One of them is going to break.
As the thought sliced through Olivier’s mind, he watched, breath held, as August suddenly lost his footing. His sword clattered to the ground. Callum didn’t waste any time. He raised his sword to deliver the final blow. A wicked grin spread onto his lips.
Olivier opened his mouth to scream.No.
But Olivier must have been just as taken aback by August’s moment of weakness as Callum had been, because neither of them noticed the secondary shadow blade in August’s hand untilhe was already shoving it straight through Callum’s chest. Right into the core of his soul.
Callum’s eyes went wide. His mouth twitched, and at first, Olivier assumed it was shock twisting his features. Denial. But as his lips curved higher, it occurred to Olivier that it was something else burning behind the Demien’s eyes. Something far more sinister.
Callum smiled…proud. And then one word sputtered out of his lips.“Ravishing.”
The word seemed to snap August out of his stupor. He ripped the shadow blade out and Callumexploded—his soul coming apart, dissolving into thousands of infinite specks of ash and shadow.
August remained there, kneeling. His chest rose and fell with panicked breaths. Olivier placed a tentative hand upon the boy’s shoulder, and he flinched, staring up at Olivier with shadow-drenched eyes. “It’s okay,” Olivier whispered, coaxing August back. “It’s done.” And then August blinked and Olivier watched in relief as the whites of his eyes returned, the familiar icy sheen of his irises coming back into view. But even so, Olivier could still see the internal war being waged inside August. How much effort he was putting into keeping the shadows at bay.
“We’ve got company!” Russo shouted. A few yards away, a group of Ascended were prowling closer. Despite the shadows of night, their glowing eyes cut through the darkness, a pack of wolves descending on their prey. Birdie had constructed a defensive shield, and though it would keep them safe for now, Olivier knew it wouldn’t hold. Next to her, Russo drew a sword, fiery embers coating its blade.
“I’m going to locate a healer.” Dina laced Catherine’s arm over her shoulder, though Catherine mumbled a protest, something about beingperfectly fine, which was almost laughable given the fist-sized hole in her stomach.
“Can you take him?” Emilio gestured to Benji, cradled in his arms. “Please.”
“Yes, fine.” Dina took the creature in her arms, drawing him close to her chest. “Justgo.”
Catherine gripped Olivier tightly by the collar. She tugged him closer.
“Bring her back to me.” Her voice shook. Eyes wide and desperate. “Please.”
“I will,” he whispered in return. “I promise.” His promise didn’t mean a damn thing, but even knowing that, Catherine let go, slumping back into Dina’s arms.
For a moment, Olivier faltered. It suddenly occurred to him that he had no idea where to go. He looked between August and Emilio, and though the latter looked just as perplexed as Olivier felt, the former had set his sights on the towering spiral structure of the Ascended Quarters. It loomed in the darkness, its ivy-draped bricks rising from the ground like a ravenous beast…taunting them.
“There.” August pointed up to the tower with a tilt of his head. “If they’re keeping Masika anywhere, it has to be there.”
Olivier hesitated. “Are you certain?”
August nodded. “Go. Find her.”
Olivier cocked his head in confusion. “You’re not coming withus?”
August grimaced. “You know I can’t.”
Olivier didn’t have to ask him to elaborate. He knew exactly what August meant.
Wren.
Olivier nodded in understanding.
“Good luck.”
August smiled, and Olivier felt his heart shatter.
“Right back at you.”
As the three of them took off into the night, August toward Elysium Hall and Olivier and Emilio charging toward the Ascended Quarters, a burning certainty settled in Olivier’s mind.
They might not have what it took to win the war—but he’d be damned if they didn’t get their friends back.
45
