“RETREAT!” The word tears out of me so loud it cuts through the chaos of the yard. “ALL UNITS, RETREAT NOW!”
I half carry him, half drag him towards the gate.Where’s Ravenna?She was with us. I know she was.
Jax is trying to take his own weight and failing. I tighten my grip and refuse to let him fall.
To my left, I catch Ezkai Xander, still fighting. Outnumbered.Oh gods. Not him, too.
A blade comes down and I watch his arm—I watch him?—
Noire appears right then from the shadows. He gets a shoulder under Xander, hauls him upright and sprints towards the gates.
I don’t have enough time to process. All of us—what’s left of us—are moving, a broken and bleeding exodus through the gates into the dark.
We have to get to the carriage.
A few of my loyal Ezkai ride after us, too.
I get Jax to the carriage first. I rip the door open to find Vera on one of the cushioned benches, leaning against the wall.
“Oh, thank the spirits of the gods.” I breathe the words out.
I get Jax up and inside, next to Vera, before I head outside, shouting for Ravenna.
“Here—General—” Ravenna’s one of the remaining riders. Loyal.
“Jax is hurt,” I tell her, pushing her inside the carriage. “Don’t let him die.” My voice cracks on the last word. “Ravenna. Don’t you let him die!”
She doesn’t answer me. She’s already working, hands moving fast and certain.
Noire carrying an armless Ezkai Xander approaches then. Both of them are soaked with rainwater and blood.
“Here, get in,” I order and help Noire with Ezkai Xander.
Once they’re inside, I tap the side of the carriage and scream at the coachman, “Move! Fast!”
The horses whine and the carriage lurches forward right as I slam the door shut behind me.
It’s tight inside with all of us cramped in here. Vera looks like a ghost of herself, but she holds Jax against her while Ravenna patches him up.
His heartbeat overlapping with mine inside my chest is weak. Too weak.
“Our bond, the connection, can I give him my essence to heal him or something?” I rush the words out, looking between Noire and Ravenna.
Noire shakes his head. “Unfortunately, it only works one way.”
Fuck…
Fuck!
I bite the inside of my cheek so hard the taste of copper fills my mouth. I look at Jax, his head tipped back against Vera’s shoulders, Ravenna’s hands pressed hard to his stomach.
Noire sits next to me, fastening a belt around what’s left of Ezkai Xander’s arm so he doesn’t bleed out either. He’s pale, head resting against the back of the seat.
More than half of my most loyal men and women have chosen Reizei’s side tonight. I’ve lost Ezkai Cassandra, and gods know how many more… The few who are riding after us…
The rain hammers the roof of the carriage as we ride back to Jaakii.
I didn’t see their faces. Did Ezkai Bjorn and Ezkai Emil make it? Did Fern?
