Tarnan’s hand moved to the knife, his eyes furious as he watched Eyden take Lora away with lighting speed, Amira’s spell increasing his power. Focusing the last of her strength, Amira willed the knife to stay stuck in Tarnan’s flesh. She could feel her contract icing her veins, but technically, it was Eyden’s fault Tarnan was hurt, not Amira’s.
In mere seconds, Eyden was back, trying to take Ilario next, but the trader pointed at Karwyn’s shadow’s instead. The spy was in terrible shape, and Eyden had no time to argue. Clearly annoyed, Eyden grabbed both of them, drifting them away.
Amira’s strength was starting to leave her. Her wound still bled, the blood loss making her dizzy as her drenched dress stuck to her skin. But she held on. Not everyone had been saved. She knew this was her fate, her time to use her power forgood.
Eyden reappeared, and Amira pointed her chin, telling him to take Rhay next. Before Rhay could make up his mind, Eyden drifted them away.
Feeling her insides twist, Amira could hardly stand. Something wet ran down her nose. She reached out with her hand and found blood. Her head was spinning, she couldn’t breathe properly. Tarnan became a blurry shape in front of her as her vision darkened. Amira had never used so much power in what must have been barely an hour.
The blood in her veins seemed to slow and then her legs gave out as something snapped inside her, twisting her insides. She collapsed on the ground, a few feet away from Varsha’s cold body. The sight almost made her throw up.
Through her hooded eyes, she saw Eyden drift in again, ready to grab Farren—but this time, Tarnan was ready. Free from Amira’s spell, Tarnan threw the knife that had been stuck in his throat right at Eyden. It struck his arm, but Eyden removed it quickly and took Farren’s good arm.
Yet this time, nothing happened. Sweat glistened on Eyden’s face, a deep crease forming on his forehead. Realisation dawned on Farren, his dark eyes understanding. Without Amira’s help, Eyden wasn’t strong enough anymore to take them both.
“Kill him,” Tarnan commanded the guards who were still standing, pain twisting his features as he spoke, his voice barely understandable. The guards launched themselves at Eyden. Tarnan moved towards Farren; one hand still clutched his bleeding neck. She could tell Farren was completely exhausted and unable to defend himself with magic.
Amira tried to channel a sliver of strength, but there was nothing left. She tried to stand up, her fingers clawing at the stone floor, but she was utterly hollow.Useless,yet again.
“Go, I’ll be fine,” she heard Farren yell. Eyden hesitated, his gaze focusing on Amira. He needed to go. This was her sacrifice to make. Hers and Farren’s.
Forcing her hand to move, Amira used the last bit of her energy to pull the talisman from her neck, throwing it to Eyden, out of Tarnan’s reach. Tarnan’s face soured as he tracked the amulet, his hand outstretched, but he was too far away.
Eyden caught it even with her weak shot, gratitude shining in his icy eyes. With one last hateful look towards Tarnan, Eyden drifted away, regret twisting his features.
“Get them,” Tarnan ordered the guards, his voice barely audible. They immediately left.
Walking forward, Tarnan watched Amira, his hand wrapped around his injured throat. Lowering himself, he caressed her damp forehead with blood-stained fingers. She tried to move away from his touch, but her body wasn’t responding.
“You should be grateful,” Tarnan said, his voice still strained. “I kept my promise. You won’t have to marry Karwyn.” His finger tracked a tear that slipped down her cheek. “You and I are going to do incredible things together,” he whispered in her ear.
Amira mustered all her strength to reply, “I won’t let you destroy Liraen or Earth.”
“I won’t destroy any world, Amira. I’llremakethem.” Tarnan’s serene smile widened like he truly believed his betrayal was for the greater good.
History was repeating itself. Tarnan was as sick as his father.
But this time, they wouldn’t wait years to stop him. If Tarnan was taking her with him, she would promise him one thing:his ruin.
Chapter72
Lora
The night air did nothing to calm Lora’s racing heart. She had only had a split second to catch on to Amira’s plan. Eyden hadn’t hesitated. Quicker than she’d ever seen him, he had pulled them out of harm’s way, even Layken—Damir—who immediately slumped to the ground outside, blood staining his lips and his breathing stuttering. Layken was not only Karwyn’s shadow, he was Damir.Ilario’sDamir.
The temple was still within sight, but now a short distance away. Elyssa was bending over next to Lora, her hand on her stomach as if she was going to be sick.
“We need to go back,” Elyssa said even as she coughed up blood. When she looked up at Lora, locks of wild auburn hair falling into her bloodied face, her eyes were filled with despair. Lora knew the feeling all too well—could see the hopelessness, the sadness for losing the one person you never wanted to part with.
Lora was searching for a reply when Eyden appeared out of thin air. She met his worried gaze before zeroing in on the fresh wound on his arm.
“Where’s Farren? Where’s Amira?” Elyssa asked, wiping the blood from her mouth as she stormed forward, gazing at her brother.
“I’m sorry,” Eyden replied, his voice quiet and thin. “It’s what she wanted. I couldn’t take them. I couldn’t take anyone else with me.” Elyssa’s face said she already knew Amira had chosen to save them instead of herself. The princess knew Tarnan wasn’t going to kill her. But Elyssa’s fate could have been a different one.
The clang of armour drew Lora’s attention back to the temple entrance. Guards stormed out, ready for another round. As Lora saw the exhaustion in Eyden’s eyes, the blood on Elyssa’s throat, and Ilario’s worry directed at Damir, she knew they wouldn’t survive it.
Rhay drew his sword nonetheless. When his ocean eyes met hers, there was nothing left of the Rhay she knew. There was a coldness about him. An utterlostnessshone through, erasing everything else.
