Relief flooded through me at his words, another “thank you” falling from my lips.
“Ready?” he asked as Axel conversed with a female I briefly recognized, and I nodded in confirmation.
He lifted me in one arm, and my arms immediately wrapped around his neck, worried I’d fall as I looked at the male incredulously. “Youdorealize I can fly on my own?” I quipped.
He chuckled darkly. “You’re dreaming if youthink I’d let you out of my sight, even for a minute, in the middle of a battle, starlight.”
I huffed a laugh, looking up at him as he pushed off the terrace and we began making our way across the Quarter.
Axel flew before us, wielding his water affinity as he cleared the path, and we raced toward the desert, away from the destruction.
42
CALLUM
Raelyna was safe.
She was alive.
And she was safe.
The words repeated in my mind like a mantra as I flew away from my starbound, heading directly toward the center of what remained of Solis Quarter.
Toward the Temple District.
I’d made sure that she was safely surrounded by members of the Guild before I’d felt comfortable leaving her by the edge of The Rift to finish the mission.
My wings beat against the summer winds as I tore through the air, dodging the remaining RSG that flew through the sky, weapons in hand. On either side, I was flanked by Axel and Eleana as we cut toward the very center of Solis. We passed over rubble and destruction, skyscrapers that had collapsed to the ground during the battle. Cement slabs lay in broken pieces as the city continued to fall. The sky was less chaotic, the remaining angels from Solis Quarter having dropped to the ground to continue fighting against Aurum.
Whether they knew their king had fallen or not, I was unsure. But I’d guessed, from the declining numbers of RSG still standing, that their faith in their gods was diminishing. As we flew, I spotted their false temples in the distance, the structures obliterated, lying in shambles as fires burned from the ground up, licking at what remained of the buildings.
I didn’t stop flying until the center of the Quarter was in sight, my wings slowing as I lowered closer to the ground. The Temple District—or what remained of it—was covered in dust and building fragments. I spotted a few remaining soldiers wearing Aurum colors fighting on the ground as we approached, and Eleana cast out her affinity, helping to finish off the remaining RSG that stood fighting against our men.
I landed with athud, my wings retracting as I stood amidst what rubble remained of the Quarter, my eyes scanning our surroundings.
“Stars-damned,” Axel cursed beside me as we took in the utter havoc and destruction our men had laid across the Quarter.
There was nothing left?—
The entire Quarter lay in shambles—buildings collapsing in on themselves even now. The Wall was entirely demolished by an act of Aeternus alone.
“You sure you’re up for this?” Eleana asked over the wind as we stared at the carnage before us.
“We’re running out of daylight,” I replied, my voice hollow as I stared at the sight before us, shaking my head. “Send the signal.”
Eleana and Axel nodded before Axel drew on his affinity, sending flares of water bursting through the Quarter. The water spiraled through the air, levitating high above the remaining skyscrapers as it signaled to our men to retreat—to fly back to the war camp and prepare to return to Aurum.
Shouts began to rise up throughout the city. We already knew the majority of the soldiers had begun retreating as the RSG numbers dwindled.
And now, the order had already been given to our soldiers—they were retreating to the war camp, leaving only those who followed Lucanus and his corruption behind.
So we waited . . . standing in the middle of the deserted Temple District, watching as wreckage continued to appear on the horizon, building after building succumbing to the destruction from the attacks.
The shouts began to dwindle, the RSG numbers falling with every minute that passed.
A buzz sounded from my side, and I turned, glancing toward Eleana as she studied the device in her hand.
“The orders are in,” she confirmed. “Our men have been evacuated. We’re cleared to make our move.”
