Mal flinched and looked back at the fortress. “They know the ward's down. We've got to go.”
The joy in Evellor's chest dropped, shoved down by anxiety. He looked at the unconscious soldiers and then at the fortress. “They're too close. The ward will slice them in two. Help me!” Evellor rushed to the Aethari and dragged two of them back.
Mal didn't hesitate. He ran forward to help Evellor save the people who would have tortured him. Seeing that made Evellor love Mal even more. The last one was Rallorival. Evellor yanked him back and dropped him. The man's coat flopped open, and moonlight hit a steel handle.
“What's that?” Evellor crouched.
“Ev, we've got to go!” Mal yanked on his arm.
“Hold on. Look.” He pulled the weapon from Rallorival's coat. “Isn't that a Nethren weapon?”
Mal went still as he stared at the thing. “It's called a dart. Yes, that's one of ours.” He looked up at Ev. “Does that mean what I think it means?”
“Those fucking bastards!” Evellor glared at the Aethari. “They shot at the prisoners. It was them!”
“Put it back!” Mal motioned at Rallorival.
“What?” Evellor gaped at him.
“You're coming back, right? You can confront him before witnesses and show them the dart.”
“You're right! I can bring him to justice.” Evellor slid the dart back into Rallorival's coat and folded the side over him to hide it just as the ward fell. He glanced at the fortress, and the sirens stopped. “Come here.” He opened his arms.
Mal hefted his satchel over his shoulder and rushed into Evellor's embrace. “Let's go, lover!”
“Hold on.” Evellor bunched his legs and jumped into the air. His wings pounded hard to get them high enough to fly unseen. And then he turned toward the coast.
He had done it. They had done it! Sweet Magic, they were going to be together—an Aethari and a Nethren. What insanity. And yet, Evellor knew his life wouldn't make sense without Mal. They had done it because it was their only option. Really, it was Mal who was giving up the most for their relationship. Evellor wouldn't have to leave anything. He only gained. But Mal wasn't concerned about leaving everything he knew behind. His eyes gleamed, and his lips never fell out of his broad grin. He would have to hide who he was for the rest of his life, but he saw it as an adventure. Nothing scared him. With that realization, Evellor's love for Mal grew once more.
Evellor wondered how big love could get. With the rate it was going, his love for Mal would eclipse Para before dawn.
“This is amazing!” Mal clutched his shoulders. “Don't drop me, Ev.”
“Never, my love. I will never let you go.”
Chapter Thirty-Eight
Liria
Morning came cold and harsh. Liria sat up and looked over at Thax, lying face-up on his cot beside her. One hand was on his chest, and the other stretched out to lay where she'd been. It closed as if sensing her abandonment. Despite the sad sight, Liria climbed off the cot and got dressed.
Outside, she could hear soldiers already moving about. Liria went to the little bathroom at the back corner of the tent, with its compostable toilet, shower, and sink. After doing her morning business, she came out to find Thax sitting up with his feet on the ground, frowning.
He looked up at her. “What should I do, destra?”
They had talked long into the night. The attack didn't sit well with either of them. Something was terribly wrong. It made no sense for the Nethren to shoot at those soldiers. No sense at all.
“We need to speak to General Caden.”
Thax sighed as he stood up. “I shouldn't have killed that man.”
“What man?”
“The Nethren spy.” Thax rubbed a hand over his face. “I was so angry. I reacted without thinking. He didn't deserve to die for spying. It was wrong.” He looked up at Liria. “Do you think they shot at our people because I killed that man?”
“No, I don't. I don't know what happened, but I don't think it's anything as simple as revenge.”
“I can't come up with anything that makes sense.”
