“He stole Prince Dayton’s life for yours,” Wrenley whispers, staring down at us.
“Farron,” Rosalina says, “is this true?”
“Give me a minute,” Dayton groans. “I’ll be ready to kick ass as soon as I catch my breath.”
I give a shaky breath of relief. That was too fine a line to walk.
Rosalina touches my face. “You’re here.”
“Always.”
She smiles at me, then props up on her knees, looking deep within the tempest. “Ezryn? Ezryn!”
I grab her arm to stop her from running straight into the storm. “Rose, wait. What happened?”
“It’s Ezryn,” she cracks. “He’s my mate. And he’s fighting the breaking of his curse.”
83
Keldarion
Wind and debris tear at my hair and clothes as I take another step into the storm. The air spirals in a vicious circle around Ezryn. Pieces of the grove have been torn into the cyclone: logs, branches, rocks, and chunks of dirt fly through the air. I hold my hand up to shield my face.
“The storm’s too strong,” Kairyn grunts beside me. “We’ll never get close enough to him.”
I wrap an arm around Kairyn’s shoulder. Somehow, he’s become even taller than me. His black cape snaps in the wind, and a rocktingsoff his helmet. “Keep going. Ezryn needs us.”
We both take another shaky step forward, fighting the gale. Shrouded by the flying rubble, I can see to the eye of the storm. Ezryn sits on his knees, hands in the earth. What is happening inside of him to trigger this? He would never destroy his home on purpose. Never hurt Rosalina.
I grit my teeth at the thought. The only thing keeping me from rushing out of the storm and finding Rose is my trust in Farron. He is mate of my mate. I know he will do what he must.
And there is one other thing.
Ezryn may not be my blood brother, but he is still my family. He came for me in my darkest hour, when all hope had abandoned me. I will not let him suffer alone.
The wind screams in pain, a sound strangely familiar. Step after step, Kairyn and I fight through the storm. Each movement brings us into harsher winds. Little pieces of earth rip at my flesh, and warm blood streaks across my face. My clothes rip as sharp rocks snag fabric. But I don’t stop.
“It’s too much,” Kairyn cries. “We must turn back.”
I yank hard on his arm. “No!” This boy does not yet understand sacrifice, pain. He does not fully understand what is at stake.
“Together!” I roar. We move in unison, left foot raising, finding purchase, then the right.
I can barely open my eyes now; the wind is too strong, hail mixing with debris. A huge chunk smashes against my brow. I hiss in pain but take another step.
Kairyn stumbles backward. I twist and snag him by the front of his breastplate. He nods in thanks.
I turn back around, but Kairyn cries: “Watch out!”
A rotten log sails through the wind. I don’t have time to react before it strikes both of us. We roll, tumbling over one another. Armor and ground and debris crash into me. I completely lose orientation of up and down. An attempt to stand only sends me spiraling to the ground. The gale is too strong. I force my eyes open and see Kairyn a little behind me, lying on his stomach.
“Kai!” I yell.
He quivers and pushes up to all fours before staring at me. A huge crack runs down the front of his helm. Though his face is still shrouded, I catch the barest glimpse of skin along his forehead.
I stretch my whole arm toward him. “Take my hand!”
Somehow, fear seems to flicker across the cracked owl’s mask. “We must turn back. There’s no getting through the storm!”
