Ambrosia fell to her knees. A harsh sound tore from her. She reached out to Cassian. He pushed her hand away with the last ounce of strength he had.
She collapsed on her side, unmoving.
The black figures around the room all fell to their demise simultaneously.
Cassian sagged forward, his glamor dissolving with a flickering shimmer. Nadia’s image dropped away and left him pale on the stone. He pressed a hand to the blood spreading over his own ribs. His breath shook hard as he hit the ground.
Hammond cried out. “Ambrosia. No. Get up. Please.”
I crawled toward Cassian. The ritual chains struggled to pull me back, but Ambrosia’s death had broken their stability. I fought them until my palms tore open.
Cassian lifted his head. His skin had lost all color. His lashes trembled. He tried to smile. “You look terrible.”
“Why,” I rasped. “Why would you do that?”
He swallowed, which seemed a difficult feat. “I owed you. And her. I am tired. This is a good end.”
“No,” I whispered. “You do not decide that.”
He gave a weak laugh. “I just did.”
The door burst open, and Nadia came running. Her chest heaved as she stopped beside me and wrapped her arms around my shoulders. “Cristian. I’m here. I’m here.”
I leaned into her. My strength was ash but she grounded me. I held her wrist tight against me.
Ezra sprinted in behind her, laptop under his arm. He skidded on the stone when he saw the ritual circle still surging. “Cristian. I found the frequency they anchored you to. I can try to break it. I think I can reverse it, but I need a second.”
Lena rushed to Cassian’s side and dropped to her knees. “Oh my god. Look at me.” She pressed her hands to his wound. “Stop trying to die. It’s rude.”
Cassian blinked up at her. He tried to smirk. “Hello, sweetheart. You look lovely.”
“Shut up. You’re bleeding on me.”
“I am honored.”
Hammond crawled toward Ambrosia’s body. His hands shook hard as he pulled her into his lap. He sobbed without control. “She is gone. She is gone. This was not how it was supposed to go.” He lifted his head toward us. His face twisted. “You ruined everything. All of it.”
Ezra ignored him as he hammered commands into his laptop. His fingers moved with purpose. “Cristian. Hold on. I can sever the pull.”
“It is too late,” I said quietly. “My energy is already bleeding into the bond. I feel it. I feel him tethering me to himself and my brother. They were all that was left.”
Nadia clutched the back of my neck.
Ezra shook his head. “No one is dying. I am not letting that happen.” He glared over his shoulder at Hammond. “You. Ugly one. I might be able to save your pathetic life and your power.” His tone sharpened. “Tell me how to break Cristian and Nadia’s bond. Now.”
Hammond sobbed harder. “You cannot break it. It is permanent. I lied to you.”
Ezra jumped to his feet. “Then tell me the loophole. There has to be a loophole.”
Hammond pressed his forehead to Ambrosia’s shoulder. “It has to be replaced. A new bond has to take the place of the old one. One that will not drain her. One that can withstand the power and not collapse.”
Ezra lit up like a lightbulb and spun back to his laptop with sudden purpose. “Perfect. Then I know what to do.”
“Ezra,” Nadia said. “What does that mean?”
Ezra typed faster. “It means Cristian and Cassian are not dying today.”
I raised my head toward him. “Ezra.”
