Chapter 44
The Best Laid Plans
Everything happened so fast that I couldn’t tell who wielded magic first as the scene before me devolved into utter chaos. Evidently, each side came with a kill-first, ask-questions-later memo I never received.
“Run,” Tarrin yelled, grabbing me by the wrist with a death grip as he yanked me into motion hot on Sidrick’s heels.
I couldn’t form words. Couldn’t think. If it wasn’t for Tarrin’s bruising hands digging into my wrist, I’m not sure I would’ve broken free from those stormy-gray eyes that haunted my dreams since I ran away.
“Shit,” Sidrick said, though it took me a moment to realize it was him—he never swore. Tarrin grunted in agreement a second before he wrenched me sideways.
“Ny!” Tarrin yelled before stopping so abruptly I crashed into his chest. Shifting his grip to my shoulders he shook me, hard. “Focus. Now.”
I tried. Gods, I tried so hard to do as he asked.
“We don’t have time to stop!” Sidrick yelled back at us as fire ignited around him.
“Give me a second,” Tarrin snapped. “She’s in shock, and I bloody well can’t help you if I’m dragging her along.”
Soft, pleading teak eyes filled my vision. In a calm voice, Tarrin said, “Ny, this isn’t a dream or a vision. This is very real, and I need you to come back to me and fight.”
Heart racing. Mind reeling. I screamed at myself to move, to get it together?—
“Fuck it,” he said, and a second later, Tarrin’s mouth crashed against mine as he slid his hands on either side of my face.
“Tarrin,” I screeched, stepping back as I slapped his face. “What the fu?—”
“Good,” he said, cutting me off. “Now use your magical daggers and show these fuckers why you’re the spark.”
Without another word, he unsheathed his sword and went to Sidrick. An explosion sounded at my back, and my feet finally carried me forward.
Blades now in hand, Sidrick nodded at me before leading the way past the scorched earth littered with not one, not two, but three charred skeletons of massive four-legged beasts that would’ve easily come close to Luca’s saddle height. Gulping, I didn’t ask questions as we hauled ass.
We ran all out for as long as we could until Tarrin’s lungs sounded like they’d explode.
“You two okay?” Sidrick asked through labored pants.
Hands on knees, Tarrin and I sucked in air as we nodded. Catching my breath enough to speak, I said, “Though, this one won’t be if he pulls that shit again.” I shoved Tarrin’s side, my lack of oxygen made the attempt feeble.
“It was that, or slap you,” he said, with a grin. “I chose love, not war.”
I rolled my eyes at him and lifted my dagger with little malice, but the point remained—don’t.
“Fine,” he said, standing tall, “next time I’ll choose war.” He winked at me, and I half-scoffed, half-laughed as I shook my head.
Keeping my daggers in hand, I righted myself and looked to Sidrick. “I don’t understand what happened.”
His features darkened, and my heart ached for him—for his brother. By running, we could’ve very well doomed Artton and Kaelun to death. I shoved that thought deep down and locked it away. Swallowing, Sidrick said, “We were ambushed.
“Come on, grab some water and let’s keep going. I want to get as far away from whatever the hells that was.”
Shifting our packs off our backs, we pulled our skins out and took deep gulps of water before falling back into our formation; Sidrick, me, Tarrin.
“With your shielding unara, and your brother’s ability to detect magic, how was that possible?” I asked.
Sidrick’s shoulder tightened. “I don’t know. Kaelun’s unara has been tested in the field against every type of magic—as has mine. They’ve never failed.”
“And the beasts?” Tarrin asked, referencing the littered bones we’d stepped over as we ran away.
