Tate twitched in unhappiness. He was supposed to be taking advantage of her distraction to edge closer to safety. Not drawing more attention to himself.
The air stirred as Ryu drew closer to her. Another one who wasn’t following instructions.
Tate gritted her teeth, a feeling close to despair filling her.
A light touch on her back shook her from her thoughts. Rath’s voice spoke in her mind.We will not leave you behind even for our own safety. We go together. You would be the same.
Ryu’s finger etched out two words on Tate’s back.Trust us.
A memory of another time when she’d stood in a similar situation with no clear outcome flashed before her eyes. Only that time the people she’d called friends had left her behind without a second thought.
She hadn’t blamed them, then or now. They’d done exactly as she instructed. Nor could she deny the warmth lodged in her chest from Ryu and Dewdrop’s actions.
Tate’s shoulders trembled before she suppressed the emotions that threatened to shake her. Wordlessly, she jerked her chin down in a nod.
Nathan bared his teeth in a ruthless smile. “I guess you could say that.”
Tate’s expression tightened.
Before she could say anything, Nathan flicked a look at Ai. “I’m tired of this. Dispose of them.”
Tyne closed the distance in a swift lunge, swinging his bone blade at Nathan’s neck at the same time as a stream of fire poured past Tate’s shoulder.
Nathan swore, dodging Tyne’s attack but unaware of Ryu’s. Fire washed over him seconds before black armor boiled from his skin.
Tyne was already retreating as Ryu yanked Tate back, pulling her toward the connecting tunnel.
Dewdrop stood his ground, his mouth opening in a piercing scream as Nathan recovered.
Blood trickled out of Tate’s ears and nose as she reached Dewdrop. Before she could grab him, Ai appeared to his left.
Tate sucked in a breath to warn him, her relic already forming a shield as Ai raised her hand.
Pressure built.
Tate dove, wrapping Dewdrop in her embrace as Ryu yanked them in the direction of the exit. Tyne was already out.
A shock wave erupted from Ai’s hand, punching Tate in the back and sending them spilling into the connecting tunnel.
For a moment, Tate lay there stunned, her brain screaming at her to get up. Finally, her body obeyed as she lifted her head to find Ai standing at the threshold between the old tunnel and the connecting one.
Nathan appeared beside her, looking furious. “Kill them.”
“That is no longer possible,” Ai responded in a calm voice. “I have no authority outside of my domain.”
Nathan’s expression tightened with rage for a split instant before smoothing into an expressionless mask again. “Once again, your luck holds. I’ll see you soon, Tatum.”
He walked away, leaving Ai behind. The expression on her face didn’t shift before she disappeared in the next instant.
Some of the tension ran out of Tate.
They were alive. Somehow.
Tate stiffened when she caught Tyne’s contemplative gaze trained on her.
“How fascinating the company you’ve begun to keep in my absence.” Tyne stretched his arms above his head as he headed into the darkness, his voice trailing after him. “It will be good to see the surface again now that the end of the world is nigh.”
“Tate, I know I’ve said this before, but he’s very creepy.” Dewdrop staggered to his feet, holding his arm carefully to his side.
