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Satisfied, Leo lowered her head below the water.

Zayne’s lips drew into a line, but he didn’t disagree. He stood and took a few steps away, leaving me alone with Ninti.

The firewolf breathed steadily, her coloring now warmed to a dark orange. Still, she remained unconscious.

She would wake, in time. I chose to believe that.

Squeezing my eyes shut, I buried my face against her soft stomach and took a deep breath of fire and ash. Satisfied there was nothing more I could do for her, I stood and joined Zayne. I took his hand in mine.

In our absence, the critters scurried forward, surrounding Ninti with a mixture of reverence and curiosity. It felt good to know she wouldn’t be alone.

Still, I didn’t want to go.

But before I could change my mind—insisting that I wasn’t ready, that I would stay despite Leo’s wishes—Zayne jumped, leaving Ninti behind.

Chapter twenty-one

Soliloquy

Zayne

The waves struck against the rocking boat as I released Ayla and returned to theUmbral Star. Shock, relief, and fear pulsed between us as we turned toward Leo. Already, the turtle raced away, bobbing through the waves as she vanished into the horizon.

Ayla hunched over as she sucked in a deep breath.

I looked to the afternoon sky, gritting my teeth against the pain. Our bond made it impossible to discern where my shock began and her grief ended, and despite the emotional onslaught, I would do anything to take this hurt from her.

“Where’s Ninti?” Vanessa asked from the crow’s nest. When neither of us responded, she descended, joining us on the deck, her glow dulling in concern.

“Ninti needs time to heal, and Leo’s shell is the best place for that,” I answered so Ayla wouldn’t have to. “We’re ready to go back to Mer—”

“Buthow?” Vanessa insisted.

Ayla shook.

“Not now,” I urged the sprite.

But Ayla squeezed out a whimper. “We were training” —breath— “Tried something new and... It went wrong.”

Vanessa slowly nodded before retreating to the crow’s nest. “Mer, it is.”

“Come here,” I tugged Ayla closer to me. “You should get some rest.”

“Shouldn’t we talk?”

“Once the shock has worn off,” I promised. Slowly, I led her toward the cabin. For now she needed bed and rest and—

Suddenly, she straightened, her every muscle tensing as she stepped out of my grasp, wiping the tears from her eyes. “Wait, you said you took the shard, right?”

I steadied, eyeing the space between us as I indicated the pocket containing the shards. “Yes.”

“And?”

I’ve accepted a shade army.

I looked away. “You should rest. We’ll talk soon.”

Her lips drew into a thin line, but she didn’t argue, turning around and entering the cabin.