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Thalon mounted beats later as Garrik lifted Aiden, settling him in front of Thalon. Steadying him between his arms, Aiden’s body lay lifeless against him, head falling back onto Thalon’sshoulder. Clasping his hands together, Thalon thrust them forward.

Thunderstorm clouds of striking lightning swirled into a spiral before him, leading to the hill outside camp where two sentries sat, guarding on horseback. They all watched as Thalon ran through, barking orders to the sentries to follow him.

And what Alora now knew was a portal closed behind them.

Then, it was unnervingly silent.

So silent that even a whisper was too loud.

Heavy breaths escaped Garrik as he dropped his chin to his chest. His shoulders rhythmically rose and fell. The creatures and night-bugs tentatively resumed their sounds as the forest returned to its peaceful self.

It was peaceful.

Only for a moment.

Only until the sliding of metal against leather disturbed the silence.

Garrik turned.

Jade maliciously stalked toward Alora, twenty feet from where he stood.

“This… isyourfault!” Jade’s rage rippled across the clearing. A flash of metal in the moonlight revealed her sword trained high, aiming for the soft flesh of Alora’s chest.

Alora backed away, hands trembling in front of her in terror.

She’d survived it all to die at the hands of fury. And if Aiden died, she wouldn’t blame her for it.

Jade swung her sword, but a hand enclosed around her wrist, catching the blade’s edge in the other.

Crimson oozed from Garrik’s grip. His face tight, eyes fading to black. The High Prince leaned his weight into the blade, cutting deeper, forcing it away until it rested a hair’s length from Jade’s throat.

His face … the same face as that in the alley of Telldaira.

Jade’s contempt pushed back.

It was as if two explosions detonated and warred to be the victor of the deadliest destruction.

Garrik sunk the blade against flesh and growled, low and vicious and all-ending. “You dare to defy me?”

His power drove a humbling wall of air against her.

Jade stumbled backward, releasing her weapon. The muscles under Garrik’s battle leathers rippled as he threw the sword away and prowled forward, fists balled while crimson dripped from his palm.

“Get … the horses,” he snarled, the thunder in his voice barely restrained.

But Jade didn’t move. Not an inch.

Tilting his head like a beast stalking its prey, Garrik again stepped forward. “Now.”

Jade’s lips curled, quivering as if she would speak. Still, she didn’t move.

Garrik pulled a dagger from his belt. “By the laws of?—”

“I’m sorry,” Alora whispered in the darkness. “I’m so sorry.” She covered her mouth with her palms as tears flowed down her cheeks.

Garrik’s oblivion for eyes remained on Jade’s and loosened his tongue. The words, crackling like a raging wildfire, were far from the common tongue but wholly natural like a treasured melody on his lips. And he spoke a language that Alora had never learned. He lingered there, body shaking in unrelenting rage.

Whatever he was saying, Jade’s face burned as red as her hair. She balled her fists, face twisted in repulsion as that same language spewed like venom from her lips. Not as graceful and melodious as the High Prince’s, more malicious with a stinging bite. The muscles in her arms tightened as she pointed a stiff finger at Alora.