My magic stirred, responding to grief and rage, ready to tear reality apart. Ready to unmake everything until nothing remained, but this time I didn’t have to strength to unleash my powers.
Instead, I leaned back into the jagged wall, numb.
CHAPTER 18
DAEMON
Cold pressed in from all sides.
I woke to absolute darkness. My lungs burned, throat raw as though I'd swallowed ash. I couldn't remember closing my eyes. Couldn't remember,
Lyralei. Vaelthorne.
The memory slammed back. Arrows punching through her, light fading from her eyes. Seris falling to her knees, unable to withstand the grief.
I pushed myself upright. Stone scraped my palms, damp and smooth. The darkness was total, suffocating in its completeness.
"Anyone conscious?" My voice came out hoarse.
A groan answered from my left. Kael, probably. Another rustle to my right. Kane shifted, cursing under his breath.
"Where are we?" Zephyr's voice cracked with panic. "I can barely see anything. I can't, "
"Breathe." I kept my tone flat, authoritative. "Everyone stay still until we know what we're dealing with."
Then, I sensed more movement. Bodies shifting, fabric rustling.
Five. All five.
"I need to know who's here," I said. "Sound off."
"Kael." Exhausted, but steady.
"Kane." Bitter edge underneath.
"Zephyr." Still shaking.
Silence.
"Seris?" I turned toward where I thought she might be. "Seris, answer me."
A soft exhale. Barely audible.
"She's here," Kael said quietly. "I can feel her beside me. She's... not responsive."
My jaw clenched. Deal with it later. Survive first.
"Does anyone have supplies? Provisions? Anything?"
Negative responses filtered back. Of course. Lyralei had pulled us through reality itself with seconds to spare. We were lucky to have arrived with our clothes intact.
I forced myself to stand. My legs protested, muscles screaming from exertion I didn't remember making. The stone beneath my feet felt worn smooth, ancient. Water dripped somewhere distant, echoing in a way that suggested vast space.
"Stay together," I said. "Link hands if you have to. We move as a unit."
I extended my arm, found fabric, followed it until my fingers brushed someone's shoulder. Kane flinched but didn't pull away.
"Everyone connected?"
