directions, between the desire to protect two different things that mattered to him so very much.
Choose.
“No,” he finally answered. And nudging his horse into a canter, Killian rode toward war.
59
LYDIA
The wind whistled past Lydia’s ears, her arms flailing as she fell, the sea rushing up to meet her with impossible speed.
But she still had time to regret her choice.
The toes of her boots slammed into the water, and then she was plunging down and down. Bubbles rushed past her face, pressure building in her ears, and when she looked up, the surface seemed terribly far away.
Kick, you fool!
Her legs churned, and she rose. Only not fast enough. Her chest burned, the desperate need to breathe sending flashes of panic through her veins. Then her head broke the surface.
She had the chance to suck in one breath before the waves slammed her against the cliff wall. Her wrist snapped, her forehead slicing open against the rocks; then the water was dragging her backward. Frantically, she searched the cliff walls for the opening. But there was nothing.
How was that possible?
High tide.
Her error slapped her in the face as the waves surged again, her feet slamming against the uneven rocks. Her ankle cracked, and she choked and floundered, trying to swim with two broken bones. Her mark was healing her, but not quickly enough.
Swim!
Body burning with pain and exertion, she dived, kicking as hard as she could in an attempt to get farther out to sea. The ocean flung her backward, the cliff rushing toward her. She was going to hit it again.
Swim, gods-damn you!
Pain exploded across her body as she hit the rocks, her body breaking. The sea pulled her back again, though she barely had the strength to stay afloat.
She’d made a mistake.
She was going to drown.
She’d failed Teriana.
She’d sacrificed Killian for nothing.
Water closed over her head, and she couldn’t move. Couldn’t swim.
Madoria help me.
But blackness only filled her eyes as her consciousness slipped away.
Then sunlight burned into them.
Lydia choked and coughed, rolling on her side to throw up before resting her face against the gritty damp sand. Her whole body was in agonizing pain, but she was healing.
“I was of a mind to let you drown, but Magnius thought otherwise.”
The familiar voice filled her ears and, still coughing and spluttering, she rolled onto her back and looked up. “Bait?”
“Hello, traitor,” he said, resting a dagger against her throat. “Fancy meeting you on this side of Reath.”
Her rattled brain struggled with his words, and then she understood the accusation. “I didn’t tell Lucius anything. I swear it on the names of the gods.”
“Invoking the names of the Six, you godless Cel wretch!”
Her throat stung, and Lydia felt hot droplets of blood dribble down her skin as she gasped, “I didn’t betray you.” It was hard to get the words out, her lungs feeling like they’d never have enough air again.
“Prove it.” His eyes were black and stormy, and then water surged over her legs and Magnius was in her mind. The demigod delved into her memories, and she relived the moment of learning the Quincense was in danger, of running through the gardens toward the gates, desperate to warn her friends. Worst of all, that painful moment when she learned the Quincense had been taken. Only then did Magnius release her mind, her vision clearing to reveal Bait’s stunned expression. And she knew he’d seen it all.
“Gods, Lydia,” he breathed, pulling the knife from her throat and shoving it into the sand. “I’m sorry … We assumed…”
“It’s fine.” She caught hold of his arms. “Please tell me Teriana’s with you.”
Bait slumped and exhaled a long breath.
Lydia’s body turned icy cold, her heart beating like a drum. “Is she…?”
He shook his head. “She’s alive. The Cel have landed on the Southern Continent, in Arinoquia, and they have her with them. Tesya is a hostage in Celendrial.”
Teriana wasn’t in Celendor. And the Cel were here.
Easing up, she sat in the wet sand, her head resting on her knees. Finding a way home to help her friend had been her goal, what had kept her focused through everything that had happened, and now …
“She’s alive,” he repeated. “Magnius, at least, would know if she wasn’t. But Lydia, how is it that you’re here?”
“Xenthier. There’s a stem in the outtake tunnels of the baths in Celendrial.”
Bait whistled between his teeth. “And you took it, not knowing where it went?”
“I didn’t have a choice. Lucius tried to have me murdered.”