I hung there a moment, fighting to regain my bearings.
Cyrus began to pull me up as the fabric tore. I scrambled to grab protrusions in the wall and released the curtains. As I scaled down, my fragmented thoughts aligned with a single purpose: Succeed or die trying.
Chapter Thirty
Hatred is a blade turned inward, and in striking, it is struck, but love, ever patient, ever enduring, conquers with its unyielding truth.
—The Book of Soal2.6.8.37
I scaled down the wall at warp speed. Well, my version of warp speed. Guards rushed to different balconies, attempting to grab me as I passed. Thankfully, they couldn’t meet me on the ground. The mountain was too steep, with a churning body of water below.
At the lowest point, I had no choice but to jump. Which I did. Down I fell, hurtling toward the water. When I hit, I hit hard. Icy cold emptied my lungs, and muscles from top to bottom seized.
With the last of my strength, I swam to the surface. Or attempted to. Dark spots flashed as I failed to work my limbs, sinking fast. Panic pushed a whimper from my throat.Going to die?
A brawny arm banded around me, and a powerful man glided me up, up through the water. We breached the surface together, and I sucked in a gulp of oxygen.
Domino! I’d never been so happy to see another person.
Resolve dominated his water-dotted features. “You’re okay. Say it.”
“I’m okay, I’m okay,” I repeated, fighting past layers of shock deposited by everything that had happened.
As he swam us forward, fish darted. From this angle, the glint of two suns obscured the city that lurked beneath. One day, I’d learn more about it. Now? More feeders than I could count gathered upon the shore. They watched us, all but sharpening mental forks and knives.
“We’ll deal with them when we get closer,” Domino said. First, we had what might be half a mile to swim.
“How did you get here?” I asked between panting breaths.
“My book provided exact instructions.”
I spit out a mouthful of not-so-tasty water, highly aware of a pebble of envy beneath the tide of gratefulness. “I could have used those kinds of details a few minutes ago.”
“You had a private meeting with Victors, the exact same thing.” He glanced back, catching my eye. Light hit his sharp, rugged features, showcasing the strength inhabiting every hollow and rise. He’d trimmed his beard, the dark hair now cut close to his skin. “You ended things with Cyrus.” A statement without emotion.
“Yes.” He’d accepted Astan. Preferred the god above our relationship. Had even accepted Lolli, his now wife, considering she hosted Briar Rose. I deserved better. “I don’t want to discuss it,” I said before Domino asked any follow-ups.
“That’s fine. To survive what’s coming, you need to create your sword of fire. Let’s focus on that. And don’t tell me you can’t. You are a glower.” He glided through the water. “You can.”
The severity of his tone chilled me. “How?” I’d never even tried.
“The flames are already inside you. Look past your emotions to the pritis. Soal’s fire burns inside it. Then, release it. The flames will run down your arm and produce a blade able to cut through both the spirit and the physical realms.”
“You make it sound so easy,” I grumbled.
“Because it is, especially now that you’re bonded to me. Don’t make it difficult. Get out of your head,” he instructed. Then, with wry humor, he added, “There’s nothing you need there right now.”
“Ha ha,” I replied with a smidge of humor, splashing water on him. We were almost to the shore, making it do-or-die time.
As instructed, I focused inward and hacked through frustration, heartache, grief, guilt, shame, and dismay. Hey! As soon as I cleared the smog, heat wafted from a glowing orb, trapping me in its orbit and drawing me closer.
A cold film around my heart began to melt, revealing flames.
The feeders grew agitated, ready for their next meal.
Trepidation sparked, dulled by the orb’s entrancement. Each flame was fueled by something. That one drew from an emotional bond to Cyrus. That one, the supernatural bond to Domino. That one, a desire to protect and defend the people who had worked so hard to protect and defend me. Another, a need to enlighten the masses with the truth about Soal. There were others. More than I could count.
Before my eyes, the one powered by my feelings for Cyrus changed from glorious gold to putrid green. Worse, it started to chill, dousing the flames around it.
