fur-lined cloak over his arm, the hilt of his sword peeking over his shoulder.
After pulling myself together that morning, I’d walked back to the Hollow in silence. The rest of the day blurred as we gathered orders from Arrow and prepared to leave by nightfall. Word was Tyria’s invasion of Mageia might come sooner than expected, forcing Arrow to finally grant us flight clearance to the Shadow Glade.
As if I needed his permission. But the asshole had threatened my friends.
