Greer’s head pops up from where it was slumped, and Wilder turns. Night settled in as Greer and I fought. But in the distance, something sparks as bright as a sun. Right near the edge of the city.
“Rebels.” Callum’s jaw tenses.
“No.” Wilder’s gaze narrows, his eyes glowing as his magic reaches out. “That’s something else.”
A heavy pulse rips through the city, reminding me of the ravagers in Ruse Village. Except with my honed senses flaring, I can tell it’s not ravagers either. It’s magic from somewhere else.
Another pulse hits, and I’m pushed back. But in a blink, Wilder is behind me, stopping me from falling.
Greer glances at Callum, concern pinching between her eyebrows as screams begin to echo through the streets below.
Her attention whips to me. “You need to get inside.”
“No.” I shove off Wilder, feeling the magic at my hands flaring around my daggers. “We need to help them.”
“Elorie—”
“We can’t just let them die.” I cut off Callum, and I know he reads the end of my sentence in my head.
Like we did on Alyssium.
There, I ran. I let fear overtake me. I refuse to do that again. Magic quakes through Solace, and it’s met with more screams. Callum’s gaze falls to my hands, and I feel my magic moving all the way up my arms now. It hazes my vision but also allows me to see more clearly.
“Gods, if you die…” he mumbles, drawing something in the air.
“Then don’t let me.” I smirk, and Wilder chuckles.
Callum shakes his head, ignoring us both as his palm flattens on the wind and a Gateway starts to swirl open. I didn’t realize Callum was capable of making them, but I suppose some air wielders are known for their ability to manipulate distance and time.
I step forward, but Wilder snatches my wrist, spinning me until his hand finds myjaw.
“Are you going to try to convince me to stay here too?”I narrow my eyes.
“You should know by now I don’t bother with pointless arguments.”He smirks, and it sends my belly fluttering. “Take these. Just in case.”
Wilder slips two more knives into the sheaths at my hip.
“What about you?”
His smile grows as his eyes flicker. Embers at the start of a fire, daring the realm to withstand the heat. My skin prickles as his magic grows around him. Wild strikes of lightning flash in the night.
“Not lightning,”he reminds me, and he’s right.
Aether is much stronger. As unpredictable as the wielder. A force that steals my breath, no matter how many times I play witness to it.
“Show-off.” I shake my head when another echo of thunder rumbles through Solace.
Wilder’s chuckle is the last thing I hear as he moves us back a step and the Gateway takes us.
Chapter 43
Elorie
Blood is everywhere.Running in rivers down the streets. Raining from the sky. Screams pierce my ears as I step out of the Gateway and try to catch my bearings.
There’s no preparing for the sight in front of me.
“What in Sarrow…” Callum’s voice trails off as he stands with his sword gripped tight.
