And then Thorne gave the final command.
“Jump.”
Time froze.
I moved before I could think.
The Virell dagger flew from my fingers towards Slade, arcing silver through the air like a falling star.
He was gone.
Vanished into the mist. Lost to the sea.
Silence crashed down around me.
“No,” I gasped. My knees hit the earth. “No—no—no—”
Thorne stood motionless. Cold. Expressionless.
And I couldn’t feel anything except the hole inside me.
The place where Slade had been.
I crawled to the cliff’s edge, my hands scraping stone.
Slade was gone. My protector. My rock. My shield.
He was gone.
Below, waves crashed against the rocks, sending mist curling up in thick, concealing veils. If he was down there, I couldn’t see him.
I couldn’t see his body. And maybe that was the only reason I could still breathe.
A sound tore from my throat—raw, broken. A scream laced with grief and fury.
I launched myself at Thorne.
I didn’t think. I didn’t plan.
I attacked like an animal—clawing, biting, hands wrapped around his throat, trying to crush the life from him. My teeth sank into his shoulder. I tasted blood and didn’t stop.
He ripped me off with a snarl and threw me hard against the ground.
Stars burst behind my eyes. I tried to get up—
His boot came down like a hammer.
Darkness swallowed everything.
Chapter 31
Phoenix
Caelen and I tore through the ruins, chasing Elira’s path—but she was gone.
So was Thorne.
It didn’t bode well.
