Chapter 84
JACE
“Let’s go.”
Serena shoves to her feet, the tears drying on her blood-streaked face as an eerie calm befalls her.
“Jace, get his other side,” she orders. I give her a wary look.
“Serena—”
“GET HIS OTHER SIDE!”
Her shout rebounds off the tower walls. She glowers at me, fangs bared, her fingers sparking tiny flames. She doesn’t seem to notice. She is possessed. There is desperation in her like I’ve never seen. Reasoning with her in this state will be impossible.
This is my fault. Mine and Zadyn’s. We thought we were protecting her by locking her up. Zadyn succeeded in getting the armies to retreat. But once they find out it wasn’t Kylian who gave the order, they will be back.
It was a temporary solution with catastrophic consequences.
Dover takes the blanket off the cot in the corner to shroud Zadyn’s body. Even though I think this is a terrible idea, I help lift him.
Serena stops at her room to change and grab Arden’s grimoire, then meets us on the lawns where Furi waits, sending blaring howls up into the cresting sunrise. My eyes snag on the two bodies bounding toward us.
“Who is that?” Sorscha asks, noting the covered body. Eaton stands beside her in silver armor, breathing hard, his hair windblown.
I turn to him, shaking my head. The realization settles in his eyes. “I’m sorry.”
He sheathes his sword and takes a step toward his friend’s body, his face twisting in confusion and rage. Sorscha claps a hand over her mouth.
“What happened,” Eaton grits.
“I did,” Serena says without looking back. “And I’m going to make it right.”
Eaton watches Dover and Kai load Zadyn onto Furi’s back, his face a mask of shock.
“You have to stay here,” Mar says to me.
“How can I let her go like this? This is our fault, it’s my fault—”
“She cannot be around you right now. We will take care of her. But right now she needs space, and you’re needed here. This war is far from over. In fact, after today, I think it’s only just begun.”
“Kylian will find her, and I won’t be there.”
“He won’t find her. Not where we’re going.”
I give her a desolate look.
“What she’s about to do…” I shake my head, my eyes caught on the dark banner of her hair waving in the wind as she takes her place on the dragon’s back. “Don’t let her lose herself.”
“Never.”
As I watch them disappear into the bleak sky, I try to think of anything but Serena’s haunting cries. I try to un-feel her hands around my neck, her nails digging into my throat, determined to end my life right then and there.
The way her fingers trembled afterward, wet with crimson blood as she sank onto Zadyn’s chest, wailing—it broke me.
If I had been a second earlier in getting to her, I could have stopped it. But I was too late.
I pray to the gods he lives.
But either way, she may never forgive me.
And I may never forgive myself for ruining us.