"I hope it's helpful," I said, partially because I worried now it might not be. It was a collection of ramblings from the King's desk. It spoke of dragons and magic that didn't exist anymore. Then again, it also contained details about the metal that could steal magic, so perhaps the other things I'd written about weren't too far-fetched.

Lennox smiled at me, and I could see Lira's kindness in his eyes. How I wished she was here with us. Then I could feel like I'd actually succeeded. I rose and curtsied again to Lennox as he left, grateful to be of service to the Prince but heartbroken that I'd failed so miserably with Lira.

CHAPTEREIGHT

NEIA

Elisa laygolden and copper beneath the boughs of a tree, dappled sunlight dancing across her features and highlighting my favorite freckle on her cheek. I longed to kiss it, brush a thumb over her lotion-soft skin, and feel the warmth of her.

Everything beyond us was fuzzy. It was like the world ceased to exist beyond the swaying green grass we lay in. Elisa opened her eyes and her lips stretched into a bright smile. Some part of me knew this was a dream, but another part didn't care. I'd take it if I could stay here with her forever.

She turned to look at me and grabbed my hand. Something was so physical about her touch, it startled me. She glided her thumb down my fingers and pressed it into the meat of my palm. Her face had grown serious, worried, with creases marring her brow. "Stay with me, Nei."

"I wouldn't leave you for anything."

It was like she couldn't hear me as her grip tightened. "They say this might hurt, and it's going to risk your life, but please,"—she moved in closer, her breath grazing my ear—"stay for me. I love you too much for you to go."

"I'll stay, Lis."

She clutched my hand but didn't reply. Something seized through me, a jolt like lightning that screamed through my bones and peeled my muscles back and slowly pieced me apart one broken, snapping, bleeding section at a time.

I screamed and attempted to yank my body away, anything to escape the burning hell I'd landed in.

"Stay," Elisa whispered from some great distance. "Fight. For me. Please."

I stilled and took a deep breath among the flames and pain and misery.For you, Lis, I'd do anything.

My nose flared as my blood boiled, and I longed to scrape my flesh away if it meant I could make the agony stop. But Elisa was there, somewhere beyond the aching pain that rang like a mallet through my bones and radiated down my nerves. My heart raced, but I reached out beyond space and time and the limits of my mind and gripped her hand.

She sobbed and clutched my fingers tighter. "Please," she said again and again. "Please, please, please."

The pain left in ebbs. It was my toes I could feel without misery first. I wiggled them as the sensation ran up my legs, along my torso, over my arms.

I took a deep breath and peeled my eyes open.

Two dozen beings stared down at me, some with glowing eyes, others humming as magic crackled through the air so that it was a physical thing.

"Am I in hell?" I croaked.

Sai laughed then it shifted into a sob as tears broke free from his magic-darkened eyes and spread down his cheeks. Sweat glimmered on his forehead, but he reached out and clutched my shoulder. "I knew you were the fucking strongest of us all. I knew you could do it."

Elisa gasped, and I turned towards the sound.

My heart stopped. My sight was clearing, more than ever before, and I thought I'd almost die all over again. Saints, she was beautiful. Her eyes glistened with tears, making the emerald irises sparkle. She'd pinched her lips together, accentuating her cupid's bow, and color was high on her creamy cheeks, making her freckles pop. Someone stood behind her, a hand on her shoulder, but I couldn't focus on them.

"I'm here," I whispered.

She broke into a sob and collapsed over me, gently, as if she didn't want to hurt me. New vitality surged through me, and I felt stronger than I ever had, unbreakable. I pulled her onto me and clutched her tight, burying my face in her curls. "I'm right here."

She sobbed for several minutes as I patted her back and ignored every other soul in the room, though I could feel them waiting. Finally, she rose and offered me a hand, pulling me upright. Splotches peppered her face, and a tear slid along her nose. I brushed it away and kissed her. When our lips pulled apart, I pressed my forehead to hers. "It's okay now, Lis."

"I love you," she whispered.

I leaned back and tried to orient myself to the room. I sat on a bed draped with thick blankets. The massive chamber had arched, painted ceilings and curved, decorated windows. We were in the Prasanna palace, but I didn't understand how.

The being who had hovered near Elisa took a step back, though his hands lingered out like he'd catch her. Prince Lennox. A sour feeling churned my stomach, but he smiled at me as if he'd never been so happy to see another being in his life. I looked over my shoulder, wondering if there was someone beyond us he was looking at. But it was just me. There was something different in the Prince's appearance, something hard and defined.

Shaan stood beside him, a hand resting on Lennox's back. The magic of his zevar dimmed, and I looked over the rest of the group, returning Luz's nod and Orman's cocky-ass grin. Sai's family stood dispersed among siren healers, their zevars and the heart stones in the Maharani's hands all gleaming.