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I wanted to push him away from me.

But then I was nothing. A figment of my own imagination, floating above my body, looking down at myself. My face red from the spray of the hot ash, my chest caved in on itself. Jagged rock from an Earth of terror jutting from my chest.

And I was pale . . . so, so pale.

The last thing I felt was the coolness of Leo cocooning me as I continued to rise above myself.

The last thing I heard was the wailing of a baby’s cry, somewhere far away from the place I once called home.

CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN

ADRIAN

Present Day - The Dome

Every spare moment I had while Bryn was gone, I’d searched for her.

I’d been smart in my movements. Always waiting for times when Leo was distracted, off somewhere orchestrating his delusional plans.

I’d been traveling across the other worlds, searching for signs of her, asking if any visitors matching Leo’s description had passed through. I knew he’d placed her soul somewhere far from One. Some place she would never be found.

But as years went by, it became harder for people to remember, and the worlds were so vast, I knew it would be next to impossible to find her, until Leo wanted her found.

Then, a month and a half ago, Leo had arrived back at the castle, soaking wet and in a rage, and had refused to speak with me about what had happened.

I knew then it was about her.

I hadn’t wasted any time, sneaking from the castle as quickly as I could, so I could catch Leo’s trail of night before it disappeared.

When I picked up his magic, my legs had almost given out in relief, and I’d been able to track the essence left in his wake all the way to Six. To a city named Gray.

And there, I’d found her. My Brynlynn. In a hospital bed. Sleeping. A chart by her side with the note: submersion injury.

Anger had scorched through me at the sight of her condition. The hospital lights flickering as I fought against my magic pounding inside me. Banging its fists against my adamant. Begging for a release.

When the Deks attacked Six a few weeks later, I knew the time had come for Leo to bring her home. So, I got to work on assembling my men.

It had been during my years of travel that I’d been able to make friends who were now my allies, recruiting soldiers to my cause. I had whispered to them in dark corners of back-alley bars that smelled of piss and blood from constant brawls. I’d told them of the king, and the army he was raising of creatures that held no moral compass. Their only desire to slaughter on demand.

It had taken decades to form hundreds of alliances, only seeking out those who knew about the existence of the many worlds, never rushing to grow my numbers, not wanting to put my trust in the wrong person and expose my movements to Leo. He needed to believe I was under his spell if I had any chance of getting Bryn back. My beautiful wife, whose final moments were spent in agony while I hadn’t been able to do anything but hold her.

I’d been nearly powerless back then compared to the power I had now. My flames had always been strong, but they were nothing against Leo’s night, especially while he channeled his magic from Ten. The entire Earth venom.

It had poisoned my friend, who was so far removed from the boy I once knew.

As I entered the Dome, my first look at Bryn stopped me dead in my tracks.

A Decodon stood behind her, and she had been injured, her face paler than her usual shade.

Her hand instinctively dropped to her bandaged thigh when she looked at me.

Shit.

I had gotten here as fast as I could, portaling my men as quickly as possible through Stafford’s Portal, not wanting to create my own portal too closely to the Dome, and spook Leo from initiating his attack. I’d waited too long for this moment to mess it up.

But I hadn’t gotten here quick enough to stop Bryn from getting hurt. Or to stop guards from dying. The sight of it all turned my stomach in on itself.

My eyes roved over her, checking for any other signs she was unwell. But she only smiled at me without an ounce of fear toward me.