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The tunnels below had collapsed, trapping any who hadn’t escaped. Tears stung her eyes as she imagined all the Fae who would never taste freedom. She prayed they went peacefully and hoped their final moments hadn’t been consumed by one of Niall’s nightmares.
Arianna counted the platforms and grimaced. Some had come back, while others hadn’t.
Bodies scrambled onto the edges before they’d even landed and Arianna searched through the faces for anyone familiar. Raevina pushed through the crowd, using her magic to stave off those who tried to run them over. Arianna hated every second of it. These were Fae afraid for their lives and the lives of their families. Fae who simply wanted to flee the falling city however possible.
Arianna lowered the female onto the platform and several civilians lifted her up to prevent her from being trampled. Arianna nodded in thanks, then turned to leave.
Raevina grabbed her arm. “We need to get you out of here.”
“I’ll leave when everyone else is safe.” She didn’t mention that that included Rion.
Raevina grimaced but stopped herself from stating the obvious. Not everyone was getting out of the city alive. There simply wasn’t enough time.
“My Queen, please.” Arianna wasn’t sure Raevina had ever uttered the word. Arianna paused but didn’t turn away. How could she just leave them all behind?
Arianna raised her voice. “How many are you are from Brónach?”
Several heads pivoted and one female stood. “How can we serve?”
“Can you make some sort of platform and lift more people to safety?”
The civilians exchanged determined glances. “We can try.”
“That’s all I ask.”
Arianna tried to jump from the platform, but Raevina tightened her grip again. Her eyes were frantic now. “We have to go, there isn’t time.”
Arianna softened her gaze, knowing all Raevina wanted was to protect her queen and restore her honor.
Fae fell over the edges, shoved off by the crowd, but those from Brónach were already at work. They snatched falling bodies from the air while those from Móirín created even more platforms, trying to get as many civilians to safety as possible.
“I have to try.” Arianna yanked from her grasp. She pushed through the crowd and ran toward the city’s center. She needed to get to Rion, but pain shot through the back of her head and everything faded into nothing.
***
“What the hell are you doing?” Talon growled at Raevina as he jumped from the edge of the platform and ran to Arianna’s side. He cradled her head and pulled Arianna into his arms.
“You know as well as I do that once these platforms leave, they won’t be coming back. Would you rather see your queen as a statue to be honored or would you prefer to serve her while she’s still breathing?”
Talon glared. “I’d rather you not strike her.”
“And I’d like it if she listened, but it seems stubbornness runs rampant between the lot of you.”
“She could try you for treason.”
Raevina scoffed. “Then let me be tried knowing I saved her life.”
Talon swore and looked over the edge to the ground racing toward them. His heart ached. Raevina was right. They were moving too fast and the city would fall with too many trapped on its surface. He looked out over the sea of desperate faces. There were so many left. So many innocents—
“Hey,” a familiar voice called from the distance. Talon raised his head.
“By the gods.”
Talon didn’t know how Gavin had done it and he honestly didn’t care. The male had reinforcements. Sort of. The flat structures weren’t actual platforms, but they’d serve their purpose. When the citizens spotted them, their fearful screams turned to hopeful cheering.
No one was getting left behind after all.
Chapter Ninety-two
