Total pages in book: 247
Estimated words: 235897 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1179(@200wpm)___ 944(@250wpm)___ 786(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 235897 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1179(@200wpm)___ 944(@250wpm)___ 786(@300wpm)
Fuck.
Guards draw their swords.
“Get off the ice,” I shout down the bond, and scalding power surges within me.
“Not smart to threaten a prince. And Cam?” Halden’s gaze swings our way. “What does my little brother have to say about this?”
“Aaric,” Aaric corrects him. “And I’m on his side.” He gestures to Xaden. “Aretian, remember? And unless Riorson here is going to sign another provincial commitment, I believe I’m under his chain of command now, as are probably a third of your troops.”
Halden’s jaw flexes once. Twice. Then he glares at Xaden. “You’ve been warned.”
“And you’ve been informed,” Xaden replies in a tone that makes me fear for Halden’s existence.
Halden pivots on his heel and storms past us, his guards and Calldyr on his heels.
“Proud of you.” Lewellen thumps his fist against Xaden’s shoulder and heads toward the hall. “I’m going to tell the others.”
“We’re taking civilians?” I slip past Lynx to get to Xaden. “Come back to me.”
His cold eyes glance my way, chilling my blood, and then he does a double take.
“We are.” He nods, his voice softening. He blinks hard twice, like he’s at war with himself, and then the shadows dissipate and the ice in his gaze thaws. He’s back. “Not that it will do them much good. A wyvern made it halfway to Aretia yesterday before falling out of the sky. A dozen more tried—” He pauses. “Your rotation should be fine, but we don’t have long. A month at most.”
That’s horrifically sooner than Mira estimated.
“The riot can stay in Aretia—” I start.
“We’ll all stay,” Rhi agrees.
“No.” Xaden shakes his head. “It was one thing to take cadets to Aretia when we were a relatively safe distance from combat, but it’s another to keep them there if we become the front lines.”
“But—” I pause as whisps of shadow spread from behind me in an unfamiliar pattern.
Maren gasps.
“What the fuck?” Ridoc whispers.
Xaden glances behind me, and his eyes flare.
“That’s not possible,” Imogen says.
I turn around, reaching for a dagger, and freeze completely.
Lynx stands in the middle of the hallway, shaking from head to foot, staring at the darkness that envelops his hands.
“It’s all right.” Rhiannon rushes to Lynx’s side. “Breathe. You’re just…”
“Manifesting,” Xaden says, putting himself in front of Lynx. “Don’t be scared. They’re defending you. Fear. Anger. Whatever it is, level out your emotions, and they’ll recede.”
Manifesting? Shadows?
“I can’t—” Lynx shakes his head, and the shadows creep up his arms.
“You can,” Xaden assures him. “Close your eyes and think of the place you feel safest. Go ahead.”
Lynx slams his eyes shut.
“Good job. Now breathe deeply and picture yourself there. Calm. Happy. Safe.” Xaden watches as the shadows recede.
Lynx’s breaths even out, and his hands reappear.
“Get him to Carr now,” Xaden orders Rhiannon, and she nods.
The squad ushers Lynx down the hall, but I stay behind, shock gluing my feet to the carpet. “I don’t understand. You’re our generation’s shadow wielder.”
“Not anymore. Magic knows.” Xaden’s shoulders dip as he turns slowly to face me, his brow scrunching in apology before he schools his features. “He’s the balance.”
A chill runs down my spine.
“I should…go.” His voice comes out like it’s been scraped over hot coals. “Aetos asked me to resign my professorship due to my extended absence on provincial matters, and for once, I agree with him, especially after seeing that. I shouldn’t be here.”
He doesn’t mean to his room. He means leaving.
Panic seizes my heartbeat. “Stay.” I reach for him, but he shakes his head and retreats a step. “Please,” I whisper, more than aware of the guards stationed down the hallway. “Please stay with me. Fight for the future that’s beyond all this. Sixty-six days, right?”
He can’t leave, not now. Not like this. Not when the hope has drained from his eyes.
“I’m needed in Lewellen. Melgren’s demanded we double our Talladium output for alloy, which is straining the miners, and there’s unrest after that conscription announcement. There’s more to Tyrrendor than just Aretia.” He glances left, toward the nearest window. “I told you—control is just prolonging the inevitable. Maybe stability is a fool’s hope.”
Lewellen is beyond the wards, unless we’ve moved two cases of daggers there I don’t know about. If he leaves the wards in this state of mind…
“You have an entire assembly to help with that.” I move, putting myself in his line of sight. “You can’t give up. I don’t care if Lynx manifested shadows. You have to fight. If you won’t do it for yourself, then you do it for me.”
His gaze snaps to mine.
“What happens to me if you turn?” My hands curl at my sides. “What happens to Tairn and Sgaeyl if you give in?”
Xaden’s jaw flexes.
“Do venin get once-a-week visits?” I take a step closer and lift my chin. “Does their bond survive you turning? Does ours? You and I are tethered for life, Xaden Riorson. Am I expected to turn with you? Is that the only way to keep our dragons alive if you give up?”