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For half a second, I almost go to him.

Can't.

Not yet.

Caelen sees me anyway. His face changes. Relief.

Immediate. Then he sees the enemy between us.

Chief again. He kills one. Another. Moves closer.

"EIREA!"

"I'm fine!" Lie. Good enough.

He reaches me. Grabs both sides of my face. Quick. Checking. Eyes. Blood. Alive. Then releases.

"Where's Rhyven?"

I stare. "What?"

Caelen's face changes. "He isn't here?"

Cold.

"What do you mean?"

"He left before us."

My stomach drops. "Left where?"

"Here."

"When?"

"Hours ago."

No.

I look toward the sky.

Smoke.

Dragons.

Fire.

No Vyrael. No— Fuck.

"Why?"

Caelen looks at me. Wrong time. Something in his face I don't understand. "Later."

"Caelen."

"Later."

A Hollowborn attacks. Conversation ends. Caelen turns. Blade. Down. "Inner command!" He shouts.