The pounding in my head lessened, and faintness gripped me instead. Lifting my hand, I saw what I feared: my skin had turned translucent again, as though I were fading away.
Just as it had after I’d carved a path through the Empty.
My entire body flickered. The threads of my being unwound, like a shadow dissipating with morning light. Losing balance, I fell to a knee.
This time, the affliction lingered. I struggled to breathe, terrified I would remain this way.
Or worse—I’d disappear entirely.
Slowly, life breathed back into my lungs. My color returned, and the pain dulled.
I wrapped my arms around myself. If I kept using this magic, it was going to kill me.
Or something worse.
“Aethra?” Seth called.
Raising my head, I started when Phaedrus’ voice spoke inside it.
“Is everyone still alive?”
Seraphim’s voice followed. “I could have done without hearing you in here, again.”
“Sorry. Eleos fainted. I’m the only psyche left.”
“Is he alright?” I demanded.
“No,” Phaedrus answered.
That single word crashed into my skull like a heavy mallet. My breath came in ragged gasps.
“We need to regroup,” Seraphim said. “Where?”
Seth answered. He met my gaze while his voice rang within my thoughts. “The city of Ma’at. Nowhere is safe—but it’s the closest thing to.”
“And each of our groups has someone who knows the way,” Phaedrus agreed. “I can’t hold this any longer—best of luck.”
The connections snapped, and dread washed over me. I peered over the cliff-side, gnawing on my fingernail as I studied the abyss of shadowy snakes.
Their abyss reminded me of the Empty, but it was different,somehow.
I couldn’t put my finger on why.
Looking up, I traced one of the wings folding the sun in its embrace, and the feathers falling from the sky like rain.
Seth wrapped an arm around my shoulder and helped me up. “I’m sure Eleos will pull through,” he promised. “We need to worry about ourselves, now.”
“How many guards are going to be after us?” I asked.
“Considering no one’s escaped the Duat before . . .” He flicked his wrist, and a dagger appeared in his grip. “A lot.”
I chuckled, glancing down at my tattered gown as we walked. “I guess we’ll never travel in peace.”
“I don’t think I ever have.”
“Right. You were a prince. Maidens must have pounded on your door every night.”
“Not quite.” He glanced over his shoulder. “I wasn’t very social in my youth.”
