The Shroud is lifted.Kage's voice slams into my mind.The Rooks will be here soon.
I let out a ragged breath. Good news, at least.Are you injured?
A pause.Yes. I can't summon my shadows. I can barely stand. How the fuck are you walking?
I don't respond. The fear of losing Ada is the only thing keeping me upright, and that's not something I want to admit right now. I swallow hard and keep going. Keep staring at Ada.
Keep praying to Maia and Lugal that I'll reach her before another wave of guards descends with those ivory weapons. Praying that if I fall, she'll at least be protected.
As if she senses me, she turns. Those burning, unblinking blue eyes lock onto mine. Even through the chaos, even through the fear, I feel the bond flare between us. Feel her reaching for me.
"I am," she starts, in her own voice this time. This is no longer Mortiana's message. This is Ada. My Ada. I hold my breath as her lips move again. "I am Ada Temperance Acevedo. Cursebreaker of Tenebris."
The proclamation grabs me by the throat.
And then she crumples.
Fuck.
I use the sword as a crutch and try to move faster.Menace! Ada! Stay with me!
I shove the words through the bond. Shove whatever strength I can muster after them. The effort makes my head spin so fast my knees hit the ground. Sand billows around me like smoke.
Bain.Kage's voice makes me blink.
I grip my sword tighter. Use it as leverage to haul myself up. Stumble back down, crashing so hard my teeth rattle.
The Veritas guards are on their way to you. You need to wait. You're going to get yourself killed.
I ignore him. I don't have the energy to respond and focus on the bond at the same time. I squint through the dust, trying to make out the stage. Reach for the bond and find it thready. Flickering.
Panic seizes my chest.
I tug harder. Feel her confusion. Her fear. I summon what's left of my strength, bury the sword in the sand, and drag myself upright. My legs threaten to buckle.
Then I see a flash of green uniforms carrying Ada's limp body toward the tunnel on the right side of the arena. A roar rips from my throat as I limp after them. Most of the legion guards are down, scattered across the sand. We were certain without their amulets they'd shift. We were hoping Ada's friends would too.
Now I wonder if they even know they have the ability. On the opposite side of the amphitheater, Freida is still fighting. I keep walking toward the tunnel instead.
"It leads to the dock!" Naima shouts, sprinting toward me with those ivory manacles still clamped around her wrists.
Margot stumbles after her, sobbing so hard she trips over her own feet. I keep walking, barely avoiding tripping over myself.
They're headed for a ship.Kage's voice again, urgent and raw.They're taking her to Arusha.
Another sound tears from my chest.
Naima flinches and raises her bound wrists. "If I can get these off, I can reach her!"
My head whips toward her. "How?"
"Water," she says, as if that's the most obvious answer in the world.
Maybe it is. I don't care. All I know is if that ship leaves for Arusha, I won't be able to reach Ada. Not in time. Not like this.
I keep hobbling toward the tunnel. "I can't break them. My gifts won't work on the ivory."
"Can I use your sword?"
