Page 126 of The Last Remaining Light

The tower lurched again. Everyone staggered, throwing out their arms to keep their footing. Elowynn's desk skidded across the chamber before slamming into the half wall beneath the shattered window hard enough to splinter the wood.

The sound of collapsing stone echoed up from somewhere below.

Screaming erupted through the corridors outside.

Alyra snatched Lora’s hand and pulled her toward the chamber door. “Let’s go! We need to go now!”

“Elowynn can go with you,” Caelyn said, his voice firm.

Three heads snapped toward him.

“WHAT?!” Elowynn shrieked. “No! You are coming too!”

Stepping away, he shook his head viciously. “You can’t stay near me during this!”

“I am not leaving you again, Caelyn.”

The words struck like a blade between his ribs.

He looked away.

He hadn't survived five turnings without her only to fall apart now.

Lora swore softly under her breath as another alarm bell peeled through the city.

Closer now. The Vigil Orders.

Alyra’s silver eyes darkened as she pulled Lora more firmly to the exit. "They're moving toward the lower archives, and this tower won't stand much longer. Make a choice," she demanded.

Caelyn stepped backward deeper into shadow.

Lora noticed as she struggled against Alyra’s pull, and her gaze turned sad.

“Elowynn,” Alyra started, her words cautious. “If the Vigil finds him here—”

“I know,” she bit out, interrupting her.

No. She didn't know. None of them did.

Because if the Vigil Orders truly understood what he was, they would not only kill him.

They would dissect him. Study and use him.

The darkness inside him recoiled—and then surged with a rampaging hunger.

Pain ripped through Caelyn hard enough to drive him into the wall. Frost raced farther across the stone beneath his feet as blackened veins pulsed beneath his skin.

Elowynn moved toward him again.

“Don’t,” he snapped, his eyes squeezing closed. “I’m sorry,” he rasped.

“WE DON’T HAVE TIME!” Alyra yelled now.

Another scream echoed from outside before something crashed into the observatory corridor doors further down the hall.

It was not human or Astrari. The sound that followed—

Lora’s face drained white. “Was that—”