Page 113 of Interion

I knew the gorge—it was the only way into the Drutes nation. A narrow place, treacherous to navigate.

“What the hell was the 7th squadron doing in the gorge?” Zion walked up to Cauê. “Who was stupid enough to lead an assault like that?”

The man seemed to fear Zion—his shoulders hunched slightly.

“I didn’t tell them to go in—just to keep an eye on the gorge entrance—but they got pushed inside during the battle. The Drutes squadron was retreating to the city when they ran into our troops. Now they’re trapped between the enemy squadron and the city, with the entire army on the other side.”

Zion stiffened, and the air around them shifted. The shadows immediately snapped into battle mode.

“Where is the amperian squadron with superspeed?”

My eyes went wide as I looked from one to the other while they discussed the situation.

“They’re on the other side of the forest, the farthest corner, near the Ynka River. It’ll take at least a day at full speed to reach them, and we don’t have that kind of time.”

“Send the closest troops to the gorge exit—we’ll need an escort for the wounded. What are the numbers?”

“Two hundred Drutes soldiers and a hundred of ours. But on the other side, there’s a sea of enemy troops. We need to get there before they attack.”

Zion turned to me. I saw the decision written on his face before he even spoke.

“Stay home. The barrier is up—don’t leave under any circumstances. I’ll be back by dawn.”

Startled, I nodded in agreement. I knew what his life had been—wars and death, danger always present—but witnessing it firsthand was something new, and the fear rising in me felt almost irrational.

“I’ll leave in two minutes,” Zion said to Cauê. “Just make sure there’s an escort near the exit. I’ll get them there.”

Cauê nodded and pulled his phone from his pocket, heading to the car. I stepped aside to let Zion pass, and the barrier turned blue as he entered. Then he vanished, and I heard his footsteps upstairs. I ran up the stairs, my heart pounding harder with each step. When I reached his bedroom door, he was fastening the straps of his army vest.

“You’re going into the middle of the gorge alone?” I asked breathlessly. I wanted to know all the details—I needed to know everything.

“Yes. If I transport anyone else, it’ll take too long and waste energy.”

He buckled the belt and secured all the weapons—daggers, grenades that stored the gift of fire, smoke bombs. I recognized them all from training, and from the years I’d spent as a slave.

“Do you really need all of that?”

I was anxious—I couldn’t quiet my thoughts. He glanced at me sideways while checking that everything was in place.

“I don’t,” he replied, heading toward me. I blocked his path as if I could somehow keep him there with me. “But others might.”

I studied him up close, biting my lips to keep from saying something foolish. For the first time in my life, I was afraid he might get hurt. I touched the chain around my neck and removed it—the sinil necklace Ambrose had given me: a golden chain with an oval yellow amethyst pendant. I pressed the metal against my palm and transferred an enormous charge of power into it. The sinil vibrated in my hand, and I held it out to him.

“What is this?”

“It's a sinil necklace. If you need healing, just touch it with magic and it'll help heal your wounds.”

I approached slowly so he could see I wasn't a threat, rose onto my tiptoes, and wrapped my arms around his neck. It was as much physical contact as he'd allow. His breath tickled my eyelashes, coming faster now. Then I fastened the clasp and stepped back; he held the stone between his fingers and looked at me, surprised.

“Thank you,” he said, stepping closer and cupping my face in his hands. My heart must have skipped a thousand beats. “We'll talk later. I know you've already pieced together most of my story, but please don't leave the house and don't unlock the barrier for anyone.”

I nodded, his blue-green eyes reflecting the same worry I felt in mine. Then his presence dissolved into dark mist, and I felt the faintest kiss of shadow brush my forehead.

Δ

Two hours had passed since Zion left for the forest, and I was still pacing through the house. My mind fought not to dwell on what I'd discovered—I didn't know how mind powers worked, but I figured not thinking about it would help. The problem was that worry about what might be happening to Zion consumed my thoughts, and I couldn't stay still. I'd already done exercises in the living room, braided Kiara's mane, and even run on the treadmill in the basement—a place I sometimes forgot existed.

Right now, I stood in the reading room, staring at the black book. It had been months since I'd tried to open it, and now seemed like the perfect time. I picked up the thick volume and carried it to the living room, but when I reached the sofa, Kiara came barreling down the stairs, skidding on the smooth floor.