Please don’t move, I thought, desperately.
He met my gaze. And he saw me. I know he did. His eyes held the same clear, golden warmth I’d fallen in love with; it wasn’t like before, when Lorien had possessed him and turned his gaze into something darker, something blood-tinged and violent.
Several tense heartbeats later, his eyes still hadn’t changed, and I began to hope thatnothinghad changed—the Order had gotten this wrong. Whatever they’d done to him, he’d managed to heal from it. To shake off their corrupted hold. I was certain of it.
Until he rose to his feet and strode forward, calmly moving into the chamber without giving me a second glance. Our enemies all made room, drawing back and watching him pass without a word.
I stepped after him in a daze.
Phantom slinked into the chamber as well, his ears flat against his head as he glanced between Aleks and me, whining and waiting for me to give him a command.
I had no commands to give.
I still couldn’t speak. I didn’t know what to say. What to do. My gaze fixed on the pedestal in the center of the room, on the shards resting on its grooved top.
Aleks was walking straight toward them.
Grimnor lifted as power surged toward its tip, yanking me forward as if it wanted to intervene with or without my consent. I had to run to keep from falling, and after I’d started, I didn’t stop, moving to position myself between the pedestal and Aleks.
He slowed without comment, looking to the sword in his own hand as if sizing it up, considering the best way to attack.
A cold sweat washed over me.
“Going back on our deal so quickly?” Severin called from the doorway.
My gaze darted to my brother and Thalia, still bound by the other Order members. “Let them go,” I snarled, pointing Grimnor at Aleks. “Fulfill your part of the deal first.”
“Or else what?” Severin asked. “Are you really going to stop him from following my command, no matter what it takes?”
Cool, clammy sweat continued to build, drenching my palms and the back of my neck. The room spun.
But I didn’t lower my weapon.
“You’re willing to put your blade through the man you allegedly love?”
This elicited several cruel chuckles from the crowd around him. My shadows grew more furious at the sound, arching up around me before twisting into several sharp points that all took aim at Aleks.
I looked again to my brother and Thalia. “No one touches the shards until you release them.”
“We’ll see.” Severin made a gesture with his hand. Something lit within his palm, a symbol glowing against his skin. He clenched his fingers over it just as quickly, hiding it before I could make out any distinct shape.
Aleks rolled the tension from his shoulders. His voice was achingly normal, familiar—his and no one else’s—as he growled out a single command: “Move.”
“Aleks, I know this isn’t what you want to do.” Somehow, my stance remained steady, as did my voice. “You don’t have to do this.”
Again, he looked right at me, his golden eyes bright and aware. He didn’t seem any different than he had in my room such a short time ago, when he’d told me he would give anything to keep me safe.
Then he swung at me so violently I barely managed to dodge it.
I heard more cold laughter from outside, followed by sounds of a struggle—my brother and Thalia trying once more to fight their way free, I assumed.
I ignored it, scrambling to set my feet, moving Grimnor into a guard position just in time to block another violent swing. Aleks didn’t back away as his blade hit mine; he leaned into the collision, shoving until I lost my balance.
I stumbled, overpowered and too stunned to think about properly countering his attack.
Aleks drew back, preparing to strike again.
Phantom reached him first, his fangs sinking into Aleks’s arm and dragging him to the ground. They tumbled across the stone floor, blade and claws flashing in a violent tangle.
