I cover the rope with a bit of dirt from the ground, attempting to camouflage it, and then press my hands to my thighs to stand.
“She seems to have gotten over that rather quickly, don't you think?” Livvy says my own thoughts out loud.
Raiden's chuckle as he ushers us after Shreya is in no way comforting. “We'll see.”
Raiden
“CREWS ARE WORKING in small shifts to clear the tunnels as much as they can without drawing attention,” Baltas tells us.
The five of us are gathered around a table. There's a large map of the tunnels sprawled out before us, and we've spent the last several hours discussing strategy. It was a relief to lay eyes on my friend, but the true gift was when we discovered Konnor was unharmed in the attack.
Though the relief was short-lived when I realized Arina and I would have to explain things to Konnor, and until we did so, it meant I could not touch her. It was taking more effort than I had expected.
“How much longer until the tunnels to Spoikos are clear?” I ask, working to keep my eyes on anything other than Arina.
Baltas grins. “If you're helping, it will go a lot faster.”
Right. The fun is over, and it's time to get back to work. I don't know that I ever believed we would be this close to the end, but all the sleepless nights and every life I took along the way have nearly paid off.
“The Clestrayan armada is sailing around from the back.” I point to the spot on the map where Gideon is leading his soldiers. “The hope is to ensure Invidia cannot escape.”
“Is it safe enough to move those who want to fight back to the Underground?” Arina asks, her glowing green eyes boring into mine.
I look to Baltas and Konnor for an answer, but doing so takes great effort.
“This is all we've ever wanted. This is the whole point of our rebellion. These warriors do not care if it's safe or not. They will go with you, and they will fight for you, no matter the cost,” Konnor says.
I don't trust myself to speak, so I bow my head, hoping he knows just how much all of this has meant to me.
“You will stay here to protect those who wish to stay behind? And those who might flee here for refuge, depending on how things go?” Arina asks her father.
He nods once, and then says, “I wish that you would stay, Arina. I know it's not in your nature, hells, it's not in mine either. But I wish I could protect you from this.”
She reaches across the table and grabs his hand. “I do not need your protection. You taught me how to save myself.” Her words are choked, and a single tear streams down her cheek.
Gods, my mate is astonishing. I have never wanted something so fervently. This curse is standing between me and everything I’ve never allowed myself to dream of. And the closer we get to breaking it, the more terrified I become. I do not wish to lose her.
“When can we leave?” she asks, looking at each of us while she waits for an answer.
“The sooner, the better,” I say.
We all rise from the table at the same time, and Konnor directs us to a larger room where Shreya has already gathered what is left of the Rhiza, along with the inhabitants of Ophis Isle, who welcomed Konnor and our people with open arms.
“There are so many of them,” I whisper so only Baltas can hear me.
“It's a good thing they're all on our side,” he jokes.
Arina
Breesha wraps me in a warm hug, and I squeeze her back, so relieved she made it out of the cave-in.
When she releases me, she wipes at her eyes, and then busies herself making food for the trip back to the caves. I work alongside her in content silence. Until we've packed up all the food and loaded it on the ship.
We pull away from Ophis Isle, and I watch the horizon as it fades from view.
“Wondering if you'll see it again?” Raiden asks, nudging me gently in the side.
I sigh. “It's the first place I want to visit when this is all over.”
