She looks back down the hallway the way we came, as if she’s expecting a better option to come along.
“Okay,” she says at last. She’s about to turn back toward her room in a hurry, but I halt her.
“No. We don’t have time to grab anything. We have to go now if we want to get out of here.”
She joins us in the hallway, taking the spot in front of me as we continue running.
As I jog through the halls with Daegan close behind me, it sinks in that he’s really, truly here. His hair that I’ve longed to run my hand through is slightly shorter, and I noticed a sliver of a black tattoo peeking out from his collar. I want to embrace him, be wrapped up in his comforting scent again, but there’s no time for that right now. Besides, a long time has passed, and I don’t know where we stand anymore. We were just barely figuring that out before we were violently ripped apart.
We emerge outside to a sky on fire.
The other side of the island is completely ablaze, gray billowing smoke rising up into the veil. It accepts it like a generous offering, absorbing the smoke as it greets it.
“This way!” Daegan hollers at us, taking the lead. We follow him toward the shore on the opposite end.
I pump my arms harder than I ever have. Every horrible thing I felt while being trapped here feels like it’s pouring out of me, and hope fills me with every step in the sand. I run until I see a small sailboat up ahead, and then I keep going until I see Raef’s smiling face come into view.
Raef, who’s standing there waiting for us with a grin like no time has passed. Raef, who’s probably responsible for those fires behind us.
“Hey, Sand,” he says with a giant grin. I keep running until I reach him, then I crash into him and wrap my arms around him. An elated, high-pitched sort of whimper escapes my lips as I squeeze him, and I then step back. We have no time to waste on pleasantries.
“Let’s go,” Daegan commands from up ahead, already standing at the bow looking out toward the sea.
Raef, Rhydra, Phaedra, and I all climb in and take our seats, and Daegan begins to paddle almost immediately.
There’s a tense stretch of silence as we gain some space from the island. Daegan faces my direction from a small length ahead as he pulls the oars with his powerful arms and avoids looking at me. I take a moment to turn in my seat and watch as the island fades into the distance forever. The fires are gone now, but the wreckage it left behind is clear even from here. They’ll most likely have to relocate while they rebuild. Or abandon the island forever.
I finally made it.
A tear trickles down my cheek as I watch the last dredges of the smoke rise. I’m not proud of the person I became while on that island, and I’m saying goodbye to her now. She can burn with the flames, rising with the smoke into the veil and whatever lies beyond. I won’t be that pathetic, hopeless elf ever again. I vow it.
I turn back around as it becomes so small in the distance it’s almost completely gone, wiping at my cheek with the back of my hand.
When I glance up, Daegan is watching me. For a moment, our eyes lock, the blues of his irises undetectable in the near darkness. There are so many things I want to say. But I can’t. Not here.
Something has hardened in his expression, and I don’t think it’s just from tonight, but something I fear is now permanently etched there. My stomach drops, wondering what he’s been through. I’m terrified to find out.
I shift my gaze to Rhydra, who sits in front of me, and I notice the sword strapped to her back. The sword of the dragons. They still have it.
I want to ask them so much more, but I don’t fully trust Phaedra still, and I’m certain they all trust her even less. Frustration claws at me.
“Neat sword, huh?” Raef is watching me with a mischievous grin.
“Yeah. It is,” I reply softly. “Any chance you have a pretty crown to match it?”
He huffs out a laugh, but then his head hangs a little, his expression looking slightly less jubilant. “Afraid not. I have an idea where one might find such a thing, though.”
My eyebrows rise, and I can feel myself physically perk up. “Really?”
“You bet. Maybe I’ll show you some time.” He smiles and winks at me, then resumes rowing.
Another stretch of silence falls over the boat, and then I realize—we’re not heading toward the mainland.
“Where are we going?”
Raef looks at Daegan like he’s expecting him to answer, but when he doesn’t, he makes a face, then looks back at me. “Couldn’t head straight toshore. That would be too obvious. We’re going to head south for a little bit before we touch land.”
“It’s almost nightfall…” I trail off, looking out at the vast gray sea around us.
