Page 122 of These Fractured Bonds

She was interrupted by a loud mechanical hum. The runegate whirred, and its blue portal shuttered as Leo tinkered with the coordinates. The soldiers stopped the line’s proceedings.

“Just give it a few seconds here,” Leo called out to everyone.

“Please,” she told Augrys. “I want to help.”

He replied, his shoulders stiff, “Listen to me. Tuom wants you badly enough to reveal his trump card—the nox. Whatever he wants you for, it can’t be good. We won’t be staying at Samire very long. I need to get you somewhere safer and retrieve a sample of Tuom’s blood as soon as possible. We don’t have time to spare. The best way to help is to go.” He called Erick over and turned to him, effectively ending their discussion.

His dismissal stung. She walked a few feet away from him, unable to hide her frustration. Yareli sat with his words, her mouth downturned from distaste of the truth. It singed her tongue, coated her mouth in iron, and tasted of shame.Shedidn’t belong in Izmari; it was best to keep out of Fae affairs. The runegate whirred to life, its bright blue maw blinding her momentarily with its light.

“It’s ready,” Leo yelled.

“Let’s go,” Augrys called to her.

And she had been about to walk to him, she really had, but then the ceiling shattered. Large chunks hurtled toward them as a dark blur slammed into the ground. As the impact shook the ground, Yareli lost her balance, the ground rising fast to meet her; a hard yank on her waist stopped her fall, and she grunted. Augrys held her, keeping her upright, his eyes flashing gold. Shields went up, catching the debris before it hit the evacuees.

She spun toward the epicenter, exclaiming, “Wha—”

“Shit,” Augrys said. “They brought a brawler.”

A roar filled the air, and the dust settled, revealing a hulking nox monster. Half the height of the atrium, it stood on its knuckles, its muscular frame rivaled its stature. Dark as night and with the same smoke-like texture, its gleaming red eyes homed in on a hole in the wall. Tonio hobbled to the hole’s entrance, blood trailing down his temple. A sneer curled his lips into an almost feral-like expression, and with a burst of speed, he shot toward the creature. Their clash sent shockwaves theirway, and she lifted her hands to protect her face. Tonio’s blue lightning crackled and sparked along the brawler’s body as he raced along its long limbs toward its thick neck.

“Look out,” a soldier shouted, pointing upwards.

A horde of nox creatures appeared at the crack of the ceiling; it filled the entirety of the hole, giving the impression that the ceiling was whole once more, that is, until they began falling. The crowd, finally panicked, surged toward the runegate while the soldiers attempted to rein them in. They were losing control of the situation. The first of the swarm barreled toward them, their numbers so great it looked like a growing dark wave.

Augrys met her panicked stare, his own hazel eyes resolute. He let go of her waist, his spear materializing in his hand.

His face softened, and he murmured, “I know things are complicated, and you think I’m an ass, rightfully so, but I promise I’ll tell you everything. Wait for me. Please.”

She faltered, confused at his plea. “What do—”

“Leo,” he barked.

Understanding came to her too slow. Leo appeared, latching onto her abdomen as he pulled her away.

“Let me go!” She struggled against him.

Erick walked forward to stand by Augrys; he winked at her. “We’ll be right behind you guys. Dontcha worry.” He turned to face the incoming mob. “Augrys, you owe me a bonus.”

She was being left behind.

“Augrys,” she yelled.

He didn’t turn around, eliciting a pang in her chest. He hadalwaysturned at her voice. Something splintered in her heart, ripping apart the stitches that held her conflict at bay. August had always turned; the Fae in front of her was decidedly First General Augrys, not her friend.

White magic showered the atrium, incinerating the horde running at them. Augrys’s spear turned golden before shiningwhite; he took a step back, then hurled it at the brawler. It pierced its thick skin, exploding into a million white particles. The brawler disintegrated, its dying howl cut short. Augrys took off, disappearing into the dark swarm, Erick right on his heels.

Leo carried her to the runegate, impervious to her swears and struggles. He said nothing as he pulled her through the portal—away from Augrys and Erick—and they landed on the Lhuth Mountains once more. His grip loosened, and she broke away. She spun on him, jabbing his chest.

“You had no right. We could have helped.”

“You mean, I could have helped?” he retorted.

His implication was not lost on her, and she blinked, taken aback. It was not like him to be cruel.

He sighed, pinching his nose. “War means difficulty, and that’s what it is now—war. Your role isn’t to fight. You’re meant to be protected until we can get you out of here, away from Tuom. Augrys told you as much.”

Heat rushed to her cheeks, and her eyes burned. “I can do more than stand around and watch my friends risk their lives.”