He nodded firmly,thenhesitated. He was looking at me not only with concern etched into his features, but also pride.
Before he could get emotional on me, I pulled him into a tight embrace—one he returned strongly.
“Youbesafe out there, alright?” His voice was lower than usual, heavy with the emotion he was holding back.
“You too, Laurence,” I said, patting him on the back twice before releasing him.
I knew I should be as anxiety-filled and nervous as everybody else seemed to be, but Icouldn’tfind those emotions in me anymore. If they were still in there somewhere,they’dquieteddown in favor of a different feeling.
Hope.
“I’ll see you on the other side of this,” I said to the older male, patting him on the shoulder before he dipped his head once anddeparted,likely headingto his position.
I reached ahand outto Atlas, gently restingitalong his side and grounding myself in the moment.
I needed to be entirely present.
“Are you ready for this, Avi?” I heard Byn ask from above.
Looking up to where my husband awaited me on Atlas’s back, I realized he and I were the only twofaeleft there.
His hand was extended to me, and I noticed he was wearing an extra ring today—one with hisfamily’screst engraved on it. As though he wanted to carry a piece of them with him.
The time had come.
Taking a deep breath, I nodded.
“I’m ready,” I confirmed as I slipped my hand into his.
Chapter Thirty-Seven
The closer I got to the towering wall surrounding the encampment, the more difficult it became to hold on to my shadow form. I had the wall up ahead to thank for that.
Once I was close enough to make out the largest of the oddalychitespikes poking out from the structure, myziriliumgave out completely. I could feel the moment it became blocked—likea flameflickering, then being smothered. I came to a stumbling stop as I was thrown back into my physical body, barely catching myself before Ifaceplanted, as I had been barreling forward at full speed.
Walking forsome of the way, I followed the flow of the wall from the edges of the forest, heading toward the largest of the watchtowers up ahead.
The same one from before that Matea and I had discovered was much easier to wield ourziriliumaround.
With the sun nearing the horizon and soonto rise, I broke into an all-out run.
I knew patrols and guardswere hidden withinthe forest, though I also knew Ididn’tneed to worry about them.
The Valwain and army had that covered.
I was gratefulI’dalready had Byn help meinkmy wings so that they blended in with my dark outfit, the dim sky overhead helpingme to blend into the darkness of the forest still.I’dalso tucked my blinding white hair into a charcoal-colored capwitha cloth concealing the lower half of my face—both beingsimilar tothe kindsI’doften seensome guards andsoldiers of the North wearing.They’ddon attire like this mostly during winter, but we were willing to risk it. I should still blend in enough to get by.
Plus, the face covering helped to negate thesmellthreatening to overpower my senses.
A few moments later, I was approaching the watchtower.
I’dpassed multiple other, smaller watchtowers on the way, but the one up ahead of me then was different.
Last time we were here,we’dfigured out the specific structure up ahead had significantly less of thealychiteshards poking out of the wall in favor of having large structural supports. With thesupportsin the way, therehadn’tbeen room for hardly any of the metal in that area.
Which gave me the perfect opening.
As I got within range of the wide stretch of stone that made up the watchtower—noalychitein the area—I could feel myziriliumspark back to life within me, the stones on my gloves buzzing with energy once again. I could tellitwasn’tat full power simply because of my proximity to the insane amount ofalychitethere at the encampment, but it would have to be enough.
