He was at my side in an instant, but my head whipped up to the closing rift, ignoring the agony tearing through my body.
“No!” I demanded in a guttural scream. “Leave it open!”
My arms and legs pushed me to crawl toward the hazy, swirling gateway, and my eyes never left Avery as she and Veli raced towards us—two wicked sorceresses and an army at their backs.
We all watched on in terror as Veli reached out for Avery’s hand and raced for the portal that Empri and Madalae held open just wide enough for the two of them.
“Weapons up!” Jace boomed, and the sound of metal unsheathing filled the air.
“They’re going to make it!” Zaela yelled from behind us as Veli’s first foot emerged through the rift, but at that same moment, we watched as Azenna’s shadows lashed out once more.
“NO!” I cried as I forced myself to my feet.
“Lia,stop!” Jace roared as he threw his arms around my chest and tugged me into him. I vigorously tried to shove him away, but he dropped to his knees, forcing me back down to the ground with him.
Veli’s second foot was through the portal, and as she turned to tug Avery with her, Azenna’s magic wrapped around her ankle and yanked my sister back down the alleyway, a fading scream of terror echoing from her.
My aide’s jaw dropped, and just as she was about to run back through the rift, the twins closed it on her as the guards were about to reach it and blast through to the valley.
“AVERY!” My scream tore through my throat as tears rushed down my face, uncontrollable sobs leaving me as Jace held me down.
Gage rushed past us and Veli as if he could run through the portal that no longer remained before us and go get her himself. He silently fell to his knees where he stood, his head hanging below his shoulders as his hands balled into fists at his sides.
A booming, guttural yell of heartache left him that echoed through the fields.
I shoved out of Jace’s hold as he tried to keep me still and comfort me, but I would never be able to find comfort again—not while they had my sister.
My breaths were rapid—my lungs feeling as if they were on fire, and I couldn’t get enough air. Whipping around to face the others, my eyes locked on them as they watched me with absolute devastation written on each of their faces.
Finn was sobbing in Landon’s arms, who held him back, just as my husband had with me, only gentler. Zaela had tears slipping from her lashes, one hand covering her mouth in disbelief as the other clutched Veli’s wrist.Everyone else watched on in horror, unknowing of what to do or say.
I stormed up to Veli, towering over her small figure, hoping that she would cower beneath me. “Why did that happen? How did you not sense them?!” I yelled in her face, knowing that as the words left me, my anger was misplaced.
“It wasn’t her presence I originally felt. It was a shield…” she started as her eyes darted back and forth. “More powerful than anything I’ve encountered, with other spells woven into its inner workings. I had no way of knowing!” She was yelling, but her voice wobbled, as if she was fighting back tears herself.
My breathing remained heavy as I took a step back from her. “This is my fault.” My nails dug into my palms so hard they began to bleed.
Veli shook her head. “You are not the only one to hold blame for this.”
“You tried to warn me, and I made us press on.”
The rest of my court made their way towards us while Leon sent the soldiers away to give us privacy.
“Lia, what happened?” Jace asked.
“I didn’t listen,” I whispered.
Gage’s eyes met mine, and all I saw was disappointment—in me. My heart somehow shattered into more pieces.
“No,” Veli interjected. “We didn’t know that Azenna was the only one who heard the whisper. I warned you that I felt their power, but we had no way of knowing that would happen. You pressed on to save the lives of those citizens,not because you were being reckless. I didn’t motion to talk you out of it further because you were right.”
“We knew there would be risks. You said so yourself,” Zaela said softly from behind us.
I turned to face her, my lip curling back. “Not at the cost of my sister!”
“We’re going to get her back,” Jace said.
“The city is on complete lockdown, and now they know we are coming one way or another. Our plan of surprising them at their gates may be ruined now that they know we have used portals to enter the city.”
