“You have to! That's what he's doing! Buying you time!”
Through the bond, I felt Kael's determination. His absolute certainty that I needed to survive. Go, his voice in my head. Get them to safety. I'll follow.
You'd better.
I promise.
I ran. Carrying Liana with magic. Marcus is limping behind. Away from the battle. Toward the tunnel. Toward safety.
Behind us, power exploded. Dark and light. Shadow and gold. King and Corrupted.
We made it to the tunnel. Started through. Behind us, the fortress shook. Stones falling. Wards collapsing.
“He's tearing the place apart,” Marcus said. Wonder and horror mixed in his voice. “He's actually doing it.”
“He's the king,” I said. “Of course he is.”
But I could feel him through the bond. Feel the strain. The exhaustion. He couldn't maintain this
