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The threads began to slip. No. It was too early. If I dropped them now…

I held on with all my might.

“Pris!” Asinia was crawling along the dock toward me. I just shook my head, clenching my eyes closed as I focused on holding time still on land.

“Quiet, girl. Don’t distract her. Take a crossbow and prepare yourself,” Telean ordered.

Blood dripped from my nose.

“Release it, or you will lose consciousness,” Telean warned at my side.

“Lorian…”

“Is merrily slaughtering our enemies with the others.”

I released my hold and gasped, my head spinning. Telean handed me a cloth, and I pressed it to my face, using the side of the boat to haul myself to my feet.

Sun glinted off something to our left. More iron guards were creeping toward Lorian, Rythos, and the others. From behind.

Launching into motion, I swung myself over the edge of the boat, hitting knee-high water and splashing toward the shore. Telean’s shield appeared once more, covering me. Asinia fired a bolt toward the enemy.

“Holy gods, I hit him,” she crowed. “I guess Demos knows what he’s talking about after all.”

“Less bragging, more shooting!” I yelled back. She got to work, and the air filled with arrows. I dropped to the rocky shore and crouched. Galon was standing close to the edge of the forest, several iron guards advancing on him. My heart thundered, but he was already raising his hand, water from the sea lifting in a long, narrow spout that flew toward him. He used it as a shield, sprinting to the left, then dumped it over one of the iron guards’ heads, using the distraction to stab him in the throat.

Cavis had launched to the right, preventing the iron guard from backing us toward the sea. The air suddenly smelled like a thunderstorm, the sharp, distinct scent of lightning making it clear Lorian was using his own power. But I couldn’t see him. My breaths turned into panicked pants, and I scanned the shore.

Movement caught my eye. Near the edge of the forest, Fendrel hit the ground. I dashed toward him, zigzagging to avoid the arrows. A sob ripped through my chest.

An arrow was jutting out from his throat.

I dropped to my knees, my hands fluttering near his neck. But there was nothing to be done, Fendrel’s eyes blank as he stared up at the sky.

I reached for my power, wrath burning through me. I would make thempay.

Shouts came from behind me, but I could hear the clash of metal on metal in the forest ahead. Climbing to my feet, I pulled my sword and headed toward the sound.

The ground disappeared from beneath my feet. The last thing I heard was Lorian roaring my name.

CHAPTERNINETEEN

Iwas standing in some kind of…tunnel.

The walls were smooth rock that glistened with veins of precious stones. Logically, I knew those walls weren’t actually closing in on me.

But my body didn’t seem to know that.

Lorian would be losing his mind. I’d heard the fury and fear in his voice when he’d roared my name. What if…what if the distraction had been enough for one of the iron guards to kill him?

My power had been helping us against the countless iron guards lying in wait. Now, my friends were all alone, fighting for their lives.

I panted, icy sweat dripping down my back. Daring a glance over my shoulder, I sucked in a breath. Nothing but a wall of solid rock. Above my head, there should have been a hole. I’d fallen down—I was sure of it. But it had disappeared.

Stretching in front of me, the tunnel was dimly lit with the occasional orb of light. I had no other way to go except forward.

Something nudged my back. I whirled, swinging my sword.

There was nothing there.