The figure reached the bottom of the stairs. “He’ll have a better chance without you.”
Adara stepped up to him, blinking through the dust and fog. His soft brown eyes came into view. “Alecsander?” she asked hesitantly, hand reaching out to cup his cheek. She quickly retracted it, afraid that if she touched him he’d fade away. Gods, she’d forgotten what he looked like. Had never gotten a chance to memorize her friends’ faces in the midst of battle. Had remembered only how they appeared in her dreams, mutilated and scarred in death.
But here Alec was. Standing and smiling andwhole.
He grinned. “Miss me?” he asked, arms splayed in open invitation.
Adara threw herself into his embrace. She wrapped her arms around his torso, squeezing tight. A tawny hand came to rest on the back of her head, lightly stroking her hair.
“How?” she croaked through the ache in her throat. Tears pricked the corners of her eyes.
Alec’s hand slid to the hilt of her sword, resting comfortingly there. “Infinova,” he said. “Remember?”
She nodded against his chest, heart aching at the memory. Alecsander had been the one to suggest her sacred sword’s name.
“Stars infinite,” he said softly.
“Light prevails,” she whispered back just as she had done when, after years of imprisonment, they first glimpsed the night sky after their escape from the Shadow Empire. When the stars illuminated the darkness that surrounded them, always enveloped in shadows but forever burning bright.
“Why are you here?” she asked through sobs of relief. “Howare you here?”
“We should be asking you the same question.”Fallon.
Adara turned to the girl whose orange hair reflected her fiery attitude, a spark of ambition that could not be doused. Tears flowed down Adara’s cheeks, soaking into Alec’s shirt. Sheleaned her head against his chest, basking in the bliss of his embrace. Adara closed her eyes, reveling in this moment. Her friends were here. They’d come back for her. Her friends had survived.
She stilled, every muscle in her body going taut. Alec pulled her closer, his strong arms securing her against him in a comforting gesture. Or what would have been comforting had Adara felt a heartbeat against her ear. But all she heard as her head lay against his chest was a chasm of silence that threatened to swallow her whole.
“No,” she whispered, voice cracking. The silence that his heartbeat should have filled weighed on her. His heart would not beat, would never beat again. She had put a knife in it.
“What’s wrong, Adara?” Another voice. Draven.
“No,” she said, more stern this time. More assured.
“It’s okay.” Kiara’s voice was gentle, soft as a breeze.
“NO!” Adara screamed and planted both her palms against Alec’s chest, forcefully shoving him away.Not Alec.It wasn’t any of them. Their hearts did not beat, their chests did not rise and fall with the breath of life. They weren’t here.
They weren’treal.
They were dead. Their bodies were gone, in a land long since forgotten.
Whatever they were, they weren’t her friends.
Rage filled the space in her chest that had been so overwhelmed with relief only moments ago. She blinked away her tears, lips twisting into a snarl.
A scream reverberated through the underground castle ruins.Dom.
Shoving past Alec, Adara started toward the grand staircase with hurried steps. A hand grasped hers, pulling her to a stop.
“Don’t go.” A whispered plea.
Her entire body slumped, waves of sorrow washing over her.Cal.Oh, she’d give anything to see him one more time.
Fighting the urge to glance back at her former lover, Adara took another step forward.
His grip on her hand tightened, fingers lacing with hers. “We’re all together again,” Callan said gently. “Don’t risk your life for him. Like Alec said, you hardly know him. He’s the King of Keys for gods’ sakes. Stay with us.Please.”
Adara winced, his words assaulting her. He sounded so broken, so desperate. She knew if she turned to face him, she’d see his jade eyes staring at her with dismay,beggingher to stay.
