Valerius shook himself. “The Black Death will seem like a cakewalk if we don’t stop this. Your powers, Illarion, what are they?”
Illarion frowned. “Why--”
“Are any of them not fatal?” Valerius asked.
“Are any of yours?” Illarion hit back.
“No.” Valerius grimaced. “Even if I was willing to have you gas them, Caden’s body is in there. It will kill him, too.”
Illarion clenched his jaw. A vein throbbed in his right temple. “I could run in there and grab Caden--”
“Caden and Anwar were overwhelmed by a fraction of this amount of the horde,” Valerius told him.
“Then I shift as soon as I get inside of there, scoop Caden up and then shift back and we… we run…” Illarion looked at Valerius’ panting, gasping form.
The blood he was losing had slowed to a trickle. That was the only good thing.
“If we must run, I will find a way to do so,” Valerius got out.
Illarion’s eyebrows rose. “Really? Because I think you are committing suicide if we count on you outrunning the horde.”
“Then what--”
“Shhhhh.” Illarion slapped a hand over Valerius’ lips as he stared down the tunnel, from the way they had come. Illarion’s much keener hearing and eyesight were being triggered by something. “Someone is there… many someones.”
“The horde?” Valerius’ voice was muffled under Illarion’s hand. He didn’t have the strength to pry it off.
“No… I… ah! Finally! Where have you all been?!” Illarion asked.
Valerius saw several dark shapes materialize into the other Dragon Shifters. He almost let out a sob of relief. Esme and Anwar were in the lead. Despite being in the foul tunnels, she was still dressed in a soft blue gown and heels while Anwar was still naked as the day. Tez and Kaila were holding hands as Tez appeared terrified by all the dirt and grime, or maybe the tunnels were causing him to remember his time in the mines. Jahara and Mei brought up the rear.
“What have you done to Valerius, Illarion?” Esme demanded as she took in his supine state.
“He’s bleeding! Oh, oh, my!” Tez cried and covered his mouth with his free hand.
“It’s okay, Tez. This is Valerius! Nothing bad can happen to him,” Kaila assured the Gold Dragon.
If only that were true, Valerius thought.
Anwar appeared stricken. Valerius saw guilt flow through the Silver Dragon King. He wanted to assure him that it wasn’t his fault. They had all underestimated the Behemoth. Him, most of all.
“Let me see that.” Jahara kneeled down beside him and looked at the gash in his leg. “This is bad, but it should have healed. Something is wrong here.”
That was truly the understatement of the year. Valerius bit down on the hysterical laughter that wanted to pour out of him.
“Raziel is… is away. Fighting the Behemoth with Caden in the Spirit Realm,” Valerius got out.
Jahara ripped her flowing skirt and used that as a bandage around his leg while the others stared at him in confusion.
“Our Spirits are only with us when they’re in their lairs,” Illarion explained. “Raziel had to leave the lair in order to fight the Behemoth. So Valerius is… well, mostly, human and mortal until Raziel returns to the lair.”
“What do you mean?” Anwar asked. “That Evren is--is locked in his lair?”
“All of our Spirits are stuck in their lairs,” Illarion answered with a bitter grunt. “They’re goddamned prisoners. Because if they leave, we become like Valerius here. And they don’t want to do that.”
“But Lana’s never said that!” Kaila’s gaze turned inwards then her gaze sharpened again. “But it’s true!”
“Evren confirms it too!” Anwar shook his head as if to deny that affirmation.
