>>Aelin
Everything around me blurred—the fighting, the screaming, the crackle of abyss Nothing existed beyond him and the blood and the look on his face.
He clutched his chest, blood running through his fingers. His eyes locked with mine as he fell.
And my world—
It cracked.
Splintered.
Shattered.
Like glass.
Because it wasn't just a man falling.
It was my safety.
My anchor.
The one who protected me, believed in me, made me feel like I wasn't alone in this cursed, impossible fight.
"Draegon, please—" I whispered, even though I hadn't reached him yet. "Please, stay with me."
My magic flared to life in my palms, erratic and trembling like my breath. I didn't know if I could heal this. I didn't know anything except I had to try.
He can't die.
Tears burned down my cheeks as I stumbled over fallen debris, too slow, too late.
And Alishay—
