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The balcony disappeared beneath her feet as she hurled herself downward, silver blade clutched in both hands. Silk faintly rustled as she moved.

Aurelion looked up.

Their eyes met.

For the first time, Elarian saw genuine surprise in the Bloodlord’s face. She twisted in midair, and the blade struck something soft. Silver tore across his upper chest. Aurelion screamed—a sound so raw, the palace shook beneath their feet. His body convulsed as silver burned through ancient flesh. Elarian landed hard against him, the impact driving them both into the marble.

For one glorious moment, the Bloodlord writhed beneath her.

Then his shadows surged. A thick tendril looped around her torso before lifting her off the ground, throwing her backward with such force, her neck nearly snapped.

She hit the floor as pain exploded through her spine.

But she was still alive.

And Lucan—

Lucan was still kneeling.

She scrambled toward him as Aurelion writhed in the shadows behind them, rising from the floor like a rabid dog out for blood.

“Lucan!”

His crimson eyes lifted, and he looked at her as though she were a ghost.

“You…”

“Get up,” she urged him.

“Elarian—”

“Get up!”

She seized his face between her hands. Blood ran from the corner of his mouth, eyes vacant as he trembled against her touch.

Aurelion screamed behind them. The palace shook as shadows convulsed around them, tearing through stone and wood alike. Choking on the rising dust in the air, Elarian cast her gaze around, looking for her silver and an escape. Her eyes landed on the shattered window not far behind Lucan—ten paces, maybe less. Surely they could make that. They had to make it.

Beyond the shattered crimson window pane, the night sky waited. A lone howl rose from the darkened forest to the east. Aela. Could it be?

“Trust me, Lucan,” Elarian pleaded.

Lucan stared at her. Then, something inside his expression changed.

“I don’t understa—”

“You don’t have to. Not now.”

Elarian wrapped one arm around his waist. The starin burned through her veins as she dragged him toward the broken window.

Behind them, Aurelion rose.

“Elarian!”

She did not look back. Wrapping her arms tightly around Lucan, Elarian dove through the open window, twisting herself around Lucan’s trembling form. His arms locked around her as the palace vanished above. For one terrible instant, there was nothing beneath them. Elarian reached desperately for the last of the starin inside her.

“Please, Melistra,” she whispered as the ground rushed toward them.

The stars answered.