Page 306 of Interion

“No!” Zion shouted, desperate. He wouldn't stop—he couldn't. He had to carry the man, had to keep him breathing until they reached the hospital.

“It's over, Zion!” Serguei exclaimed, and the general's feet faltered.

It was a miracle he could still move after his muscles had been shredded like that. Without strength for another step, they both collapsed into the mud. But the moment the general's knees hit the ground—shielding his father from the impact—he forced himself up again and resumed dragging him.

“Stop...” Serguei forced out, and the wound gushed fresh blood. Life was draining too fast—he could feel his strength fading with each passing second. Zion tried to lift him from the ground, but the psychic only wanted to lie down. “There's no hospital nearby... Listen...”

“We'll make it to the hospital,” Zion kept repeating.

There was no understanding in his gaze, only desperation and anguish. The shadows no longer whispered in his ear—he was alone and shattered. He tried to lift Serguei one last time, but the psychic cried out in pain and refused to cooperate.

“Stop! It's over, Zion!” Serguei cried, looking at his son, devastated. “You need to understand!”

Zion stared at him as if he could see into the depths of his soul. There was so much anguish it was hard to breathe. All he could do was lay the man on the muddy ground and collapse, sobbing. Serguei took his son's hand and gazed at him with eyes the same color as Zion's own, yet infinitely different.

“My son... listen...”

“We need to get to the hospital,” he kept repeating.

“We don't have time... I don't want to waste my last seconds on foolishness. I need you to listen.”

Zion shook his head, refusing to hear it. But then Serguei began to cough, and blood splattered across Zion's face. His desperation gave way to shock. The psychic reached up and caressed his son's cheek, as if memorizing every contour. Then he lowered his fingers and pressed them against Zion's chest.

“What she said about the stone is true. I hid a god's eye inside you, over your heart.”

The general stared at him, stunned. His gaze dropped from Serguei's eyes to the hand over his heart. He remembered the scar on his chest.

“Why over my heart?”

“Because, to me, it's the most precious place in the world. And therefore, the safest.”

Zion was so horrified he couldn't find the right words. Serguei understood and spoke again before his time ran out:

“There's a letter in the cabin office, inside a red book.” He paused, struggling to breathe, growing paler by the second. “You must deliver it to Daena.”

“Who is Daena?” Zion asked, feeling torn apart.

“A… friend?” The statement came out as a question. “You know her. When I'm gone, you'll remember.” Serguei's words came out labored. His lung was destroyed, and so was his heart. Either could give out at any moment. “Find her and deliver the letter.”

“Where is she?”

“In Insaad, your mother's city,” he answered, breathless. “Take Kyller. You'll be safe there.”

“I can't go without you. Isn't this what you trained me for? So we could go together when the time came?”

Zion was in agony. This was what Serguei had always told him during his childhood—that he should learn everything and become the best to protect his people. Then the two of them would find a way to leave Interion together. A stupid memory from when he was ten, when he was still too innocent to understand the man and foolish enough to ignore the blood pact with the king.

“No, boy. I could never go there. My place was always here, protecting our people from afar. But you… you're the heir to your mother's throne, and the city awaits your return. Daena only lent you to me for a time so I could teach you everything I knew. It was your mother's wish.”

Zion shook his head, refusing to hear it, and clung to Serguei's vest with all his strength. That vest was the only thing that had kept the chain from piercing father and son at the same time.

“No!” the general protested like a frightened child seeking comfort. “Don't talk nonsense. We'll get to the hospital, and everything will be fine.”

Sweet lies to soften the painful truth. Deep down, he knew his father was already beyond saving, and no one was coming to help them.

“Don't cry… child. I'm ready…” Serguei coughed, blood trickling from his lips. “I've been ready for decades.” Tears filled his eyes, and Serguei held him tight.

Zion simply couldn't obey that command. He collapsed against the chest of the man he had never been able to understand. The pain tore him in half.