“I’ll help Phoenix!” Caelen shouted, drawing his sword without hesitation. He was already moving.
Maddie was pulling all the wood and vines she could from the earth to make a bridge against the bottleneck we had inadvertently created. A twisted bridge of vines emerged from the water and people used the opportunity to race along to the boats. But I could see she was slipping. Sweat dripped down her body.
I heard a whistle in the air. I looked up in horror as a cannon ball went flying above my head towards the docks.
“They’re firing on us,” I breathed.
Then louder,“Fuck. Maddie—get down!”
One of the docks exploded in a spray of fire and splinters. The blast flung me backward. My body slammed into the ground. For a moment—just a heartbeat—the world was smoke and ringing silence.
Then came the screaming.
And the fire.
Where she’d stood, smoke coiled. The vine bridge still held—but barely. And Maddie? I couldn’t see her.
I dragged myself up, coughing—head pounding, ribs screaming. The air stank of smoke and scorched timber. My ears were ringing, but one thought punched through the static like a drumbeat.
Maddie.
I staggered forward, eyes scanning the wreckage. The vine bridge still held—barely. Flames snapped at its base. People were still crossing, screaming, scattering. But she wasn’t there.
“No, no—” I pushed through the smoke, shoved a soldier aside. “Maddie!”
A shape crumpled near the edge of the dock—half-buried in ash and debris. I bolted for it, heart slamming in my chest.
It was her.
Her cloak was scorched, but she was breathing—gods, she was breathing. I dropped to my knees and gathered her close.
“Maddie. Maddie, look at me.”
She blinked, dazed. Blood streaked down her cheek, mixing with dirt and ash.
“Leo…” she croaked. “The bridge…”
“I’ve got you,” I said, lifting her as gently as I could. “You held the line. You saved them. But now it’s my turn.”
Behind me, another cannonball hit the beach. Screams tore through the air. The evacuation ships were pulling back—one by one—sails unfurling in the smoke.
“We’re almost out of time,” I muttered, tightening my grip. “Don’t you dare give up on me now.”
I stood—legs trembling under her weight—but I stood.
And I ran.
**
Phoenix
The explosion rocked the dock. It threw me sideways and gave the Sentinel I was fighting the opening he needed.
My flames flickered—just for a second—and that was all it took.
Pain slammed into my back. I staggered, gritting my teeth as I whirled around and blasted him away in a burst of fire that left scorch marks on the stone.
But the damage was done. Pain rippled through my skull—hot, sharp.
