Serenna released an undignified snort, raising her brows at his dramatics. But his offer tugged at something deeper and thoughts of the prince bubbled to the forefront of her mind. 

Guilt still weighed heavily on her chest, now accompanied by her tether’s key. Fenn had refused to accept it back, insisting that he’d have a discussion with Lykor about her captivity.

He made it sound so easy. No one simply “had a discussion” with Lykor. But maybe this was different since Lykor had already offered to untether her. He was being sincere. I think.

Serenna’s hands trembled in Fenn’s. It was past time to share her bond with the prince. Fenn had saved her life more than once—surely she could trust him with this. She’d ask him to not inform Lykor and plead with Fenn again to push for uniting their peoples.

It would be better if Fenn could warp us somewhere secluded when I take the tether off. I can’t risk Vesryn portaling to the keep. 

“I need to tell you something,” Serenna began, heart racing. Reclaiming one of her hands, she clutched the iron key dangling on its chain. Her stomach clenched against the secrets she’d kept locked away. Swallowing, she gathered her courage, hoping what she said next wouldn’t douse the fire in Fenn’s eyes. “It’s about a bond—”

So absorbed in her confession, Serenna didn’t register the whistle, a sundering of wind. White-hot agony exploded through her shoulder, the impact of something ripping through her body knocking her forward.

Fenn grunted as he caught her, a sickening thud smacking into his side. Dizzy with the lance of pain, Serenna couldn’t breathe. Spots flecked her vision when she looked down, uncomprehending of the quarrel driven between them. A crossbow bolt had impaled her from the back, the point now embedded in between Fenn’s ribs.

Fenn’s eyes ignited with a feral light as he searched behind her. He snarled, an animalistic challenge, fangs aggressively shooting down.

“Eyes on me, she-elf,” Fenn gritted out as she tried to look over her shoulder. 

Serenna clutched at him as he jostled her wound. Whimpering, she flinched when he grabbed the shaft lodged between them.

“I’ve got you,” Fenn said, holding her in place with his other claw. He stepped back.

A scream Serenna couldn’t restrain pierced her ears as the bolt tore the rest of the way through her.

Black blood spilling through his tunic, Fenn yanked the quarrel out of his side, throwing it to the ground. He spun Serenna behind him, facing the threat.

Taryn led a horde of what must’ve been the entire clan of reavers. The warriors converged on them, descending from the upper levels of the fortress, stalking across bridges, warping through the streets. Face-painted soldiers had their crossbows loaded and aimed, others had knives and maces drawn. 

Serenna’s mind splintered in terror. There was nowhere to flee—they wouldn’t be able to escape from a group so large even if Fenn tried to warp. She clasped her injury, hot blood streaming down her arm.

“The elven bitch and I have a debt to settle,” Taryn snarled at Fenn. She whipped her braids over a shoulder, pointing her crossbow at him. “Stand aside, brother.”

Weaponless, Essence surged around Fenn. The magic sputtered, his Well nearly drained. He cast a quick glance back at Serenna, as if ensuring she was still safe behind him. Like either of them could be safe while opposed by hundreds of bloodthirsty reavers.

Taryn only hesitated long enough to scoff before firing.

Fenn punched out a shock wave of force, knocking his sister and the front line of reavers back. Serenna didn’t have time to cry out as crossbows twanged. Clearly confident, they didn’t bother wasting their supply of gold-tipped bolts. Her hands flew up, quickly blasting a lash of wind to meet the volley of quarrels hurtling toward them. 

Serenna’s power fell short.

The summoned breeze tossed a handful of the fired arrows off course, pattering onto the stony street. Her wind slowed the others. But not enough. Time stopped along with Serenna’s heart as the rest of the barrage struck Fenn. 

Heavy thumps sounded. One after the other. Serenna’s entire body went numb. Each blow was a smack to his chest, a punch to her gut. Fenn staggered into her before the world tipped and spun as they toppled to the ground. 

Serenna suppressed a shriek as her injured shoulder slammed to the stones. Scrambling out from under Fenn, she protectively crouched over him as the reavers converged on them.

They were going to kill him. If they hadn’t already. And then they were going to kill her.

Serenna’s mind froze with disbelief, unable to process the blood gushing from Fenn’s body, peppered with so many bolts. Each breath came faster than the last as panic compressed her ribs. She clutched at Fenn, powerless to prevent his life force from draining out.

She had to mend him. 

A hopeless, broken sob escaped from Serenna’s throat before she sawed on the reins of her terror. Lungs hauling in air, she whipped her head up, scanning the reavers. 

She didn’t have time to struggle with her elemental magic against so many before they overwhelmed her. She needed something familiar. Something destructive. 

Serenna snatched the key away from her neck. Fingers shaking uncontrollably, palms slippery with Fenn’s blood, it took her three tries to unlock her tether. The shackle fell off, clattering to the stones.

Essence slammed into her and Serenna seized the torrent of power.

A beacon blazed in her mind.

Lykor.

He was close. Somewhere in the keep—maybe the Aerie—his proximity glaringly bright through the bond.

Hope dared to swell in Serenna’s chest, her eyes darting between Fenn and the reavers. She couldn’t manage both mending and fighting off an army alone. Surely Lykor would—

Serenna screamed for help down the bridge of their bond, desperately hauling on the silver chain connecting them.

Shoving her panic into a dark corner—a place where emotion and feeling didn’t exist—Serenna riveted her attention on the reavers brave enough to stalk closer.

She silently vowed that it would be their last mistake. 

Gritting her teeth, Serenna lurched to her feet. Shadows streamed from her fists, swirling around her, coiling like vipers before a strike.

Snarling, the wraith fanning across from her hefted their weapons. Knowing a shield would be useless against those golden bolts now aimed at her, Serenna didn’t squander her magic on weaving a ward.

Throwing her hands forward, shadows streaked out from her fingertips in a wave of ebony wrath. The closest reavers ruptured, bursting from the inside out. An explosion of blood showered down, splattering against the cobblestone street. 

More wraith warped in front of her. Heart pummeling her chest, Serenna spooled the lake of rending, recalling her magic. Lashing out like cracking a whip, she snapped shadowy tendrils around the reavers’ throats. Yanking on the cords of power, heads flew off of necks in a spray of blood.

Ripping at Essence, Serenna spun a mantle of midnight over the next wave of wraith materializing, lacerating them in fountains of viscera and bone. Shadows raced across her hands. Channeling webs of darkness, Serenna shrieked, demanding more of her power. 

Her vision started to haze as terror rooted. A handful of weeks tethered had reduced the capacity of her Well by an alarming amount.

She was going to be overwhelmed. 

A burst of pressure rent the air beside her. A portal opened. 

Lykor raged through like a storm, Essence combusting with the intensity of a sun. He’d answered her call. If Serenna wasn’t so numb with shock, she would’ve wept in relief. 

With a flash of fury, Lykor bared his fangs at her, stalking forward. Serenna stumbled back at his sudden motion, holding her bloody palms out like she could stop him. Panic climbed back into her throat. She hadn’t anticipated that he’d be so vengeful for her reaching out through the bond.

Lykor’s attention flicked to Fenn on the ground, gurgling blood.

His rage toward her dissipated. Serenna didn’t need to tell him anything. Noticing the reavers, Lykor’s crimson gaze pinned on the horde, the fires of retribution flaring in his eyes.