Page 211 of Unbound

The Crucible is over.

Instructors move among the students, cataloging survivors, treating the wounded. There will be questions about the dead windborne, about what happened in the forest, but those can wait.

Only one thing matters.

"Nessa," I rasp, desperately scanning the courtyard for her. "Where is she?"

I push through the crowd, ignoring the thick-voiced congratulations, the hands that reach for me, the voices calling my name. Through our tether, I can still feel her, but it's weak, dangerously so.

And then I see her.

She's lying on her side and Typhon hovers over her in his flying fish form. The disguise is probably useless, though, as I’m fairly sure half the school saw him raging as a massive dragon during the Crucible.

I drop to my knees beside her, reaching for her hand. It's cold, too cold.

I gather her into my arms, cradling her against my chest. "Nessa," I whisper, pressing my forehead to hers. "Come back to me. Please."

Our tether pulses faintly, a fragile thread connecting us. I pour everything I have into it—my strength, my heat, my essence. If I could trade places with her, I would do it in a heartbeat.

"Take what you need," I tell her, knowing that somewhere, somehow, she can hear me. "Take all of it."

For a terrifying moment, nothing happens. Then I feel it—a subtle shift, a drawing sensation as her unbound nature responds to my offering. Fire essence flows from me into her, guided by our connection. Before going for the blade, she was too weak to take anything. Now she’s at least taking scraps—magical sips of my power that begin slowly and grow more desperate with each passing second.

I give and give until I'm lightheaded, until Pyrin whines in alarm.

Her eyelids flutter, a soft sigh escaping her lips. The tether between us strengthens, vibrating with renewed life.

"Raith?" she murmurs, eyes still closed.

"I'm here," I tell her, relief making my voice crack. "I've got you."

"So much power," she whispers. "Too much."

"I know. But you're stronger than it is. You control it, remember? Not the other way around. Focus on me," I say, guiding her face toward mine. "Just me."

Her eyes finally open, finding mine with effort. "Did you...get the blade?"

A laugh escapes me, half relief and half disbelief. "Yes. The Crucible is over. We won."

"We won," she echoes, a ghost of a smile touching her lips before her eyes close again, this time in simple exhaustion rather than dangerous unconsciousness.

I lift her carefully, mindful of her injuries and the strain her body has undergone. "I'm taking her to the healer," I tell Cade, who found me and waited silently with the other fires.

As I carry her through the parting crowd, I hear the whispers and see the stares. Most will know about Typhon now. They’ll know Nessa Thorne is tethered to the most powerful elemental on campus. Some may even suspect she’s no simple water affinity. They’ll talk about how she took on Malakai and Serena and won.

I see Beck, Mireen, Ambrose, and Brunhild all gathered. They give me a nod of thanks and acknowledgment as I carry Nessa away. Brunhild and Beck even help move some gawking students out of our path.

Whatever comes next, I think Nessa’s days of being underestimated are over. But none of it matters right now.

The only thing that matters is the woman in my arms and the quiet miracle of her survival.

Rector Voss watches from the edge of the courtyard. Waiting.

I think of the stasis tokens and the lives they saved. The countless students who survived because of the deal Nessa struck. The fucking deal that means Voss is still expecting to take her to those ruins.

But not tonight. Tonight, she needs to rest.

I press a kiss to her forehead, feeling her unconsciously lean into my touch. "You're safe now," I murmur, not caring who hears. "I've got you, Nessa. I've got you."

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