50. Zai
Zai
With the bolster thrumming through my veins, I absorbed another heat wave. I swept my hand toward the guard, sending molten metal straight into his half-open mouth. He clawed at his melting throat, choking on his own scream.
I’d lost count of how many I’d killed now. These were sun guards—my own people. But I had no other options. Besides, they’d chosen this life, chosen to work in a prison. They knew the risks.
My gaze darted for my next opponent, but all guards on the ramparts were locked in combat with other prisoners.
I spun and found Lora staring at me, her lips slightly parted. A dangerous heat burned in her dark eyes. My muscles tensed. I wanted to ask what that look meant, but I couldn’t risk her recognizing my voice.
My gaze snagged on her mouth, those full lips taunting me with irresistible temptation. An unbidden fantasy flashed through my mind—me closing the distance, pulling her against me, claiming those lips with my own.
My already heated body flared.
Ashes and embers, I couldn’t let my thoughts slip out of control like that.
I jerked my chin toward the makeshift metal stairs, urging her to go.
The Dual Wielder already clung to the wall, halfway down, his movements clumsy but quick.
On the ground below, Kestrel craned his head back, staring up the towering wall.
Lora’s gaze lingered on me for another heartbeat before she whirled and bolted down the steps, swift and silent like a shadow prowler.
I descended behind them, pushed past the three of them, and waved for them to keep moving. We darted across roots and fallen leaves, weaving into the trees.
Behind us, other prisoners followed down the steps and scattered in every direction, melting into the darkness.
The sounds of battle and screams faded, replaced by our ragged breathing and pounding footsteps.
The plan had worked. I’d sparked a riot and slipped the Dual Wielder out amid the chaos, along with Kestrel and moon girl. Soon, I’d deliver them to the Skydagger where the pirates would descend upon them.
Except my left leg didn’t cooperate the way it should. My muscles coiled taut, refusing to fully obey. That dross-stained guard had pierced it clean through.
To check the damage, I released my bolster.
Searing agony tore through my leg. My knee buckled and I stumbled forward, barely catching myself against a tree. Cursing under my breath, I slammed the bolster back in place, and strength flooded my limbs once more. Whatever damage lurked beneath my blood-soaked trousers would have to wait.
The scent of pine sap and damp soil filled my lungs as I veered left, angling deeper into the forest.
“Stop.”
I twisted around. Lora stood rooted to the spot, chest heaving, eyes locked on me.
“Where are you taking us?” Her eyes narrowed. “And more importantly, who are you?”
I didn’t answer, just jerked my hand for her to follow.
She stepped closer, eyes burning with defiance. “I don’t take orders from strangers.”
Before I could react, her hand shot out and ripped the mask from my face. Cool night air hit my skin.
“I knew it. Prince Zaivareth.” The venom in her voice could’ve made plants wither.
Erion gasped, eyes widening.
Lora stepped in front of him, shielding him with her body. Her arms shifted in precise patterns, fingers twirling. Tendrils of water rose from the ground a few paces off. No, not the ground—a stream, half-hidden behind deadfall. Of course, that’s why she’d chosen this spot to plant herself.
“Zai!” Kestrel flung his arms wide, his face splitting into a grin. “I should’ve known you’d come to rescue me!”
Lora’s head whipped toward him, water halting mid-rise. “What? You know him?”
My gaze snapped between them. Fault and fire, my plans were going to the abyss. How was I supposed to convince them to follow me to the Skydagger now?
Kestrel’s arms dropped, his grin vanishing like a snuffed flame. “Unless… You came for them.”
“Kestrel…” Chest tightening, I met his gaze, silently begging him to understand. “I came for you, too.”
“Really?” He planted his hands on his hips. “You told me to shut up and go jump in the abyss.”
I raised my hands. “I didn’t mean—I was just—”
He huffed. “A self-centered, ash-born fool?”
“Can’t argue with that,” Lora muttered, her water still coiling in the air, ready to strike.
Heat flared in my chest, searing away any trace of remorse. “Oh, I’m self-centered? What about you? You ran off and joined none other than the Dual Wielder! What in the scorching abyss were you thinking?!”
Kestrel’s jaw clenched as he pointed to his own head.
“Maybe this sunless void of a brain decided it needed to get away from you!” He crossed his arms, chin tilting up.
“And when I got to the city market, I heard merchants gossiping about a pair asking around for the Forbidden Archives. I couldn’t let an opportunity like that slip away, could I? ”
My hands balled into fists. “Why would you even want to get into the Forbidden Archives to begin with?”
“I tried telling you that. But you didn’t want to listen to my ramblings, did you?”
Heat flared under my skin, but I steadied myself with a breath. He had every right to be angry. I’d been cruel to him, too hung up on my own problems.
My jaw worked. “You’re right, I didn’t listen. Too deep in my own head to care about anyone else. You deserved better.”
Lora’s gaze snapped between us. “What in the turning tides is happening?”
My throat tightened at her nearness, her demanding voice, her consuming presence.
Part of me itched to plunge molten steel through her heart, to purge myself from her constant invasions of my mind.
Another part wanted to scream at her to run as far as she could, to save herself.
And yet another part—the one thundering loudest of them all—wanted to shove her against the nearest tree, crash my mouth against hers, and discover what those defiant lips tasted like.
Grinding my teeth, I locked my gaze on Kestrel. He glared at me, arms tightening over his chest.
“I’m sorry, Kestrel. I was… selfish.” The admission scraped against my pride, but I forced myself to meet his gaze.
“I shouldn’t have said those things to you.
I just—I say stupid things sometimes. If you could give me a chance, I’d like to try again—to listen.
” I swallowed. “A wise man once told me that’s what friends do. They listen to each other.”
Hopefully he’d remember his own words from that night in the tavern with Flint, when we’d all had too much to drink.
He snorted. “You do say stupid things sometimes.” A grin cracked across his face, crooked and bright. “But how can I stay mad at you when you apologize like that?”
He pulled me into a rough embrace. Relief and awkwardness clashed inside as I thudded my fist against his back.
Lora glared between us, lowering her arms, and the water trickled back into the stream. “Can someone please explain how you two know each other?”
Kestrel stepped back, still grinning. “We met not far from here, actually. Shortly after I escaped the keep the first time.”
The corner of my lips quirked up at Kestrel’s brightened mood.
He patted my shoulder, gaze fixed on Lora. “You should’ve seen Zai! He saved me from becoming monster food, and he fought like the blazing sun incarnate, taking down that vile beast like—”
“Forget it.” Lora backed away, grabbing Erion’s hand. “We’re leaving.”
“Wait.” My hand jerked toward her.
Her arms snapped into defensive position, water tendrils rising again.
Lights above, what could I possibly say? I’m only here to deliver the Dual Wielder to my father, but you’re free to go. Her ice spikes would punch through my chest before I finished the sentence.
Exhaustion washed over me. The constant bolstering to stay upright on my damaged leg dragged at every fiber of my willpower.
I should’ve convinced Tera to meet me closer to the prison. The Skydagger hovered in the canopy at least half a candlemark away. She’d refused to go any closer, paranoid about being discovered by guards.
Lora huffed at my silence and retreated another pace, dragging the Dual Wielder with her. He shuffled behind her, silent as a shadow, gaze darting between Kestrel and me.
“You know what?” Kestrel patted my shoulder, stepping forward. “I’m gonna go with them.”
“You are?” The words burst from my mouth.
“You are?” Lora’s voice overlapped with mine.
“Yep!” Kestrel planted one fist on his hips and lifted the other dramatically in front of him. “I’ll be your emotional support bard. Your emergency cook. Your trustworthy—”
“No,” Lora glared at him. “We don’t need you.”
Kestrel’s hand fell to his side. “Why not? Your plan is to reach the rift before the eclipse, isn’t it? I can help you along the way.”
I frowned. What was this? Why would they want to reach the rift before the eclipse?
Lora and Erion exchanged a startled glance at his words.
Kestrel’s grin widened. “You know you weren’t alone in that dark pit, right? I heard everything. And I can think of nothing more epic than helping the Dual Wielder save the world.”
Lora’s eyes flicked over him with open skepticism.
My eyes darted between them. “Save the world? What are you talking about?”
Kestrel grinned. “Erion and Lora aren’t planning to attack the Sun Kingdom. They’re trying to close the rift.”
“Attack the Sun Kingdom?” Scowling, Lora pinned her gaze on me. “Where did you get that idea?”
My mind reeled as their words burrowed into me.
The idea had come from Father.
He’d suggested it that very first day we heard about the Dual Wielder in the council chamber. It had been a plausible theory, considering the cold resentment simmering between our two domains.
But the day he’d sent me off, he’d emphasized he wanted the Dual Wielder alive. He wasn’t interested in stopping a threat. He wanted to study Erion, to peel apart whatever let him wield both sun and moon magic. If possible, Father would exploit it for his own gain.
He’d probably only framed the Dual Wielder as a threat to suit his own ends.
If I returned to Father now and explained the Dual Wielder’s true goal to seal the rift, he’d refuse to believe me. He’d call me weak and order a suitable punishment for my failure.
All he wanted was more power. And I was his delivery boy. No, worse—I’d chased Erion to fulfill my own needs, just like Father.
This mission wasn’t honorable.
It was selfish.
The ground swayed beneath my feet. My breaths came in shallow bursts. Everything I’d worked for—the honor I’d chased, the approval I craved—all of it was built on a crumbling foundation.
Kestrel’s hand clamped onto my shoulder. “Zai? Are you all right?”
Swallowing hard, I fixed my gaze on the Dual Wielder. The earnest confusion in his eyes twisted something deep in my chest.
My jaw clenched. “Do you really believe you can close the rift?”
His eyes flicked to Lora, uncertainty etched across his features.
She stepped in front of him, chin lifted. “Of course he can.”
Her heat signature flared with indignant protectiveness. Not a single tell-tale flicker of deception and lies. Her dark-brown eyes burned with fierce honesty.
Something inside me fractured—that carefully constructed wall I’d spent years mortaring together with brittle half-truths and stubborn pretense.
But could the Dual Wielder really seal the rift? And what would happen if he did?
With no more Blightlands dividing our domains, could that be the beginning of something new?
So many resources went into guarding the border.
If monsters were no longer a threat, perhaps that money could go toward helping the people instead.
People like Lark, Flint, and Kestrel deserved far better than what the Sun Kingdom had given them.
A foreign sensation bloomed in the cracks of my heart where only desperation had festered before.
Hope.
Hope for a better world. A better future. A world where loyalty meant more than blind obedience. Where honor didn’t require ruthlessness. Perhaps even a world where people from the Sun Kingdom and Moon Queendom could be together without fear of retribution.
No, that was a ridiculous notion. Even if Blightlands disappeared, our two domains would never forgive centuries of bloodshed.
The confusing thoughts tangled together in my mind. What little strength I had left drained from me. My bolster sputtered out, and white-hot agony exploded through my leg.
A grunt tore from my throat as the ground tilted beneath my feet.
“You’re hurt!”
Lora caught me as I toppled, lowering me to the ground with surprising gentleness, her hands steady around my torso.
Fire consumed every nerve in my thigh where that scorching spike had punched through, but her touch—flames alive—her touch somehow drowned out the pain.
The world slowed and narrowed to her face. Her ebony braid flowing across her shoulder, a few loose strands framing her features. Her dark eyes scanning my leg. Her mesmerizing mouth.
Those delicious lips moved, speaking words I didn’t catch.
Hands grabbed me from behind, sliding me into a lap. Another wave of agony sliced through my thigh. My back arched in pain, and I sucked in air through clenched teeth.
Kestrel’s voice broke through the haze, a stream of comforting words I could barely make out.
Blue light bloomed from Lora’s palms, washing over the wound. A soothing coolness seeped into my searing flesh, dampening the worst of the pain.
She was healing me. Me. Her enemy. The man who’d chased her across the lands, tried to kill her countless times, and had just been about to lure her into a trap. She knew all that and healed me anyway.
My heart thundered against my ribs as I reached out, my fingers brushing her arm.
“Thank you.”