Realisation crashed into me with a heartbreaking squeeze, sharp enough to steal the air from my lungs. “It won’t be for long,” I whispered, repeating his words from yesterday. The words tasted like ash. Thatfeelingin the bond. The quiet ache. That relentless, hollow sorrow that radiated through him. The way he held me like someone memorising a goodbye.
“You’re dying.”
He didn’t say anything, just stroked my hair softly and letting his silence stretch too long.
“It’s true, isn’t it? That’s why the bond feels like you’re mourning something. That’s why the shadows are getting worse?—”
My voice broke, tears welling in my eyes. I hadjustfound him.
His eyes fluttered shut and he held me close, brushing a kiss onto my forehead.
“My death…” He paused and opened his eyes, tears shimmering like starlight against the endless abyss of his gaze.“It is the cost of having you, Little Drownling. One I am willing to pay,” he said, voice low and ragged.
I sat up straight, anger snapping through me, bright and vicious and I made sure he could feel every single drop of it.
He had said it so calmly, as though his death was already decided. As if I would allow it.
“Why is your darkness killing you?” I demanded. Maybe if I knew why, I could help him fix it.
A breathless chuckle escaped him. “I cannot tell you?—”
An impatient knocking wrapped against the door, shattering our quiet moment.
It swung open with force and Solas held his forearm over his eyes as he barged into the room.
“I love you like a brother Solas, but if you look at her, Iwillrip the eyeballs from your skull,” he snarled as he pushed me behind him to shield me with his body. Solas grimaced, turning his back to us completely. “I amnotlooking,” Solas snapped urgently. His usual light-heartedness, gone.
“What is it?” The Commander asked carefully.
“Veilstriders.”
That one word shot the Commander into action. He stood and grabbed his pants, pulling them on with speed. I knew without asking that it was more of Helion’s creations and hurried to dress quickly. The Commander grabbed his onyx sword that rested against the wall.
“Stay here,” he said as he followed Solas into the corridor.
I scoffed and followed him through the bedroom doors, two strides to their one. If he thought I would let him out of my sight from now on, he waswrong.
He stopped abruptly and turned, looking down at me wearily.
“Get back to the room,” he said on a rough exhale.
“No,” I challenged, squaring my shoulders and raising my chin. “People are dying because these monsters are huntingme.I will not cower and put more innocent blood on my hands.”
“It is not safe, Lyra.” He rested his hands on my shoulders and bent to kiss my forehead. “Please, do not make me use the bargain.”
I stiffened, stepping back and glaring at him with venom.
“Do it,” I hissed. “I will find a way to break it. And when I do, I will cut off your balls andfeedthem to the monsters.”
“We are wasting time,” Solas said, clearing his throat to stifle a small smile despite himself.
The Commander sighed heavily, shaking his head as he leaned down, took my hand, and pulled me down the hallway.
From now on, we would fight together.
We joggeddown a sloped path carved into the mountain, boots slamming against stone. I had been unconscious when the Commander carried me through the gates and seeing what was behind those walls was breathtaking.
Nestled safely within the semicircle outer wall that joined with the mountain—or what should have been safe—was a town. But it was unlike anything I had ever seen before.
