Dozens of cloaked figures.
I stiffen.Guardians of the Wastes.
Their lanterns swing with an unnatural rhythm, but the water never stirs beneath their feet. No footsteps. No breath. No face beneath the hoods.
One of them turns toward Koen.
I almost stand. Almost sever the link and call for my shadows to take me to intervene. But Koen doesn’t move, and the guardian turns away, continuing on.
Once again, he survived.
I blink as the image trembles and dims.
Koen on the ground. Bleeding. A creature looming over him. Tall, cloaked, its face...Aren. No, not Aren. Something wearing him. My stomach lurches. A mawless.
Gods above.Aren didn’t deserve this. He was a good man who was only here because he just wanted to help his sister. A tear slides down my cheek.
I’m so sorry,Aren.
My eyes fly open, pulse roaring in my ears. “I have to go.”
“What?” Torin steps forward. “Go where?”
“Cover for me,” I say quickly. “If anyone asks, I’m in the library. Or asleep. Or…I don’t know…just lie, you’re both good at it.”
Alira’s face pales. “Serenya—”
“I don’t have time.Please,” I say, hoping they see the desperation in my eyes.
I’m not sure how much of my magic will be left for me to heal him by the time I get there, so I grab the leather satchel I always keep ready. It has bandages, balm, tinctures, and salves. My hands are shaky and my breath trembles, but I move fast.
I fling open my balcony doors. Wind sweeps in, snuffing a few candles.
My shadows start swirling around my ankles.
Torin steps onto the balcony after me. “This isn’t likeyou.”
I turn to him, determined. “He’s in trouble.”
His brow furrows. “Koen? How are you going to get there in time? You can’t vaelshad. You’ve never been there.”
“I will get as close as I can, then I’ll ride my shadows the rest of the way. But I have to leave.Now.”
Alira comes up behind us, wrapping my cloak around me and shoving my boots into my arms. “Be careful.”
I give a quick nod. Then let my shadows swirl around me until there’s nothing but darkness.
“Take me to him,” I whisper.
Chapter 18
?---- Koen ? ----?
Something wet slams into my face.
I gasp, choking on water as I jerk upright with a strangled cough. My body protests the movement. Everything hurts, my shoulder throbs, and my chest feels like it has been crushed by stone.
“Are you finally awake?” Serenya snaps. “Are you ser— Koen, I swear to the goddess—”
