My mind, my head, was not in a good place. I could hardly think or feel, everything about me had gone numb. I hardly cared if I got ambushed and had to fight. In some ways, it was even preferable because I would not need to make any decisions and just accept the fact that we would have never made it.
My body followed the routine that had been drilled into me during the thousands of hours of defensive flying. I headed straight to the border, knowing that they would not be able to pursue us far into the desert.
“They’re catching up to us!” Frid panted.
I dove lower, narrowly avoiding the claws of a dragon that was right behind me. It took me by surprise, I had not realized they were so close. I followed the maneuvers almostabsentmindedly, descending and halting midair. When a dark blue dragon reached down to grab Alina, something clicked in my head and I unleashed the flames. Before I could take my next breath, the dragon was freefalling with a piercing cry.
We just crossed the border, and another group of dragons joined the soldiers.
The dragons were from the white clan.Fast and well rested, they easily caught up to us, but I did not have enough in me to care. My head turned and I noticed that they were communicating with each other. Another moment passed, and they turned back the way they had come.
I shifted my gaze when Frid spread fire, catching one of the blues. He turned back, trying to get to the gates. Landing anywhere below would be definite suicide. Crawlers had surrounded the city, drawn in by the sounds and lights. Below, the mass of undead rippled like roaring storm waters.
When the last two blue dragons turned back, I did not slow down. It felt as if the whole world was still chasing me. Time was running out, and I knew it all too well.
The immediate danger was over, and I was confronted by the fact that Alina was turning, her body was deteriorating, and the best thing I could do for her was to end it.
I roared, feeling a pain unlike anything I had ever experienced. There was no way anyone could kill the biggest part of themselves, and then continue living as if nothing had happened. It would be impossible. She would neverwant to go on if she knew she would become a monster. She would want me to end it for her.
I gritted my teeth. Then, suddenly, a new thought entered my mind, cooling my head, and bringing me peace.
“Why are we flying to the temples?” Frid asked the others because I had not responded to any of them since we left the city.
“Not sure,” Victor responded.
I descended closer to the ground, focusing solely on the vaguely familiar buildings below. We flew for two days straight without any breaks and my body was starting to show signs of weakness, while my mind would not stop racing. Some moments, I could feel that my body was shutting down and I could not remember where I was or what I was doing. But the realization, the quick reminder of who I was carrying returned the unbearable agony. I clenched my jaw until the ache somewhat matched the way I felt on the inside.
“Ty, you can’t keep doing this,” Sol said in a gentle voice.
“I know what I’m doing.”
“No, you don’t. Let us helpyou.”
“It has to be me.”
A dreadful silence followed my words. I could hardly stand it, but it was nearly over.
I glanced back at my friends one more time, taking in the familiar outlines I had grown accustomed to having by my side, no matter what happened to us. They were exhausted, they were angry, but they still followed me till the end. I was humbled by everything they had ever done for me. Each and every time, they had my back, trusting me completely. But I could no longer be the leader they deserved. I was a man who was about to lose everything.
“Go to Darragh. Ask Grace to take you in. Tell Quirin that the undead dragons are going to attack the city,” I instructed them.
“What? You can’t be serious,” Frid said.
“Ty?” Sol called.
“Listen to me. Appoint a new leader and continue fighting. There’s a way below, and there are no crawlers there. Try to find how to get there. Ask Sage, he’ll help you.”
“Ty?” Sol repeated.
“Let me say this. You are my family. I will never forget any of you.”
“What the fuck is that? You are not doing this!” Victor shouted.
“I have to! What would you do if Frid ever got bit?”
Shocked silence filled the air between us.
“Where are you taking her?” Sol asked and his voice broke.
