Page 211

Liam's eyes went as wide as saucers. "TYE?!"

He set me down, then jumped a full pace away. "Yes, well, hello, Tye. You're looking — uh — big and … hairy."

Wolf-Tye huffed.

"We need to get out of here before Frexin wakes up. She wants Jaiel for some terrible plan and he —"

My voice broke as I motioned towards the limp form atop Tye's back.

"Wha — how?" Liam asked, looking up at him, expression worried.

"He — " Fear pinched at my gut. "Her mind mage said he —" Tears burned the back of my eyes as my lips refused to form the words.

Liam pressed a hand to my shoulder, green eyes soft. "Let's just get him out of here, okay? We'll figure out the rest later. I'm sure he'll be fine."

I nodded, chest aching as I wiped tears from my cheeks. "Thanks."

Liam blushed, rubbing the back of his neck as he looked away.

"I was, uh, thinking we might take the airship. There are a bunch of people up there who'd love to see you …"

"You okay, dear?" called a familiar voice from above us.

I looked up to see Mrs. Harlsted, her husband, and a dozen other villagers leaning over the railing.

They were safe, thank the gods!I let out a half-laugh, half-cry, unable to form words.

To my surprise, a cheer rose up from the group.

I looked back at Liam, shaking my head. "What in the hells is happening? How is this even possible?"

His green eyes lit up, crinkling at the corners, and he grinned deviously. "Well, it all started when the crazy Giant went wild and tore through the stronghold. I wassneaking around — as I do — and I saw most of the soldiers leave to chase after him."

"What? Where did it go?"

"No clue. And I wasn't going to do anything about it, but then I suddenly felt something awful …" His gaze slid over me, concern knitting his brows. "And I knew you were in trouble."

"One of your gut feelings again?"

Liam's face grew deadly serious. "No. I'm not sure you'd believe it, but I felt you dying, Kaiya. You didn't touch a corrupted relic or anything, did you?"

"Ah. Well — " I cleared my throat, unable to meet his gaze. "I'm fine now."

He eyed me skeptically. "Well, whatever happened, Rien and I felt it. He claims it's because we're bonded to you, like Tye. But I don't buy it." His gaze dropped to somewhere by my feet. "You aren't bonded to me, too, are you?"

That strange thrumming, warm and strong, surged again.Holy hells …

"In any case," he rushed on before I could answer, cheeks bright pink. "Thenmy gut told me you needed help and that we needed to rescue you."

"So … you stole an airship?"

"Ha. No. Well, yes … eventually. But first I convinced the village to revolt. It was surprisingly easy with almost everyone assisting Frexin or chasing the Giant. Of the skeleton crew Frexin left, most couldn't even fight back because of the Guardian! Rien and I were going to rush to you alone, but that group up there demanded to be included.Theywere the ones who stole the airship." Leaning in, he dropped his voice to a conspiratorial whisper. "They feel guilty, you know. Said something about how they should have been there for you on the ship and in the camp. It doesn't make up for how they treated you, but I figured it was a start."

Tears welled in my eyes as I looked up at them, smiling warily as they waved down at me.

I smiled and waved back.

"Gods, I have to admit I'm impressed, Liam."