But Master Kaelen doesn’t listen, his gaze fixed on me as I struggle to keep up with Selene. I can feel my magic slipping away, the ice on my staff shattering as I lose control. I’m on the verge of collapse, my body screaming for rest, but I refuse to give up. I can’t give up. Not now.
“Eirabella, hang on,” Master Gavrik shouts.
But I am done. I can feel it in every fibre of my being. My magic is drained, my strength depleted, and I’m running on nothing but sheer willpower. The weight of the water continues to press down, the cracks in my shield growing larger,water seeping through. My arms tremble, my knees buckle, and I’m forced lower and lower until I’m nearly crushed beneath the force.
In a final, desperate effort, I summon a spray of water, directing it at Selene to push her back, to relieve the pressure. But it’s weak, my control slipping. The spray barely reaches her, and she smirks, pushing down even harder. The weight increases, my shield shattering under the strain. I cry out, the sound lost in the roar of the water as it crashes over me, burying me beneath its force.
The last thing I see before the darkness takes me is Doran turning on his heel and sprinting toward the castle.
But it’s too late.
I’m about to burn out.
And then I do.
TWENTY-THREE
Rylan
I thinkthis meeting with the King’s Guards is actually going to kill me. The mundane details of patrol routes and security measures drone in my ears until I can barely remember my own name. I try to focus, but my thoughts keep drifting back to Eira. I wonder how her combat training is going today. Is she pushing herself too hard again? I’ve warned her a dozen times to pace herself, but she never listens. It’s ridiculous—I shouldn’t be worrying about her so much. She’s strong, resilient, independent. But there’s a part of me, deep down, that’s always on edge when it comes to Eira.
Just as I’m about to end the meeting early and dismiss the Guard for my own sanity, the door slams open. Doran bursts in, his face pale, eyes wide with panic.
“Your Highness, you need to come now,” he gasps, barely able to catch his breath. “It’s Eira.”
The blood drains from my face. I don’t wait for an explanation.The chair screeches against the floor as I shove it back and bolt from the room. My heart is pounding, dread curling in my stomach like a vice.
The training grounds aren’t far, but it feels like an eternity before I reach them, Doran trailing far behind me. The whole time, one thought pounds through my mind: I should have been there. I should have stayed with her.
The sight that greets me turns my blood to ice.
Eira is lying on the ground, motionless, drenched in water. Her dark hair clings to her face, her body limp. Completely and utterly alone.
My hands shake as I drop to my knees beside her. She’s burning hot to the touch, her skin red despite the clamminess. I lift her into my arms, her body limp, unresponsive.
“Eira?” I whisper, brushing the wet strands of hair from her face. “Eira, wake up. Please.”
But she doesn’t respond. There’s nothing, no sign that she can hear me. My heart is pounding so hard I can barely hear anything over the rush of blood in my ears. Panic claws at my chest, and I shake her gently, my voice rising in desperation.
“Eira, wake up!” I shout, my voice breaking. “Please, Eira, you have to wake up! I command it!”
Her body remains limp, her head lolling against my chest, and it feels like the ground is falling out from under me. I stand, cradling Eira’s limp form against my chest, her wet clothes soaking through mine. Her body feels like a burning fire in my arms.
“Doran!” I shout as he finally appears beside me, panting from the run. “Tell the healer I’m coming. Get everything ready!”
Doran doesn’t hesitate. He takes off at a sprint toward the healer’s quarters. I don’t waste another second, making my way there as fast as I can without jostling Eira too much. My mindis racing, fear gnawing at my insides, but I force it down. I can’t afford to panic. Not now.
As I make my way through the castle corridors, Mathis appears from around the corner, his eyes widening in shock when he sees us. He reaches out, ready to take Eira from me.
“Let me take her,” Mathis says urgently. “You’re not thinking straight. I’ll—”
“No,” I snap, pulling her closer. “I’ve got her. I’m... I’m the one who promised her I’d keep her safe.”
The words taste bitter on my tongue. I’d promised her. I told her I’d be there for her, that she could rely on me, and yet here she is, limp and lifeless in my arms because I wasn’t there to protect her. Mathis nods, understanding, and steps aside, allowing me to pass. I push forward, my heart hammering in my chest, every step feeling like it’s taking too long, every second precious.
We finally reach the healer’s quarters, and I kick the door open with more force than necessary. The healer, Falon, an older woman with sharp eyes, is already prepared, the room filled with the scent of herbs and medicinal oils.
“Put her on the bed, quickly,” Falon instructs, her tone leaving no room for argument.
