“Where is the girl?” he asked.
Vael didn’t look at him. His gaze stayed locked on the ridge, unmoving.
“She’s up there,” he said softly. He raised one pale hand, pointing toward the garrison—its walls scorched and broken, its defenders scattered and bleeding. “My beloved. She burns through the veil like starlight through glass.”
“The land stretches for miles on either side,” Vasquez growled. “She could vanish again.”
Vael’s voice sharpened. “She won’t. Ifeelher.”
I said nothing. Just stood at his side, sword drawn, firelight flickering along the blade’s edge. I didn’t trust myself to speak.
“She’s running,” Vasquez muttered. “Toward the evacuation ships. If she gets away—”
“We do not lose what is promised,” Vael snapped. He finally turned to me.
“Go,” he commanded. “Find her. Separate her from the pack. Bring her to me.”
My grip tightened on the hilt. A muscle jumped in my jaw.
“And if they resist?” My voice sounded flat. Hollow.
Vael’s smile was thin. “Kill them.”
Vasquez stepped forward. “I’ll take a force. Intercept their path. Herd them uphill—cut them off from behind.”
Vael nodded. “Drive them into the wilds if you must. Just make sure she doesn’t vanish.”
Vasquez looked at me. “You go ahead. Track her. Strike where she’s weakest. We’ll close the trap around you.”
I didn’t answer. Just turned toward the ridge. Toward the fire. Toward her.
My feet moved.
But my mind—
Splintered.
I had spent so long protecting her.
Now I was the blade at her back.
I climbed. Slowly. Deliberately.
Behind me, Vasquez barked orders—send troops through the tree line, collapse the retreat, box them in.
And then: “Make it hurt.”
I didn’t look back.
But I heard every word.
Chapter 29
Leo
It was chaos. Maddie and I had pushed our way through to Frostwatch. The town that had sprung up here was small—but it had families, shops, a schoolhouse. People lived here. And now their homes were burning to the ground.
People were screaming. Crying. Running in every direction.
