Icouldn’t survive a world without Lioran. They broke him. They broke me. I gasped, desperate for air that wouldn’t come. Stabbing pain filled my lungs. Sweat drenched my body. It vibrated uncontrollably. Muscles constricted against bone, as I screamed in agony.
A flash of someone, or something, beat across my blurry view.
“Aelira!” Lioran yelled. “She’s alive?” He crumbled beside us.
Fyn’s hands trembled around me.
“Is it done?” Tears pooled on my leather armor. “Where is Thalen?” I leaned into Fyn, desperate still to draw more air. My view was tinged with darkness. It waited for me.
“Stay with me, my love.” Lioran crashed to his knees beside us. Horror set in his gaze as he reached for me—his hand hung in the space between us. My head settled on Fyn’s chest and my eyes closed.
“Don’t take her from me! Please!” Lioran screamed into the void. The winds thrashed in response.
The world slipped from view.
Darkness came for me. I slipped into it.
The wind brushed my skin. It sang to me.
Aelira…
Make a choice.
Stay and fight, or leave this world behind.
Agony filled me. The onyx no longer warmed on my chest.
Nothing else existed.
Still, something fluttered deep within me, different from my magic. It was my only tether. I wanted to stay. To wake up from this nightmare.
My eyes opened as Fyn’s tears collided with my forehead. He clutched me firmly to his chest. “Thank the stars.” He exhaled as my eyes opened. I sobbed in his arms.
I turned my head to look for Lioran, but the world tilted around me, and I recoiled back into Fyn’s chest.
“Lioran’s here.” Fyn knew who I was searching for.
Why was he still here? Cora and Lioran crouched near me.
“Where is Thalen?”
“Thalen isn’t here,” Cora said. “It’s just us.”
“You let them break our bond,” I cried. “You let him bond you to Cora. I would have rather Pyrran killed me.”
He had no choice. Lioran would never let them harm me. I glanced around for Pyrran, but he wasn’t there, either.
“Where did they go?”
“They’re not here. Whatever you saw—it wasn’t real. The Grove taunted me, too. I thought I held you while you died, but you’re alive. You’re still here.” His hands shook as he reached for me, but I pushed him away with what little strength I had remaining—too afraid to feel his touch when it wasn’t mine to keep.
I didn’t know what to feel, didn’t know what to trust—what version was true and what was a lie. Sweat drenched Lioran’s brow, his curls clung to his face. As he came further into focus, I saw his bloodshot eyes.
“Is this real?” My voice cracked.
“Yes, my love. Whatever you saw—wasn’t.” Lioran placed his hand on mine—I felt it.
“You were screaming in agony. I tried to wake you, to bring you back, but I couldn’t.” Fyn choked on his words.
