I turn my head just far enough that he can hear me. “I fell in love with you, too. And I’m sorry I’m leaving. But I’ll come back. Please don’t die before I do.Please.”
I stagger toward the doors. Each step gouges a fresh wound into my belly, but I force myself forward until my hand closes around the knob that leads to Aethrolia.
I don’t look back. Just wrench open the door and hurl myself through, already screaming Carina’s name.
Chapter 26
Stale air hits my face as I stumble out into my old bedroom. I pause for half a second, barely recognizing my surroundings. There are no branches forking across the walls, here. No magic thickening the air, no fireflies spinning lazy corkscrews. Just colorless furnishings and the Book of Disciplines, collecting dust on my side table.
My eyes pass over it, uncaring. I shout again, my voice fracturing around my sister’s name, but only silence answers. Stillness.
My heartbeat sputters. When I look back through the door, Amriel lies so still—dying or dead, I can’t be sure. Goddess, but I need Carina more than I’ve needed anything. Except I can’t let go of this knob. If this door closes, there’s no going back.
I muster every fiber of strength, fashion them into a scream. “Carina!”
Something ruptures inside me—my throat or my heart or my soul—but my sister doesn’t answer. No one does.
My frantic gaze flits to the window. Outside, pale sunshine floods the sky, and I realize.
The temple.
My family has gone to pray, or will have soon.
My throat closes up. If they’ve already left, I have no chance. But Carina lingers on the floor below sometimes, waiting for Brynne and Evelyn to join her. If she’s there right now, standing by the window…
I scan for something to prop the door with. I can wedge it open and race down to the landing, find Carina and bring her back.
It’s my only hope.
My eyes slide across the Book of Disciplines again, then snap back. That should be heavy enough. I release the door just long enough to dart toward across the room and pluck the book off the side table, then race back before the portal can close. I catch the door and wedge the book haphazardly against the jamb before stepping back.
The door stands open. Velindra still shimmers on the other side.
Now I just need my sister.
I race from my room and down the hall, my steps thudding against the floorboards. The corridor flashes past, and then I’m careening down the stairs. Down, down, down…
I nearly run right into her. Carina stands on the landing, gazing out the window, a faint smile curving her mouth. Her hair has grown, a silky brown cap that encases her scalp.
Relief screams through me, driving me to my knees, and I skid to a stop at her feet. I’ve never been so glad to see anyone in my life.
She turns, looks down at me with widened eyes.
“Carina, you have to help me.” I paw at her stiff gray skirts. “Please. You have to save him.Healhim.”
The color drains from her cheeks, but… Why isn’t she moving? Why isn’t sherunning?
“Sariah…?” she says around a frown. “Is that…you?”
My brow puckers. Of course it’s me. “Please. He’s dying, and he needs you.Ineed you.”
She presses a hand to her mouth, her fingers trembling against her lips. “Sariah, you’re… Your hair. And…your clothes. What even are those? And…Ishanna’s breath, what happened? What did Amrieldoto you?”
I stare up, caught in the whirlpool of her eyes. What did he do to me? What did hedo? He opened my mind. Showed me how big the world can be. Showed me everything.
Whatever he did, I need him to keep doing it.
“He made me fall in love,” I choke out. “But now he’s dying, and I need you to heal him. Please.Please. I’ll never ask you for anything again, if you’ll just do this for me.”
