“Shit,” Taegér cursed, and a window appeared in his bubble shield.
Aerén let free his power, and it flew out in a deadly, crackling wave. Some he channeled into the depths of the cave, the rest he let cover the island in a white wave.
“Now get us out of here.”
The window resealed in a hiss. As the bubble sank below the surface, the cave imploded. An upsurge of water rose in a monstrous wave, sucking everything back into the sea.
Good! He wanted the fucking place eviscerated, demolished from existence!
They shot down, deep into the eddying waters, toward the portal in the murky depths.
The irony didn’t escape him. He’d done the thing he abhorred the most. He sank the island.
The bastards deserved death.
His feet braced on the transparent floor, Aerén gathered Leya into his arms again. The water churned around the bubble, yet they weren’t affected. Taegér’s jaw clenched. Sweat beaded his brow, his focus likely at its max.
Guess he owed Sebris and this warrior his eternal gratitude. While his enforcers had their own deadly abilities, they were nothing like this.
Then they were tossed onto the shores of Cidéra. Aerén staggered forward but found his balance as the bubble encasing them dissipated.
He pressed his mouth to Leya’s head, and her slowing heartbeat caught his ear. “No, Leya.” He set her on the beach. “Dammit. Don’t you dare leave me. Get Zior!” He roared.
He tried to heal her bruises, but his power petered out as it touched her—
What the fuck?
“Prince Aerén.” A figure appeared in a swirl of navy and knelt opposite Leya, holding his palm over her chest.
Allatus, Empyrea’s high mage, looked up. “The arrow’s bespelled. It pierced through her lungs. If I remove it, she dies.”
“What?” He stared blankly at Allatus’ troubled visage. “I know its cursed—”
“She is human. Not even I can change what is. Death is her destiny. She lost her breath once as a child—”
“No, dammit! Save her! I don’t care how you do it. Save her! You have to save her. She never asked for any of this. Please, Allatus. I cannot live without her…” He pressed his lips to her cold hand, tears flooding his eyes.
“There is one way,” Allatus said after a second.
Aerén’s head snapped up, his sight blurry. “What?”
“The banished prince.”
“You meanAethan?”
“Aye. He can give you what you need. But hasten,” Allatus cautioned. “I have only slowed her life force from leaving, but I cannot stop death. Not again.”
“What?” Then Aerén shook his head. “Explain later.” And hewouldfind out.
His gaze shot to Thiorr. “Find Daén.”
Thiorr nodded and dematerialized.
Allatus opened a portal. “Go.”
Aerén cast another agonized look at his dying mate, then rose and stepped through the gateway back to Earth, and Aethan.
* * *
