“Cal said we’d find you.” Wide-eyed, Jamie glances at Calythra, something close to adoration on his smudged face. “He managed to get us away from the monsters chasing us.”
I feel the blood drain from my face while Jamie’s cheeks flush, his eyes sparking with wild, almost-frenzied excitement that I have little doubt is laced with fear.Fuck. I swallow the lump in my throat and pull him to me a third time while glancing in Calythra’s direction. His startling blue eyes are pointed in our direction, and while he’s smiling, it’s absolutely clear he’s on high alert—standing vigil, almost.
“Thank you,” I mouth, more than aware the words aren’t deep enough to reflect just how in his debt I am.
He dips his head, gaze unwavering, his almost-translucent skin shimmering in the sunlight.
“We must leave.” Solan’s deep voice grabs all my focus. My eyes travel to him, and just like every time since we shared our first kiss, the sight of him captures the air in my lungs. He’s so ridiculously beautiful. And mine.
The tilt of his head is minuscule, but I swear he knows what I’m thinking as I give myself the moment to enjoy him. Jamie’s back and safe at my side. Solan’s looking like he wants to devour me while taking a knee to worship me. The combination is heady. And for the first time since being in this world, surrounded by monsters and uncertainty over whether each breath I take might be my last, I inhale a breath that fills my lungs, my very being. Air and relief are a peace-giving mixture—who the fuck knew?
Before I can ask what the new plan is, I whip my head around. “Where’s Tahrionne?” It’s likely I’ve butchered his name, but still, where the hell is he?
Jamie squirms in my grip, trying to turn and point. “Tahrionne led them away. He said it was the only way to throw them off. He went north.”
My heart sinks. “He’s alone?”
“He’s clever,” Calythra interjects, his tone light but edged with purpose. “He had no choice. They were gaining on us, and he was the best decoy. It worked. We’re here, aren’t we?”
I glance at Calythra, my chest tight with worry. His casual demeanour might be an act, but his confidence is steadying. “And now?”
“We’re on the outskirts of Youlander Pass,” Solan says, his voice measured but tight. “It’s where we were supposed to regroup. We can’t stay here long.”
“No kidding,” Calythra mutters, scanning the forest with his sharp, ethereal eyes. “We spottedklaustrasnearby.”
The mention of those monsters sends a shiver down my spine. I don’t need the reminder of what the car-sized, three-horned creatures can do. “Fantastic,” I mutter. “Last thing we need is to tangle with them again.”
Calythra gives me a toothy grin that’s somehow both reassuring and infuriating. “Don’t worry. They don’t usually go for seconds. Unless you smell like dinner.”
Jamie wrinkles his nose. “Do I smell like dinner?”
Calythra crouches dramatically, sniffing the air near Jamie. “Hmm. Maybe a snack. You’re too small for a full meal.”
Jamie giggles, and I shake my head, thankful for the levity even if my nerves are still frayed.
But Solan isn’t laughing. He’s scanning the tree line, his golden eyes sharp with worry. “We need a plan,” he mutters. “Without declaring ourselves to the realm, we’ll always be on the run. But I can’t….” His jaw tightens, and his gaze darts to Jamie, then me. “I can’t risk you.”
I step closer to him, my voice firm when I ask, “And what happens if we do declare ourselves? They’ll split us up. Reassign us like we’re inventory, right?”
Calythra’s expression flickers, his usual bravado dimming for a moment. He looks twitchy, almost uncertain—a stark contrast to his usual confidence.
“What?” I press, narrowing my eyes at him. “What aren’t you saying?”
He hesitates, his fingers flexing at his sides, the faint bioluminescence along his arms pulsing erratically. Finally, he sighs, glancing at Solan before addressing me. “There’s an option. It’s dangerous, but it might be our best shot. The Riftborn.”
Jamie perks up, his curiosity blazing. “What’s that?”
Calythra gestures vaguely, his movements sharp with emotion. “Think rebellion. A faction made up of those who’ve been wronged by the realm. Locals who don’t fit their rigid mould, sure—but mostly people like you, me, us.” He glances around the small group that contains three different species. “Those of us who weren’t born to this world. When the merges started and worlds collided, anyone who came through—whether human or something else—was treated as property. Tools. Soldiers. Experiments. It didn’t matter what you wanted; the realm decided your fate.”
He pauses, his steady tone turning brittle. “That’s what sparked the Riftborn Rebels. They’ve made it their mission to fight against the realm’s oppression, to demand rights for everyone—whether they were born here or dragged here. They believe no one should be forced to serve under the guise of survival. They believe in freedom. Democracy. Equality. The kind of things most of us thought were long lost.”
Jamie’s eyes widen, and I feel a knot forming in my chest. Calythra’s words burn with a truth I can’t ignore. It’s not just about us, or Solan, or even Calythra himself. It’s about everyone who’s been crushed under the weight of a system that sees us as little more than pawns.
Solan stiffens, his entire frame going taut. “Absolutely not.”
“Why not?” I ask, my gaze darting between them.
Solan’s golden eyes, wide with fear, lock onto mine. “They’re radicals. The realm considers them enemies, traitors. If we’re caught with them, there’s no coming back.”
