Page 238 of The Edge of Darkness

“Aremis!?”

Why wasn’t anyone answering?

The ground quaked violently again—enough to make me hit my knees. I coughed as the dust stirred.

Then, Niall’s voice cut through the silence. “Auren!” Stone shifted, and his silhouette rose from the shadows. He pushed toward me through the rubble, limping on an injured ankle. When he saw me, his eyes flared with relief.

I caught hold of his arms as I stood, and his attention immediately went to my shoulder.

“I’m okay,” I answered before he could ask. “Your ankle⁠—”

“It’s not a concern,” he said, pulling me into him.

“What was that?”

“I don’t know.” He turned, searching the room frantically for the others. “Aremis!”

A cough and a grunt had us spinning around to locate the sound.

“Over here!” Aremis responded. “I’m helping Remic!”

We climbed over the table, which had been split down the center and now lay in two jagged pieces.

At the other end of the chamber, orbs soared through the entrance, casting much needed light upon everything. They moved with urgency, as if they were here to help. One rushed right for Niall, stopping a few feet from him.

“Get Eathril!” Niall commanded it.

The orb sped off.

Up ahead, I finally saw Aremis kneeling over Remic.

“His wing,” he said, panting. “It’s pinned.”

Remic let out a hiss through clenched teeth, trying not to move as Aremis heaved and shifted some of the rock that had fallen onto his left wing.

“Let me,” I said, catching Aremis’s arm before he went back to try and lift another.

I tapped into my power, and each jagged stone levitated on my command, freeing the appendage. Remic sagged with relief. I hit my knees next to him and ran my hands over the feathers that were bent and mangled near the top ridge of the wing.

“I’m fine,” he assured me. “Are you⁠—”

“I’m unharmed.”

He gave a particular look of concern at my shoulder, at the tear in my sleeve and the blood that had stained the fabric, but didn’t question me further.

Voices began echoing throughout the chamber as the others regained consciousness. The rumbling and quaking had stopped, but I could sense that something was terribly wrong.

“Aremis,” Niall said, “find the others, now.”

Without hesitation, Aremis’s Aura pulsed, separated from his body, and went on the hunt.

Remic looked up, his eyes full of worry. “Niall, the gates⁠—”

“I know.” Niall whirled, searching the area. “Where is Roirdan?”

Another wave of panic flooded me.

Roirdan had yet to answer.