“Psst. Over here,” I whisper to get Auren’s attention.
He turns sharply. “Vivienne,” he hisses. “What are you doing?”
I crouch behind a large shrub. “What does itlooklike I’m doing?” I whisper irritably. “I’mrescuingyou.”
“Those Goblins are dangerous. You need to leave.”
I cross my arms over my chest. “I’m not going anywhere.”
“Vivienne,” he chastises in a low voice.
“Really, Auren, must you be so difficult?” I place my hands on my hips. “In case you didn’t notice, we’re a bit pressed for time,” I say primly. “Now, stop wasting your breath trying to convince me to go, and tell me how to save you.”
One of the soldiers snickers, and Auren glares at him.
“How do I free you?” I whisper.
Clenching his jaw, he points at one of the rune stones. “That glowing stone. You need to push it over, so that it breaks the line of sight with the others. It will collapse the magic barrier.”
I start to walk toward it.
“Wait,” he says quickly, and my head snaps to his. “It will hurt.”
I purse my lips. “Well, of course it will,” I grumble. “Because that’s just my luck,” I add sarcastically as I stalk toward it in a huff.
I touch the stone, and bright light arcs, zapping my arm. “OW!” I jerk back violently, shaking my hand.
“Vivienne!”
Before he can say anything further, I grab it again. Pain sears my palms, traveling up my arms like fire as the rock shifts beneath my grip. Gritting my teeth, I refuse to let go, pushing with all my might until the stone finally tumbles over.
The barrier shatters as it falls with a heavy thud, and a bolt of magic races toward me like lightning, sending me flying.
The world tilts as I slam onto my back, on the ground, the air forcibly expelled from my lungs. The sky spins overhead and Auren’s voice cuts through the chaos as he rushes toward me.
“Vivienne!” He falls to his knees and gathers me in his arms. His expression is half fury, half terrified concern as he stares down at me.
“Well,” I somehow manage to mutter faintly despite my pain, “that was rather unpleasant.”
“Gods, Vivienne,” he breathes, brushing the hair back from my face. “You are going to be the death of me.”
CHAPTER 40
AUREN
As I hold Vivienne in my arms, relief crashes through me so violently my vision blurs. “Gods above, Vivienne, you could have been killed.”
She winces as I shift her weight against my chest, tightening my hold instinctively, one arm supporting her back while the other goes up under her knees before I carefully lift her off the ground.
Around us, the camp is erupting into motion again. Several of the warriors have already vanished toward the river to deal with the Goblins who only moments ago thought themselves clever. Others are dragging the rune stones away from the clearing, muttering darkly about the trouble such magic could cause if left behind.
Beyond the firelight I can see Lyrea and the others emerging from the trees with the children, relief plain in every hurried step.
But my focus never leaves the woman in my arms as I carry her toward our tent, her eyes closed and her brow creased in pain.
The path feels longer than it should, each step careful so that the motion doesn’t jar her more than necessary. Vivienne is lighter than I remember, though perhaps that is simply because fear still sits heavily in my chest.
I almost lost her again.The thought hits me with brutal clarity. First the Ogre attack and now this.
