Zach’s legs gave out.
“Zach!” Emma rushed to him, catching him before he could hit the ground. He was so heavy, all muscle and dead weight, but she helped him to his knees. Sweat shone on his face despite the cold. His pupils were dilated, unfocused.
“The artifact.” He looked at her, and something almost like wonder lay beneath the pain in his expression. “How did you… do that?”
“I don’t know.” Emma shook her head, tears pricking her eyes. This wasn’t the time for this conversation. “I didn’t—I just had to protect you.”
He tried to smile. It came out as more of a grimace. “Did a good job.” A tremor ran through him.
“Zach—”
He struggled to stand. Made it halfway up before his entire body swayed. Emma grabbed his arm, steadying him.
“Something’s wrong.” The confusion in his voice terrified her more than anything else. “I feel… drugged. M-muscles… aren’t working right.”
Another tremor ran through him, stronger this time. She couldn’t hold him. They both went down, Emma cushioning his fall as much as she could.
“Zach, we need to get you help?—”
“Call N-nick.” Zach’s words were coming slower now, slurring more. “He’ll know… what to do.”
“Phones are out. Zach, I don’t—” Emma's eyes darted around wildly, at the dead assassin, at the glowing Windstone still lying where she dropped it to catch Zach. They were in a cave on a cliff in the middle of a hurricane, and Zach wasdying?—
“Hey.” His hand found hers; his grip weak but steady. “You’re g-going to be okay,” he said, and she wanted to scream becausehewas the one who wasn’t okay.
“Zach—”
“The Windstone.” He glanced at the artifact, its glow fading. “You can control it. You can protect yourself.”
“I don’t want to protect myself, I want to protectyou!” The words tore out of her, raw and desperate. “You can’t… you’re not allowed to…”
She couldn’t finish the sentence. Couldn’t say the word.
Die.
Zach’s thumb brushed across her inner wrist, the gesture so gentle it broke something inside her. “Not your fault.”
“Yes, it is. You came here for me. You got hurt because?—”
“Would do it again.” His eyes drooped. “Every time.”
“No, stay with me,” she cupped his face, her hands shaking. His skin was clammy—too cold. “Zach, please. Stay awake. We’ll figure this out?—”
“Emma.” Her name on his lips, barely a whisper.
“What? What is it?”
“Nick… tell code… protocol seven…”
The words were fragments, disconnected. His eyes closed.
“Zach?Zach!”
His head lulled to the side, his full weight slumped against her.
“No. Don’t you dare.” She pressed her fingers to his throat, searching for a pulse. It was there—thin, thready, butthere. “Don’t youdaredo this!”
Thunder shook the cave again. Rain was blowing in through the entrance, misting across the ancient stone. The Windstone’s glow was almost gone now, leaving them in near darkness.
