Page 120 of Ecliptic

“I can’t hold the portal,” Thaydril grunted as streams of dirt and rock fell between us.

“Give me two days. I’ll meet you there,” Rowen called through the diminishing connection. “I love you.”

“I love you, too,” I called back, wanting to yank him back to me and never let go.

Erovos’ earthquake was too much to fight, and with a strained groan, Thaydril lost control of the arch.

Maddock pulled me back as Rowen, my soul flame, my rock, my everything, disappeared in a crashing avalanche of sand.

42

I stood silent and unmoving. My body numb and ears ringing.

There was no way Erovos and his army hadn’t escaped the crevice with that quake.

“Keira.” I heard my name, but it was a muffled call. The loss of Rowen by my side hit me like a crashing meteor. I might never see him again. He swore he would come back to me, but what if he was too late?

All my hopes hinged on the desert elves helping us. Yes, Rowen had gone to find another army, but realistically, how many soldiers could he find? Viltarran was destroyed; its people scattered to the winds. It would take months, maybe even years, to reunite his people.

Indrasyl said our joining was the only way to save Rowen—to save everyone. I had foolishly believed I would find another way. But I had officially run out of time.

“Keira!” someone shouted again, knocking me out of my stupor.

“I think Erovos just escaped,” Dyani said, standing in her beloved forest yet looking like a desert elve. “I’ll go get Nepta.”

The warrior sprinted away, leaving me alone with Maddock.

“What the fuck was that?” Maddock demanded from my periphery.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I said stoically, staring at where Rowen had disappeared.

“Like hell you don’t,” Madds seethed, grabbing me by the shoulders and spinning me to face him. “You’re hiding something from Rowen and pushing it all to me. And it hurts like hell.”

“I’m not,” was all I could pathetically say.

He shook me by my shoulders. “What the fuck are you hiding?”

“Nothing.”

He huffed a laugh. “You’re a terrible liar. I hope you know what you’re doing.”

He dropped his arms from me, and with the loss of his touch, I felt more alone than ever.

I staggered on my bare feet as the flood of adrenaline faded. My body was shutting down. I hadn’t slept in over twenty-four hours, my wrist was sprained, and I’d been elbowed in the face. But I couldn’t rest; there was too much to do.

I took a wobbly step, but Madds blocked my path. “Where are you going?”

“Following Dyani,” I pointed after her.

“Oh no, you’re not.”

“And why’s that?” I asked, beyond exhausted.

“You need rest,” he said, his warm gaze dipping up and down my body. “You are covered in blood and bruises, and you look like you are about to collapse.”

“Dyani isn’t resting, and neither is Rowen,” I replied, my heart clenching as I pictured Rowen scouring the land for his people. Exhausted or not.

“In case you missed it, they weren’t the ones attempting an impossible challenge in the sky. That bastard king cut you andtried to collar you,” he said, his jaw twitching, and his eyes raging. “I’ve never felt so fucking terrified and helpless as when I watched you on that sphere.”

---