Something was wrong. Esania reached for Imril through their bond. Over the past few minutes, he had been angry, frantic, consumed with hatred, and filled with despair.

And now…

He was fading. She’d felt his power surge and then blink out like a supernova.

Something was terribly wrong.

She didn’t waste time.

“Hey, Esania, where are you goi—”

She held up a hand, silencing Mai. “Later. I have to go.”

She had to find him. She didn’t care about whatever danger she might encounter.

There was only one person who could possibly take her there.

Mael.

She headed toward the stairs, leaving a whole bunch of staring humans in her wake.

“Wait, Esania, what are we supposed to do, now that we’re—”

“Figure it out,” she snapped, breaking into a run. “I have to go.”

She ran past fallen pillars and dodged creeping vines. She avoided slippery looking patches of moss and the occasional stray stone. As she reached the wide open double doors, her strides widened, her white dress flapping around her knees, her braids flying. Guided by dim light that came from sconces in the wall, she ascended the crumbling spiral stairs two-by-two and sprinted down the corridor, pumping her arms, going faster and faster as she felt Imril’s life-force ebb away.

She was sure of it now.

He was dying.

She pushed the double doors open with both hands and sprinted past a startled Sara, running across the floor until she was just inches away from Mael.

Instantly, her energy drifted toward him, but she didn’t care.

“Take me to him,” she gasped, her chest heaving up and down from the exertion. “Don’t you fucking ask, Mael. It’s urgent.”

“If I leave here, the shadowveil will fall,” Mael said softly, opening his eyes. To her surprise, he looked perfectly earnest. “Are you certain you want to do this, human?”

“Yes.” She clasped her hands together in a pleading gesture. “I think something’s terribly wrong. He’s hurt… perhaps even dying.”

“What’s going on, S?” Sara was on her feet, hovering at the very edge of Mael’s radius.

“Don’t take another step,” he said softly. “I don’t want to feed from you… yet.”

“I’ll explain later,” Esania said, her voice rising in pitch as Imril’s presence through the bond grew even weaker. “Don’t make me get on my knees and beg, Mael. If there’s a way to get me there now, just make it happen!”

Mael’s dark eyes widened a fraction, but he didn’t move.

Sara put her hands on her hips. “Mael, just do what the woman asks.” Her eyes narrowed. She actually had the nerve to boss him around.

Bless your heart, Sara.

“I can take you there,” he said softly, and Esania’s heart almost burst in relief. “But the journey will not be without risk to you. Bending the fabric of space-time is incredibly taxing on me, and when we reach Ton Malhur, I wont have much energy left to protect you.”

“But I have vir,” Esania countered. The stars know he needs it. The thought that her energy alone could save Imril and give Mael the strength to protect them if needed… it filled her with hope.

She had to do this, even if it meant going into a situation where her life might be at risk.

She sent a burst of energy through their bond, trying to pull Imril back. Damn it, Imril. You’re not fucking allowed to die on me.

Mael turned to Sara, and impossibly, his expression softened. “Go downstairs, Sara. Tell the Vradhu and the humans to get inside the vault. You must be the first to go inside. When I take Esania through to the other side, the shadowveil will fall, and you will be vulnerable until I return.”

“The vault?” For a moment, Sara looked mildly horrified, but then she managed to pull herself together, a determined look entering her eyes.

“Don’t be afraid,” Mael said, his voice low and reassuring. “The Vradhu are competent warriors, and they’ll have no trouble defending you once you’re inside the vault. I will return as soon as possible.” For the first time, Esania heard a sliver of worry in his voice. Menacing, intimidating Mael was actually worried enough to let it show. “Go now, Sara.”

“We have to go,” she urged. “He’s—”

“I know.” He rose to his feet, his tail waving behind him. Mael closed his eyes and took a deep breath. As soon as he opened them again, bright sunlight shot through the high windows, bathing them in blinding light. Esania gasped and shielded her eyes.

A deep, shuddering sigh escaped Mael’s lips, and it was as if a great weight had been lifted from him. “The shadowveil is gone,” he said quietly. “Let’s go.”

“You better come back, Mael,” Sara said forcefully, shooting him a glare before turning toward the exit. “And bring my girl back to me in one piece.” She met Esania’s eyes for a second, giving her a nod. “Right. The vault. I’m out of here. You’re coming back with Imril, okay, Esania? You’re coming back.”

“We are coming back,” Esania repeated, using the words like a mantra, hoping that just by saying them, they would somehow come true.

Mael did something with his hands, a look of intense concentration crossing his features. A tiny speck of shadow appeared in front of him, growing larger and larger until it was just big enough for a person to fit through. Shadows rose all around him, snaking, writhing tendrils of darkness that seemed like they could consume her whole and make her disappear forever.

A ripple of unease crawled over her skin, entering the pit of her belly, sinking deep into her bones. Suddenly, Esania felt cold all over. She could feel the flow of her vir as Mael drew upon it, using it to create this monstrous dark portal.

He was feeding from her, and he felt so different to Imril. Where Imril’s touch was warm, gentle, seductive, an irresistible caress, Mael was cold. Forceful. All-consuming. Darkness incarnate. She was being sucked into his endless vortex.

Mael’s darkness closed in around her, and suddenly, Esania was terrified. Her breath caught in her throat. Her heart hammered like a butterfly in a cage. Her body was frozen.

Nothing, nothing could have prepared her for this.

It was a deep, primal, human thing, and all the logic in the Universe couldn’t guard against this terrible feeling.

What the hell are you, Mael?

Imril’s brother. Wrought from the very same stuff as her lover.

Mael turned to her, beckoning with one hand. “Come, Imril’s lukara. I will take you to him.”

Even his voice had changed, becoming deep and powerful and resonant.

The shadows wrapped around her, and everything felt wrong. Esania tried to scream, but nothing came out. She forgot who she was, where she was.

She was nothing, a tiny insignificant speck in the endless Universe.

Nothing.

Mael’s arms closed around her, and suddenly they were falling, and Esania started to lose her mind.

She screamed, but her voice was swallowed by the endless void. The only thing tethering her to this reality was the cold fire that burned through her elgida.

I’m coming, Imril.