Chapter 36
Chapter Thirty-Six
Malachi
Amyriad of thoughts crash through me as I watch Ada hover over the platform. But three rise above the chaos, louder than the rest.
Nothing could have prepared me for this.
I've never been so scared in my life.
And I'm going to kill Mortiana for this.
She must have known. Must have known Ada's eyes would flash bright blue, like the hottest part of a flame. Something I've only read about in ancient texts. Something I never thought I'd witness. Ada is not just an empath. Not just a true healer. A true siphoner.
Worse, Mortiana must have known heralding this message would put Ada in imminent danger.
Must have known and sent her anyway. I clutch my injured side and force myself toward the stage, muttering a protective incantation as I drag my sword behind me.
The glyphs activate, humming against my skin, and I pray to every god listening that the protection reaches Ada before she finishes.
"—Killer of the Everlasting."
I stop walking.
My pulse crashes in my ears. The words echo through the amphitheater, through three hundred years of waiting. I watch Constantine stumble backward as if the declaration itself has struck him.
An arrow grazes his ear and clatters to the ground beside him.
My gaze flicks behind him, to where Freida stumbles out of the tunnel with a bow in hand, already nocking another arrow.
Constantine's hand flies up instinctively, but his wide eyes remain fixed on Ada.
He drops his bloody hand as if he hasn't felt the wound at all.
Near the tunnel, a legion guard shoves Freida sideways. She's forced to abandon her mark and fight. I clutch my side harder. Force myself to keep walking.
The Shroud is lifted. Kage's voice slams into my mind. The Rooks will be here soon.
I let out a ragged breath. Good news, at least. Are you injured?
A pause. Yes. I can't summon my shadows. I can barely stand. How the fuck are you walking?
I don't respond. The fear of losing Ada is the only thing keeping me upright, and that's not something I want to admit right now. I swallow hard and keep going. Keep staring at Ada.
Keep praying to Maia and Lugal that I'll reach her before another wave of guards descends with those ivory weapons. Praying that if I fall, she'll at least be protected.
As if she senses me, she turns. Those burning, unblinking blue eyes lock onto mine. Even through the chaos, even through the fear, I feel the bond flare between us. Feel her reaching for me.
"I am," she starts, in her own voice this time. This is no longer Mortiana's message. This is Ada. My Ada. I hold my breath as her lips move again. "I am Ada Temperance Acevedo. Cursebreaker of Tenebris."
The proclamation grabs me by the throat.
And then she crumples.
Fuck.
I use the sword as a crutch and try to move faster. Menace! Ada! Stay with me!
I shove the words through the bond. Shove whatever strength I can muster after them. The effort makes my head spin so fast my knees hit the ground. Sand billows around me like smoke.
Bain. Kage's voice makes me blink.
I grip my sword tighter. Use it as leverage to haul myself up. Stumble back down, crashing so hard my teeth rattle.
The Veritas guards are on their way to you. You need to wait. You're going to get yourself killed.
I ignore him. I don't have the energy to respond and focus on the bond at the same time. I squint through the dust, trying to make out the stage. Reach for the bond and find it thready. Flickering.
Panic seizes my chest.
I tug harder. Feel her confusion. Her fear. I summon what's left of my strength, bury the sword in the sand, and drag myself upright. My legs threaten to buckle.
Then I see a flash of green uniforms carrying Ada's limp body toward the tunnel on the right side of the arena.
A roar rips from my throat as I limp after them.
Most of the legion guards are down, scattered across the sand.
We were certain without their amulets they'd shift. We were hoping Ada's friends would too.
Now I wonder if they even know they have the ability. On the opposite side of the amphitheater, Freida is still fighting. I keep walking toward the tunnel instead.
"It leads to the dock!" Naima shouts, sprinting toward me with those ivory manacles still clamped around her wrists.
Margot stumbles after her, sobbing so hard she trips over her own feet. I keep walking, barely avoiding tripping over myself.
They're headed for a ship. Kage's voice again, urgent and raw. They're taking her to Arusha.
Another sound tears from my chest.
Naima flinches and raises her bound wrists. "If I can get these off, I can reach her!"
My head whips toward her. "How?"
"Water," she says, as if that's the most obvious answer in the world.
Maybe it is. I don't care. All I know is if that ship leaves for Arusha, I won't be able to reach Ada. Not in time. Not like this.
I keep hobbling toward the tunnel. "I can't break them. My gifts won't work on the ivory."
"Can I use your sword?"
I stop. Clutch my side. Give a sharp nod.
She crouches down and slides the manacles along the blade, sawing back and forth. They snap in half but remain clamped on her wrists. She shrieks in frustration, glances toward the tunnel, then surges to her feet and takes off running.
She stops beside Arlo's unconscious form long enough to grab his bow and arrows. Keeps going.
"Naima!" Margot screams, stumbling after her.
My head swims. I take another step. Another. I crash to my knees.
My chest rattles with each breath. I yank my hand away from the stab wound and try to haul myself up again. That stupid fucking ivory. Poisoning me from the inside.
I reach for the bond.
The protection I placed on her is holding. That lets me breathe a little easier, but it's not enough. Nothing is enough. Through the bond, I feel her confusion.
She's reaching for it. Grasping for a thread she can't name, can't follow. She doesn't know what the bond is. Doesn't know who's on the other end.
An ache settles deep in my chest. I squeeze my eyes shut. "Menace," I breathe. "Please."
It’s the last plea I make before darkness crawls in from the edges of my vision and my world tilts sideways. The last thing I feel before the darkness takes me is her heartbeat, faint and frightened, pulsing alongside mine.
I'm coming for you, menace.
I'll make you remember.