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Please, by all the gods and goddesses, let her be safe.

This was all his fault. He should have searched for her sooner instead of waiting for her to cool down. He should have explained it to her, but he could barely think of the words to say to Ria during their fight, what could he have said to a child?

And Ria? Despite everything, here she was, putting herself in danger for Korinnae again.

“Close,” she whispered. “Very close.”

They turned left, then right, then left again. A few dead ends sent them doubling back, but just like in the tunnels, Ria grew more confident as they went deeper and her steps were more certain of the direction they were going. Eventually, a blue light appeared far ahead. They followed it until the corridor opened into a square chamber.

Blue torches ringed the walls, and the ceiling vaulted high above them. In the center was a high altar, and Korinnae sat on a stone table, her wrists still bound. She was awake, tears streaking down her cheeks and through dirt, her body trembling. Standing over her was the hooded figure from the tunnel, one hand resting on the calf’s shoulder.

Korinnae’s head swung toward them. “Uncle Asty! Ria!”

The figure’s hooded head turned toward their direction. Asterion stepped forward, but Ria was faster. She rushed up the steps to the altar and put herself between Korinnae and the figure, her hands raised, magic already building at her fingertips. The tattoo on her forearm blazed bright.

“Get away from her,” Ria said.

The cloaked figure didn’t hesitate as one hand swept toward her, sending a dark blast of energy at her. Ria put her arms up, barely having time to put up a shield. The force of the blast drove her back, her boots scraping on the stone floor.

Asterion charged and dropped his head. The base of his horns caught the figure in the chest and took it off its feet, and he went down with it. The figure twisted free and struck him across the jaw. His head snapped sideways and he tasted blood. He swung back, connecting with something solid beneath the cloak. The thing grunted.

“Ria, help!” came the high-pitched cry.

He turned back to see that Ria had reached Korinnae and was working on untying the calf. That distraction, however, cost him as the figure managed to scramble away from Asterion and toward the altar. Thanks to his long reach, he caught the end of its cloak and hauled it back. “You’re not going anywhere near them.”

The figure spun on him, and for a brief moment, the hood fell back just enough that he caught a glimpse of a face. Or rather, lack of one. The blood in his veins froze as he stared into a deep, dark void.

What the hell was this creature?

His brain was so distracted, or perhaps this monster had hypnotized him, that he didn’t notice the portal ripping open behind the creature. Pulling its hood back into place, it jumped through the gateway, vanishing as it quickly collapsed.

Bollach. He shouldn’t have allowed himself to become flustered.

“You came!” Korinnae cried. The calf had her arms around Ria. “You came for me.”

Asterion quickly glanced at where the portal was, then back at his niece. That bastard had gotten away, but at least they saved Korinnae.

Promise to me you’ll keep her safe, Asterion. Don’t let anyone hurt her.

Aye, Xanthe. I’ll keep her safe until my last dying breath.

“Of course we did.” Ria held her tight, one hand soothing her back. “Of course we did.”

He immediately noticed how pale Ria’s was and how her hands were shaking and her breath was coming in gasps. Her magic was running low, as was her strength.

“Ria.” Asterion crouched beside them. “Your arm…” The skin around the tattoo was red and raw, and when she shifted her arm, she winced.

“The tattoo…our bond…used it as a shield.”

“And now you’ve drained your magic and energy again.” To protect Korinnae.

“I’m fine,” she said.

“No, you’re not.”

“I said⁠—”

Ignoring her protest, he wrapped his arms around her and Korinnae and slipped his hand under her shirt, allowing their skin to touch. Once again, he felt that current pass between them as Ria sighed and relaxed against him.