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Vicer nodded. “Wait. We’ll give as many as we can a chance to get to the meeting point.”
I stayed quiet as we waited for more hybrids to arrive, a few at a time. Their expressions grew more and more desperate, well aware that they’d almost missed their chance for escape. Despite all our planning, some of them would get caught up in the protests and looting and wouldn’t make it. No matter what we did, there were always losses. Always.
Finley and Lina slipped in behind the hybrids. I nodded to both of them. “Thank you,” I told Finley. “For helping Madinia.”
“Anytime.” He smiled shyly. “I wish I’d thought of it.”
I studied Lina. When I looked at her, I couldn’t help but visualize the day she’d been found to be corrupt so long ago in our village. We’d all watched as her grandparents were ruthlessly beheaded in front of her.
While her eyes were still shadowed, she’d put on muscle, and she moved as if she’d been training. Even without that training, she was a smart choice for these kinds of…activities. Luck may not be an active power, but having Lina around was likely helping all of Vicer’s carefully crafted schemes go as planned. Madinia slipped in behind me, eyes dark with fatigue. “I’ve put out the worst of the fires in the city.”
“Thank you.”
Where were Lorian and the others? I’d been forcing myself to focus on the hybrids, determined not to give in to the fear crawling through my veins. But the terror was slowly clamping around my throat, my hands shaking.
“The Bloodthirsty Prince will die.”
Was that why Madinia was standing so close to me? Was she wondering if tonight would be the night, and the queen’s seer had told us just in time for me to lose him?
It was possible that this was all an elaborate trick, created by the queen to ensure I would be second-guessing my every move. To make me weak.
I couldn’t—I couldn’t take this. I couldn’t—I…
“Pris.” Vicer’s voice was low. “It has to be now.”
My vision swam, but I harnessed my thoughts, taking the hourglass in my hand, clamping down on my power and channeling all my fear and rage. I yanked the threads toward me. “Run,” I ordered.
The hybrids scattered.
I managed to hold on until they were almost out of sight, but the power drained before I could stop it. Several of the guards fired at the fleeing hybrids, and I choked out a scream.
The bolts burst into flame, dropping to the ground. “They’ve used all their fae iron,” Madinia said. “Those were wood and regular iron.” Her face was bloodless, and it was clear she was now at the dregs of her own power.
“We need to go,” Vicer snapped. “What the fuck is taking them so long?”
Had I told Lorian I loved him before we separated? I didn’t know.
He could be dead even now. Or he could be dying, while I waited here, my breath frozen in my lungs.
No. I would know if he were dead. I would feel it.
“What’s wrong, Pris?” Vicer demanded.
“Quiet,” Madinia ordered him.
His brows shot up, and he glanced back at me. Whatever he saw on my face made him snap his mouth closed.
My knees quaked, the ringing in my ears turning into a roar.
Behind us, something exploded. I had to focus. Had to—
Lorian was striding toward me.
I choked. Was I seeing things? But no, Galon and Marth were behind him, an unconscious man over Galon’s shoulder. And Lorian…
Lorian looked tired and irritated and so fucking alive. The world slid back into place, and I leaped into his arms, pressing my mouth to his.
* * *
