Page 168 of Tower of Ash and Darkness
“Lailah used too much. You felt it. That kind of power—it doesn’t come without a cost.”
“I know.”
The mention of her name makes me ache, and I force myself to stay steady.
“She’ll recover,” I say, though the words feel fragile, as if spoken more to convince myself than him.
“She has to,” Malachi replies, firm but quiet. “If she doesn’t, all of this was for nothing.”
I nod, letting his words settle over me. Neither of us moves, the silence heavy.
Finally, I turn toward the direction Callum had taken her.
“I need to see her,” I murmur, my voice more resolute than I feel.
Malachi doesn’t respond, but his hand brushes my shoulder again briefly, a silent acknowledgment. Then he steps back, fading into the shadows as I move forward. The mess we’ve gotten ourselves into is draining.
But I can’t stop. Not yet. Not until this is over. Not until I seeher.
The forest stretches wide, its canopy thick enough to offer a reprieve from the sun’s merciless reach. Still, golden rays pierce through the cracks, glittering like daggers intent on finding theirmark. I pull my cloak tighter, tilting the hood to better shield my face. Even here, surrounded by towering trees, the sunlight burns faintly against my skin, a warning I dare not ignore.
The heat is almost unbearable. The cloak traps it, wrapping me in layers of misery, but there’s no other choice. Callum would have done as I told him—he’d have taken her somewhere hidden, somewhere safe. He’d protect her with his life if it came to that. But even knowing this, I can’t quell the gnawing unease clawing at me.
The river is close now; I can feel its presence in the air. Damp and cool, it cuts through the heat like the first exhale after drowning. There’s a cave I remember, carved into the cliffs along the water’s edge, dark enough to keep them safe and secluded. It’s where I would go. Callum must have thought the same.
Branches scrape against my cloak as I push forward. I move quickly and carefully, my senses tuned to every sound, every shift in the air.
If someone found them—no.
I won’t let myself entertain the thought. The river comes into view, its waters gleaming under the sun like molten silver. I keep to the shadows, following the bank as the sound of rushing water grows louder. The cave entrance will be near, hidden among the jagged rocks and overgrown vines.
Stepping onto the rocks, their edges biting into the soles of my boots, I find the cave hidden beneath a veil of vines and overgrown moss. My eyes, sharpened by shadow, struggle now to adjust to the deep darkness ahead. The lingering brilliance of the day sears the edges of my vision, making the blackness seem thicker, deeper, as if the cave resents the intrusion of light.
I take a slow breath and step forward, letting the cool, damp air embrace me. The firelight flickers faintly ahead. As my sight finally adjusts, I see them.
Callum sits near the center of the cave, his broad frame hunched protectively over Lailah. A small fire burns at his side, its warmth doing little to stave off the unnatural chill that clings to the air. Lailah rests her head in his lap, her body curled into itself, trembling as ifcaught in the heart of winter. Her cloak and Callum’s are draped over her, yet she shakes as though the world outside weren’t bathed in the harsh, relentless sun of early fall.
I step closer, careful not to disturb the fragile peace between them. Callum’s hand moves with an unexpected tenderness, brushing back the loose strands of her hair, his fingers combing through it as though the motion itself could shield her from whatever storm she’s weathering.
It’sstrange,this side of him. Callum doesn’t protect. Callum doesn’t care. Yet here he is, his every move reverent.
Lailah isdifferent. She always has been.
When I reach them, I lower myself to one knee beside her, my fingers brushing against her forehead. Her skin is like ice, the kind of cold that sinks into your bones. A low hiss escapes me, though I stifle it before it grows louder. She doesn’t stir. Her magic must have drained her, the cost of whatever power she’s wielded leaving her fragile and spent.
Callum looks up at me then, his face illuminated by the firelight. There’s something in his expression—concern. It’s not an emotion I’m accustomed to seeing on him, and for a second, it unsettles me. Callum, who would tear down the world for what he desires, now looks at Lailah with a care that seems almost sacred.
I shrug off my cloak without hesitation, draping it over her slender frame. The added weight should help to hold in the fire’s faint warmth. I settle beside them, relieved now that I’m near her, now that I can see she’s breathing.
“What are your orders?” Callum asks, his voice low but steady.
I meet his gaze, my eyes searching the face of the man who has stood with me through battles, betrayals, and bloodshed. Callum, my closest friend—my brother in all but name. The reality of almost losing him today settles like a stone in my chest, heavy with the memory of my own recklessness.
Vanessa’s name burns in my thoughts, a bitter brand. If not for Lailah, if she hadn’t intervened in that crucial moment, Callum would be gone. The realization coils in my gut, anger and guilttwisting together like a blade turning in the wound. I force myself to look away, to bury the storm of emotions out of necessity. The fire is low, its glow weak. I crouch beside it, feeding it more kindling, coaxing the flames higher as if their heat could burn away my failure.
“Jason will move ahead with his father,” I murmur, my voice steady despite the chaos inside me.
The plan takes shape as I speak, words forming around the urgency of our circumstances. But even as I speak, my thoughts drift to her.Lailah. Her face pale, her body trembling beneath the weight of exhaustion and magic. She is fragile now in a way that feels unbearable to witness. Her strength, so constant, feels distant, and the sight of her like this gnaws at something deep within me. She cannot move. She cannot leave.
