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I grabbed Puck by the arm, desperate. He could read it in my eyes. Even if we tried to fight them, we would lose. Any one of them could steal my magic and bring it back to Donika. It wasn’t a risk we could take.

I wouldn’t lose my magic, and I wouldn’t lose Nik. Neither was an option.

Puck turned back towards me, rainwater spilling down his face as the intensity of the storm surged. “We run.”

Without hesitation I took off at a sprint toward the south corner of the field, grabbing Stormslayer from its sheath at my thigh and pulling it free. My throwing knives were still secured in my boot and at the back of my belt, but I desperately wished I was more heavily armed. I had no qualms about using force against the other Noctani if it meant making it out of this alive.

Nik was the only one I didn’t want to raise my sword against. I wasn’t sure I even could, if it came down to it.

The Noctani took off too, their speed far eclipsing ours as they cut off our passage into Dragon’s Hollow. We skidded to a stop, sludge flying where our boots had dug into the mud.

“Shit.”

“Shit, indeed.” Tess murmured, her sword held tightly in her grip.

Corian hadn’t been embellishing when he had said they had increased speed and strength. With how quickly they had cut off our path I would guess they were twice as fast, at least. Maybe more.

Shadows slithered out from Nik’s hands and I had to choke back a cry as they slid across the field, wrapping around my legs. For once his shadows didn’t bring me comfort, and the only thing I could think of was how Donika had used her shadows to torture me.

Hurt me.

It would be foolish for me to expect anything different from Noctani.

“We only want to talk,” he called out, his voice sounding as smooth as honey, a sinister smile lifting his lips.

My gaze traveled from those lips up to his black, endless eyes, and my magic surged forth of its own volition. I was too volatile. It was all too fresh. The last time I had seen Nik as Noctani my magic had detonated, and we couldn’t risk that happening again. I didn’t have control of my power, and if I unleashed it here, I had no clue what would happen. I didn’t want to risk Puck or Tess. I didn’t want to risk hurting Nik.

The group of Noctani had found us fairly easily. Who knew how many others were out prowling the streets of Prins searching for us? How many soldiers Donika had sent to find us?

“Whatever happens here, you need to get that Dragon’s breath back to Alastir,” I murmured to Puck, my voice low.

“Don’t talk like that,” he snapped. I could sense his searing gaze against my back. “We aren’t leaving you here.”

“You might have to, if it comes down to a fight we can’t win. Our only hope is to finish the antidote.We need to finish the antidote, do you understand me?” I replied through clenched teeth.

“No. What good does the antidote do if we don’t haveyouanymore? I won’t leave you here.” Puck’s voice was grim.

“Do not make me command you, Puck.”

“You wouldn’t dare.” This time, his voice wasvenom. “I will stay to protect my queen at all costs. I will not sacrifice youand your magic to save Nikolai. It’s not what he would have wanted.”

“And if your queen commands you to run, to leave with the Dragon’s breath and finish the antidote?” I asked, my voice strangled.

“Then she will be shit out of luck, because that isn’t an option. Who gives a shit about the antidote if you are dead?”

“Me. I give a shit,” I snapped back.

“Stop it!” Tess cried, “both of you!”

The Noctani were fast approaching from across the field, closing the distance between us. They were close enough now to be within ear shot, listening to our every word.

“I can distract them enough for you two to get away,” I said, lowering my chin and focusing my gaze on Nikolai.

He would be the biggest threat of the group and fighting him without killing him would beincrediblydifficult.

“That’s a terrible plan,” Tess spat, adjusting her footing as the Noctani continued to approach.

There was nowhere to run. Nowhere to hide. It would come down to a fight, and I didn’t think they would kill me. They would take my magic and bring me back to Donika. It would buy us some time, at least.