“What was that?” Sidrick called out as he got to his feet.
“It’s Wymond,” his second said. “He knows you’re missing and is using his magic to search for you. It’s only a matter of time before he finds us.”
“Fuck,” Artton said, and I couldn’t have said it better.
I made to get up, but stars it was hard, the hallway seemingly spinning around me. Using the wall for support, I was finally able to pull myself to my feet—instantly regretted it. I swayed, wondering if this sense of disorientation was what the men pouring out of the tavern in the wee hours of the night experienced as they literally stumbled home.
“Come on,” Endymion coaxed as he wrapped a hand around my elbow, trying to steady me.
It took time to gain our bearings, but with each step, we seemed to find our footing until there was no need to drag a palm along a wall to keep us steady as we slowly made our way toward another archway.
“Which way?” Artton asked from the lead, Endymion still unwilling to leave my side.
“Left, but we’ll?—”
His words were cut off as the archway dimmed with a rush of dark mist that hurtled toward us like a sandstorm.
“Run!” Endymion yelled.
None of us hesitated as we sprinted back down the underground corridor.
Within second the mist snuffed out the light, throwing us intodarkness. Lifting his hand, Endymion summoned fire to illuminate our way.
“Guys!” Artton yelled from behind, and the panic frayed my nerves.
“Faster, Sidrick,” Endymion ordered.
We ran full-tilt in the opposite direction, my coming in breaths sharp.
Without a word, Endymion grabbed me at the waist and pressed me against the wall.
“No!” I cried out, lunging for Sidrick. Strong arms stopped me, and held me as we watched in horror.
Like thick fog under the weight of the sun’s heat, the mist slithered forward, and as it did the ground seemingly turned into a waterfall of sand—and Sidrick was in its clutches.
Artton yelped from the other side, and I turned to see the same scene unfolding—only the ground had already claimed him to his knees.
“No!” I screamed again, and Endymion’s grip on me tightened. “Let me go.” I pulled against him. “We have to help them.”
“We can’t,” he said softly. “I’m sorry, but it will be seconds until Wymond has them.”
Back against his chest, Endymion’s heartbeat pounded as fast as mine; both helpless as we watched the ground swallowing our companions.
The mist crept closer to us, and before it got too close, he called upon his power—the glittering black dome shrouding us from its clutches just as it claimed Artton and Sidrick.
Spinning me to face him, Endymion’s wide eyes shifted to a dark indigo as they filled with panic. A new sense of dread flooded my senses from his urgency, forcing me to focus on him instead of the crippling fear for my friends. “Nyla,” he said, gripping my shoulders, “I need you to listen carefully. My shield will only last so long. Minutes at most. Do you understand?”
Did I understand him? Did I even understand what justhappened to the others? Gods, I didn’twantto understand it all. The horror of it was too much to comprehend.
Wymond’s powers had found us and stolen them away, which meant only one thing?—
“We’re next,” I said, voice shaky.
“You’re next,” he clarified. “His powers aren’t searching for me, but they will break through my shield and take you from me to the Great Hall. You can’t let them have the spark, Little Star. Do you hear me?” His words were getting faster, and I knew we were running out of time.
“I can’t stop them, Endymion,” I admitted, feeling a deep sense of defeat.
“Yes,” he said, lifting a hand to cradle my cheek, “you can. Thaddeus’ spell will only work if you willingly offer your powers.”
