Chapter Three
DAWN brOKE AND THE SUN TRACKED over the sky, but Rook never woke. I didn’t have any strength to move, and my fire never sparked.
Perhaps it was my penance for what I’d done.
For what I’d become.
Maybe she would never wake, and I would die for the second time, all because I’d used lives that weren’t mine to use.
I slipped back into darkness.
And in the quicksand of exhaustion, I vaguely heard helicopters soaring over the skeletal remains of the mountain. A flock of them flew to the top of the range, landing on the cooled magma that’d replaced the Eastern Crucible.
I didn’t know if they were enemies or friends.
I didn’t really care.
I gathered Rook closer and closed my eyes—
* * * * *
Stars twinkled over carnage by the time I woke again.
I had no idea how many hours or days had passed, but my body felt marginally stronger. I could stay awake at least, but...weakness clung like a death shroud.
I hated it.
I missed the fire, even though it hurt. I missed the heat. The power. The pain. Without it, I felt fragile. Feeble. Useless.
We have to go.
We hadn’t been found yet—tucked beside the river and hidden by fallen branches—but we would be. Eventually.
I have to get her somewhere safe.
With a groan, I fought such heavy, horrible exhaustion and inched upright.
It took an embarrassingly long time to climb to my feet. I’d never felt this empty before. Even on my worst days in Cinderkeep, I hadn’t been this weak.
Pinching the bridge of my nose, the world threatened to flip upside down.
Don’t you dare.
I couldn’t afford to pass out.
The mountain was probably swarming with people by now, and I had no intention of letting anyone find Rook in our current state.
Sucking in another breath, I begged my body to behave as I bent over her, slid my arm beneath her shoulder and knees, then lifted her weight with a loud groan.
I staggered and almost dropped her.
Fuck, it shouldn’t be this hard.
“I’ve got you,” I whispered hoarsely, pressing my lips to her temple. “I’ve always got you.” She weighed nothing, but my legs almost buckled as if I’d tried to lift the entire Gaoligong Mountains.
Where the goddamn hell was her bodyguard in all of this? Hadn’t he realised we’d been missing for days? Didn’t he have enough experience finding Rook, thanks to her regular disappearing acts? After all, he’d chased her to a remote area of China...how fucking hard was it to find her in this valley?
Focus.
Tripping forward, I concentrated on putting one foot in front of the other.
If we survived this—and I managed to get back to Ashfall Cliff without any Brimstone board members finding us—I had plans to beat Dillon Brooks up for—
“Ah, shit.” I tripped over a tree root and dropped to one knee.
Rook jostled in my arms.
“Get up. Move.” Jaw clenched and sweat pouring down my naked back, I forced myself upright and plodded onward with sheer stubbornness.
“I’ve got you,” I grunted, pathetically out of breath. “But if you feel like opening your eyes any time soon and walking yourself...I wouldn’t say no.”
I studied her face, every step heavier than the last. The world tilted and swayed as my heart struggled to keep me standing.
One step.
Two steps.
My legs gave out.
I hit the ground hard, pain exploding through my kneecaps as I curled around her instinctively, shielding her body with mine.
“Well, fuck...”
My vision tunnelled, darkness creeping over the edges.
I tried to push up, to move—but I had nothing left.
This broken, stupid body turned out to be utterly useless without the fire. And as unconsciousness came for me, a familiar growl cut through the slushy silence.
A streak of midnight bolted out of the mangled forest and pure gratitude crushed me.
“Whisp...” Guilt was a horrible, terrible thing as the giant panther skidded to a stop, hackles bristled and fangs glinting. “Fuck, it’s good to see you.”
I’d worried I’d stolen his life when I’d snatched up the lives of other dying creatures.
I hated myself that I hadn’t thought about it before I’d done it...or that it wouldn’t have stopped me even if I had.
Monster.
I’m a monster.
My heart ached as he towered over me, his eyes glowing in the gloom.
I wanted to beg for his forgiveness. I needed to check I hadn’t hurt him, but he merely huffed as if he knew how close I was to breaking and nudged Rook in my arms.
He growled softly when she didn’t move. Sniffing her, he sneezed, his gaze filling with worry.
“She’ll be okay,” I whispered. “I’ll make sure of it.”
He growled again, pacing in a tight circle before nudging Rook harder.
“I know.” I shrugged sadly. “I know you want me to get up, but...I can’t.”
He huffed and headbutted my shoulder.
A rush of weakness came for me. Shooting pains arrowed through my chest.
Darkness swooped over my vision, and I didn’t know if it was a heart attack or I’d merely reached my limit, but I fought to stay awake just long enough to slur, “Keep her safe, okay?” My tongue tied into knots. “Don’t let anyone take her. Please—”
Everything went black.