The sounds cut off abruptly, light smearing across the orb. A second later, Amriel’s face fills the crystal, but from afar, as if someone else is holding his orb. Ropes circle his wrists, and he looks wrecked, his hair disheveled, his eyes wild, a bruise already forming on his cheek. “Sariah? Are you safe? Tell me you’re safe.”
I flash a thin smile. “I’m safe.”At least for now, I don’t add.
He closes his eyes—in relief or rage, I can’t be sure. “You’re trying to kill me, aren’t you? You’re actively trying to kill me.”
“No,” I say softly. “I’m trying to save you.”
He lets go of a shuddering exhale and lets his head fall back against the floor with a thunk. “Don’t ever do that to me again. I was worried that… I thought you…”
I watch his struggle, try not to let it sway me. But goddess, it’s hard.
He tugs at his bindings, then gives up and opens his eyes. “Just come back. Right now. I’ll take you home, I’ll?—”
“Amriel. No.” My smile is rueful. “We had a deal. One I’m going to uphold.”
His jaw clenches. “No. I release you. I command you not to finish the maze.”
“I have to, though.”
His throat works around some unnamed emotion. “I can’t have you risk yourself. Ican’t.”
My chest nearly caves in at the look on his face, but I force my voice steady. “Look. There’s no risk. You can send the Shadow to find me, have him carry me again. He’ll keep me safe. I only have enough time left to last until dawn.”
A beat passes as he processes that. “That’s… He won’t be himself for another few minutes.”
“Fine.” I roll onto hands and knees. “Then I’ll use that time to find a door.”
“Sariah…”
“Amriel. I’m doing this. Either you can accept it and send me your Shadow, or I can spin this orb around and do it on my own.”
Someone chuckles off to the side—Calen, probably, because Amriel’s look turns murderous as he stares the person down. But he doesn’t argue, just glares at everything and everyone in the vicinity.
“All right,” I say, after a beat of silence. “I’m glad that’s settled, then.”
“Nothing is settled,” Amriel seethes. “Nothing.”
I ignore that and glance around to get my bearings. The landscape here doesn’t amount to much—just a barren shore, lifeless sand, and relentless gray clouds overhead. Then I spot it—a door, painted the same dead-grass black as everything else, half buried in the gray sand.
“Found a way out,” I say, moving toward it.
“Just don’t close the connection,” Amriel blurts. “Let me keep you in sight, all right? Until my Shadow finds you.”
The plea in his voice cracks me wide, and I nod, not trusting myself to look at him. When I reach the door, I shove it open.
Peach-colored light floods through, driving back the gloom.
I don’t hesitate. Squinting against the brightness, I make my way forward, half-sliding, half-surfing the tumble of sand that carries me through the doorway and deposits me on the other side.
When I climb free, I find myself atop a grassy bluff. The sky blazes overhead, alight with varieties of oranges and pink I have no names for.
Which is impressive enough, but when I glance down, my breath ceases completely. Awe explodes within me, coating my insides with glittering light.
Good goddess. A river stretches far below, but not like any river I’ve ever seen. This oneglows. Bursts of blue and purple shimmer across its swiftly moving surface, the water so luminous it looks like liquid stars.
It’s beautiful.
Breathtaking.
