“Vesryn!” she screamed as he ripped through the protective shield, reforging the barrier before striding into the darkness. “I can’t lose you too.”
The prince glanced back, his mouth parting. But he faltered, abandoning the words. He lingered for a moment before turning sharply, vanishing into the shadows.
Serenna’s hands shook as she dragged her focus away from Vesryn’s retreating silhouette. A tear trailed down her cheek when she took in Fenn’s ashen face, his pulse a weak flutter under her fingertips. She yanked another crossbow bolt from his chest. Despair consuming her, she spooled her remaining power into him, denying death’s claim for a few moments more.
Lykor’s rending receded, following the prince. But Essence still ricocheted through the keep, the pressure of power vibrating through her knees. Over the chaos, Serenna heard footsteps pounding against the cobbled street behind her.
She glanced back to see wraith scattering down the streets, seeking shelter elsewhere. But Kal warped closer to her, his spiked armor as dark as the night. He drew a gold-plated dirk from his side and sliced through the prince’s shield as if it were no more than smoke.
Face contorting, Kal dropped to one knee beside her, brushing a strand of hair back from his son’s still face. He placeda quivering hand on Fenn’s chest, fingers barely grazing the blood-soaked fabric.
Serenna’s voice cracked as he gripped her shoulder. “I’m so sorry.” Tears spilled freely now, dripping from her chin as she leaned over Fenn, her heart shredded with sorrow. “I’m doing everything I can.”
Another tremor of Essence barreled down the street where Vesryn and Lykor clashed. Gauntlet crushed into a fist, rending erupted from Lykor as he stalked after the prince. Fangs bared, his deadened eyes locked onto Vesryn, shadows colliding in brutal bursts.
With each step, Vesryn led Lykor away, rending spiraling around him. His shadows slashed at Lykor’s, meeting the assault blow for blow, severing waves of magic before they could strike.
A shockwave burst from Lykor’s fist, racing across the broken cobblestones, sending tremors through the fortress. Serenna gasped, the ground quaking beneath her knees as stone splintered and bricks crumbled, flying loose as Lykor wrenched a bridge apart. Rubble churned around him, gathering speed until he twisted his magic into a whirlwind. Thrusting his arm out, Lykor flung the spinning rocks at the prince.
Vesryn’s hands blurred, opening portals that swallowed the deadly barrage. He sidestepped into another rift, reappearing behind Lykor.
Snarling, Lykor spun and prowled toward the prince, shadows swirling in his wake.
Serenna’s pulse drummed a frantic beat, chest tightening with every bone-rattling impact as their magic clashed. Vesryn couldn’t outlast Lykor—his Well was far outmatched. Each shock reverberated against her ribs as Vesryn endured blow after crushing blow.
“The coercion will drive Lykor to rip this place apart,” Kal said, jaw clenching tight. His eyes darted to Vesryn’s portalbefore dropping back to Fenn. “We have to get the prince out of here.”
Serenna shook her head, sensing Vesryn’s unyielding resolve beating down the bond, a hammer striking iron. “I tried.” She cast another futile wave of mending over Fenn. Crimson light spilled from her hands, but his blood only slowed as his life slipped through her fingers. “He won’t leave. Not until he gets Aesar back.”
Kal’s mouth fused into a frown, his face a bleak mask. “Then we have to stop the magic on Lykor.” He snagged her hand. “You have to use the bond. Restrict his access to Essence. If Aesar could stop him, he would have by now.”
A thunderouscrackboomed through the cavern. Serenna flinched as an errant bolt of force smashed into the mirrors lining the volcano’s slopes—glass panes designed to catch and funnel light through the crater above, now shimmering faintly with starlight. The impact shattered a section in a spray of fractured brilliance.
Serenna tossed her arms out. “I can try,” she panted, reinforcing the prince’s shield against the deadly avalanche of broken shards. “But restraining Lykor won’t put an end to the compulsion.”
“I know.” The light in Kal’s crimson eyes dimmed. He clasped Fenn’s shoulder, just as reluctant as she was to let him go. “But you can give the prince a fighting chance.” Urgency sharpened the sorrow in his tone. “Go.”
Serenna layered another wave of mending into one of Fenn’s wounds, her words coming out hoarse. “I can’t leave him.”
Kal’s voice broke, hand twisting into Fenn’s tattered tunic. “Fenn’s gone.”
Serenna’s heart lurched, caving in. “He’s not,” she whispered. “I can still feel him.” She clung to Fenn’s lifeless claw, denial blurring her vision.
“You have a chance to save the living.” Kal’s words sliced like a blade, carving away her resistance. “Use it.”
Serenna’s chin trembled, grief splitting her heart.Save the living.She didn’t want to admit it, but her magic—her limited skill—couldn’t bring Fenn back. Too many bolts had been driven into him for anyone to survive.
Fenn, she called through the bond.
But only silence answered through their fraying connection.
With an unsteady breath, she let Fenn’s claw slip from her grasp, though every instinct screamed to hold on. Serenna released a sob, knowing he would want her to help Lykor.
As she rose, a shiver raced down the back of her neck. Sensing a strange pulse of earth magic, she whirled around.
Jassyn staggered through Vesryn’s portal. His eyes bounced around the wreckage before landing on Lykor and the prince, who were hurling shadows at each other amid the crumbling streets.
Serenna rushed to him, a spark of hope flaring to life as she gripped his arms, her eyes widening at the faint greenglowracing through his veins. “Fenn needs you.”
