Slade stepped forward, closing the distance between us.
“Then we do it together.”
“Slade—”
“Brothers to the end, Leo. Even if that happens to be tonight.”
He smiled—fierce, steady—and reached for the door.
Outside, an army waited. And we would meet them.
We would hold as long as we could.
I’d faced death before. Many times.
But this time?
This time, I would make it count.
Chapter 49
Phoenix
We found the door.
I stepped closer, and the hairs on my arms rose. Somethingoldlay behind that door. Something foul. My magic twitched—unsettled.
It was magically sealed. Thick steel, no visible lock—just a humming thread of power etched through its frame.
Toma stepped forward, pressing his palms to the cold metal. His brow furrowed, lips moving in concentration.
“What’s he doing?” I asked.
“It’s his gift,” Lia murmured. “He can negate certain wards and barriers. We’re hoping this one’s simple enough.”
“Why couldn’t he break through the sanctum wall then?” Caelen grumbled beside me, restless.
“Those were royal wards—layers deep, coded. This is… older. Simpler. Maybe sloppier,” Lia replied.
A soft click echoed from the door.
It released with a hiss.
“Nice work,” I said, already pulling it open.
Behind us, footsteps. I turned—and saw Leo and Slade exchanging a look that tightened something in my chest.
“What about the others?” Caelen asked.
“We’ll catch up!” Leo called.
“We’ll hold them here as long as we can,” Slade added.
I took a step toward them, instinct screaming. “But—”
Slade met my eyes, steady and calm. “We’ll be okay. I promise.”
He glanced at the ruins around us, then back at me. “I’m not leaving without my girl. You know that. But this? This is something we can do. Let us do it.”
