voice came out hard. “Thessen turns to dust if You stay here. You know this.”
Leila said nothing, Her shoulders sinking.
“Leave with him.” Delphi cocked her head at Tobias. “Save Yourself. Then once You’re able, You can reclaim what is rightfully Yours.”
Silence filled the chamber—until Leila let out a long, defeated breath.
“You forget, this fortress is My prison. I can’t leave.”
“Yes You can,” Delphi said. “You can shadow walk.”
Tobias hesitated. “Shadow walk?”
Delphi looked his way. “You know. She’s here one moment, then suddenly, poof?”
“For the thousandth time, I can’t shadow walk to places I’ve never been before,” Leila said. “I’ve never left the fortress.”
“But he has.”
Leila’s eyes landed on Tobias, and in an instant Her gaze shifted, as if Her circumstances had suddenly changed.
“Give him the gift.” Delphi spoke with calm assurance. “He’ll take You out of here.”
Tobias’s fight against Antaeus barreled through his mind—Leila’s blessing, the clay—and his heart raced. “Wherever You need to go, I’ll take You.” He squeezed Her hands. “We can figure out a way to defeat Brontes together.”
Leila was quiet for a long while, but Her gaze had become loud, reflecting Her havocked emotions. She spun toward Delphi. “Are you coming with us?”
“Later. You’ll come back for me.”
“Delphi—”
“There are people in this palace who are loyal to You. I can’t leave them to be slaughtered.” Delphi folded her arms. “I’ll round ’em up. We’ll join You shortly.”
Leila pleaded with her through Her stare alone, and Delphi raised a sharp eyebrow. “You know full well I won’t let that worthless shit lay a hand on me.”
Leila’s worry didn’t lift, but She mustered a nod. “The watchtower. We’ll meet there.”
Delphi plucked another filled satchel from the pile, tossing it Leila’s way. “For You. And I lied, there’s two horses waiting.”
Leila chuckled. “You sneaky bitch.”
Her laughter faded, and She jumped from the bed, wrapping Her sister in a tight hug. Tossing both satchels over his shoulder, Tobias watched the two sisters part ways, a moment that weighed heavily even to him.
Reluctantly, Leila backed away from Her sister and straight into Tobias’s arms. He gave Her a squeeze, nodding at Delphi. “We’ll see you soon.”
“Keep Her safe,” Delphi said. “She’s the only family I have left.”
Leila trembled in his arms, Her cheeks wet with silent tears, and he tightened his hold on Her. “It’s all right.”
“This wasn’t supposed to happen.”
“Everything will be fine.” He cupped Her face. “You are the strongest person I know, and I’ll be by Your side through it all, no matter the obstacle. You remember—You are everything.”
She wiped away Her tears. “Where are we going? I don’t know My way around, I don’t…I don’t even know My own realm.”
“I know my way around.” He forced a smile. “That’s what I’m here for, Darling.”
Her nervous gaze didn’t lift, and neither did Delphi’s. Their fear shook him, and he stood tall, lending them his strength.
“We’ll go to the Krios woods,” he said. “They stretch for hundreds of miles. If we keep moving, Brontes will struggle to find us.”
Both women glanced at one another, perplexed. They have no idea what I’m talking about. After a moment of quiet, Leila nodded. “All right.”
“You should go now,” Delphi said.
Leila looped Her arm around Tobias, clinging to him in a way that left him stronger and weaker at the same time. Sliding it up the front of his shirt, She placed Her hand in the center of his chest, Her touch burning with power—a blessing.
“To the woods?” he asked.
She pressed Her hand firmly against his skin, then froze. “Wait.” A glint of hope lit Her eyes. “We have to make a stop first.”
***
Tobias pushed open the door and hurried inside. The creak of the hinges, the smell of firewood, the three small, evenly placed beds—all of it was familiar, yet foreign at the same time. The cottage wasn’t quite home anymore. Perhaps the thought would’ve shaken him had there been time for it.
“Oh my God, Tobias!” His mother barreled his way, throwing her arms around him.
He winced. “Mother, my back.”
“Tobias?” Naomi called from her bed. “You’re all right?”
“I can’t believe they released you.” His mother held his cheeks, her teary eyes flitting over him. “My God, your face.”
“I’m fine.”
“We begged them to let us see you after the battle, but they wouldn’t listen, they just turned us away.” Her eyes grew larger. “What happened?”
“I’ll tell you later, but right now, we have to move quickly.”
“Wait, what?” she said. “Why?”
He thrust a satchel into her arms. “Just start packing.”
“Packing?”
“Food, clothes, whatever you can carry.” He darted toward a set of shelves, tossing everything in sight into his bag. “Where’s the coin? The allowance from the tournament?”
“Hidden in your mattress.”
“Pack that too.”
“Tobias?”
Naomi sat in her bed, her face wet with tears. He hurried to her side. “Everything’s fine.”
“What’s happening?” she asked.
“We’re leaving.”
“Why? Where are we going?”
“I’ll explain later. Just sit tight for now, all right?”
She scowled. “Of course I’ll sit tight, I can’t walk.”
Her words should’ve pained him, yet he couldn’t help but smile. “There’s someone I want you to meet.”
“What?”
“Leila,” he called over his shoulder. “You can come in.”
The two turned toward the doorway, where Leila stood in Her black cloak, scanning the cramped space. Her nervous gaze latched on to the sunlight spilling through the window, then panned to Tobias and Naomi.
Slowly, She lowered Her hood.
Naomi sucked in a breath. “Oh my God.”
Leila headed toward them, a beacon within the cottage, lighting it up like a torch. Kneeling at Naomi’s bedside, She gazed over her slack-jawed expression, her limp, greying feet. In an instant, Leila’s stare became fiery and alive, and when She clutched Tobias’s wrist, Her power burned through him, itching for purpose.
“It’s an old injury.” Tobias’s nerves stirred. “I don’t know if anything can be done. But she suffers a great deal, and the pain is—”
“Something can be done.” Her eager gaze met his. “Perhaps not a cure. But something.”
A pang shot through his chest—the wonderful, wicked lure of hope. Leila gently took Naomi’s hand.