Chapter 42

42

Jai wasn’t the only one out of breath, sweaty, and exhausted from working level after level upward. The only time their group paused was when the stones warned Yasmin that someone was near. The urgency driving Jai mounted with every second that passed.

“ We’ll find her,” Dain told him.

Jai met his gaze. “ We’d better.”

“ I hate to be the pessimist here, but what if Arya isn’t our Arya ?” Ravi asked in a whisper.

Yasmin motioned for them to follow. “ Let’s go.”

The conversation ended, but the question remained in Jai’s mind. He had seen what the book had done to Dain , and they weren’t sure that whatever had happened to him wouldn’t return. But it was the chance they had to take. What if something similar had been done to Arya ? He wouldn’t know the answer to that until he was before her.

They moved through the fort silently, covering as much ground as they could as quickly as they dared until Dain suddenly called them to a halt.

“ What is it?” Jai asked.

Dain ignored him and instead asked Yasmin , “ How close are we?”

“ Over halfway,” she replied.

The Dark Elf nodded. “ Which direction?”

“ Dain ?” Ravi asked.

Dain blew out a frustrated breath. “ I can get us there with the shadows.”

“ All of us?” Jai asked.

Dain nodded and swiveled his head back to Yasmin . “ I need a direction.”

“ Well , well, well,” Priya said, clapping slowly. “ I might be impressed if I didn’t hate you so much.”

Arya lowered her arm and faced her nemesis. “ What kind of elf doesn’t take no for an answer? You put yourself out there and Jai refused. It happens to all of us. What you don’t do is lie, betray, and enslave those you claim to love.”

“ Don’t talk to me about deceit. It’s what you do for a living,” Priya stated angrily.

“ It’s my job. What’s your excuse?”

Priya raked her gaze over Arya . “ You look the worse for wear. Are you sure you’re up to this?”

“ Aye .”

“ It’s going to feel good watching you die. The only thing missing is having Jai here to watch.”

Arya disregarded the pain rolling through every part of her body. She had trouble moving her left arm, and her right knee was wobbly. All of which meant she would have to compensate for those injuries. Priya had likely taken note of her wounds and would endeavor to use them against her. But if Priya could deliver scathing remarks, so could Arya .

“ Lost him again, did you?” Arya taunted.

Priya’s smile turned into a sneer. “ He was my everything, and you just couldn’t let go.”

“ Are we going to talk or fight?”

“ Oh , we’re done talking,” Priya said and lifted her hand.

As she did, six more elves entered the chamber. The Sea Elf from earlier rose from the water and joined the others. Arya had barely survived the previous eight, but there was no getting away, even if she tried. The fact that someone—most likely Priya —had halted her shadows meant there was no escape.

“ Who underestimated whom?” Priya asked with a smirk.

“ Did we miss the party?” boomed a voice from behind Priya .

Arya’s heart leapt into her throat at the sound of Jai’s voice. She turned and saw him, Dain , Yasmin , and Ravi walk through the arched doorway. She met Jai’s gaze, and they shared a smile. Arya wanted to run to him and feel his arms around her, but that would have to wait.

“ I have to hand it to you,” Jai told Priya . “ You did a lot of planning. I honestly didn’t think you had it in you. All you’ve done for the last few years is…well, not much of anything, really.”

Priya narrowed her eyes on him. “ None of this had to happen. If you would’ve just done as I told you…”

Arya noticed how Dain , Ravi , and Yasmin spread out. Yasmin picked up a sword and dagger, rotating her wrists as she faced off against a Dark . Dain stood before two elves. Ravi faced off against the Sea Elf . Arya looked to the left and right, taking in her two opponents. That left Jai with Priya .

There was nothing Arya could do about it, either. He still wore the necklace and bracelet, which put him at a distinct disadvantage. She watched as he bent to retrieve a sword from the ground.

“ You were family, Pri . Don’t make me do this,” Jai said.

Priya grinned, and her crew members joined her. “ I’m not the one who will be dying today.”

Arya could feel herself weakening the longer she stood. “ We’ll see about that,” Arya said and threw out her arms, sending magic hurtling into her enemies.

The chamber erupted in battle. Arya’s leg gave out the moment she put weight on it. She went down right into the line of fire and just barely managed to call the shadows to her before the magic struck her. She was only about to travel a short distance when the shadows dropped her.

Two adversaries came at Arya . They homed in on her injuries, forcing her to use her weakened knee and wounded shoulder. It slowed her and made her susceptible. She managed to get in a few good strikes, but they were wearing her down. Before long, she was on the defensive and doing everything she could to block both magic and blades. But she was slowing.

Suddenly , Ravi was there. He covered her left side, blocking and shielding most of the strikes aimed at her. He had a wound in his shoulder, but that didn’t stop him. They moved back-to-back, and, together, eliminated their foes. She didn’t even have time to thank him before Ravi rushed off to Yasmin’s side to aid her. Arya found Dain locked in combat with a Dark Elf . The Sea Elf was dead. She started to go to Dain but spotted Jai and Priya .

Jai was splattered with blood, and by the looks of it, it was his. He had several cuts on his torso and magic burns on his arms and legs. Priya was toying with him, forcing him to duck and sidestep while she remained where she was.

Arya limped toward them. “ You never did learn how to fight fair, did you, Priya ?”

The elf whirled to face her. “ Why won’t you just die already?”

“ I feel the same about you. Shall we fix that?”

“ With pleasure,” Priya said, unleashing a volley of magic that came too quickly for it to be normal.

Arya dodged and weaved. Most of the blasts went wide, but some found their marks. She was exhausted, her body screaming to stop. Arya was on her feet by sheer will alone. She didn’t take her focus off Priya as she released magic between blocking hits, landing a couple of really good shots. She smiled when Priya staggered back after a blast slammed into her shoulder, spinning her. The elf screamed in rage.

The rest of the chamber fell away. Arya thought she heard someone shout her name as she and Priya circled each other. Arya knew she didn’t have the strength to kill Priya , but she didn’t need to. All she had to do was stay alive long enough to give the others time to finish up so they could deal with Priya .

Priya feinted to the right, and Arya followed, realizing too late that it was a ploy. She couldn’t move quickly enough to dodge the blast of magic. It slammed into her injured knee. Arya’s leg crumpled, and she dropped, pain shooting up her right leg. Her magic gathered in her hands as Priya started laughing.

Priya got off another blast. Arya wasn’t sure where it landed. Everything hurt too much. She peeled her lips back and released a barrage of magic.

Jai shouted for Arya again as he retrieved the sword that had fallen from his hands. Every time he tried to get close to Priya , she sensed it and struck out, keeping him away. The torrent of blasts she directed at Arya was mindboggling, but Arya still fought to remain on her feet. It was impressive how she held her own, but he knew it wouldn’t last for much longer.

He glanced at Dain and then Ravi and Yasmin . All were still engaged with their opponents. It fell to him. He kept to Priya’s back, forcing her to turn and look behind her to find him. He was able to lean or duck anytime she threw magic his way, and each time, he took two steps closer.

Arya spotted Jai gaining ground on Priya . She didn’t know whether her enemy was aware of how close Jai had gotten, so Arya endeavored to keep Priya’s attention on her. She got to her feet, her wobbly legs threatening to buckle. But Arya remained upright.

She feinted a lunge. Priya stepped back. At the last moment, the elf turned. Arya could only watch in horror as the magic propelled Jai backward to land in a heap. Arya yanked her gaze back to Priya in time to dive out of the way.

Her body screamed in protest as she hit the floor and rolled. She had no time to get off a shot as she struggled to steer clear of the blasts raining down on her. Priya strode toward her the entire time until Arya found herself pinned against a crate.

“ I did warn you,” Priya stated with a gloating smile.

“ And I warned you,” Jai said from behind her.

Priya turned and then went still. Arya watched the blade push through her back as blood dripped to the ground.

“ What did you do?” Priya asked, shock filling her eyes.

Jai wrapped an arm around her as she began to fall, then lowered her to the ground. “ You gave me no choice, Pri .”

“ All I wanted was your love.”

“ You had it.”

Blood ran from the corner of her mouth. “ Not the way you loved her .”

“ You took years from me without my consent.”

“ Just …wanted…you.”

He looked into her eyes, and for the first time in a long while, glimpsed the young elf he had formed such a tight bond with.

Priya reached up and slid her hand around the back of his neck. There was a click as the gold band popped open. “ Forgive …me,” she whispered.

He nodded, his throat thick with emotion. Jai held her until she breathed her last. Then he laid her on the ground and yanked the necklace off before tossing it away. He looked up to find Arya and the others watching him. Jai rose and walked to Arya , leaving Priya and the past behind. Arya reached for him. The others parted as he sank to his knees and gently pulled her into his arms.

“ I’m sorry,” Arya whispered.

Jai held her tighter before leaning back to look at everyone. All of them sported injuries— Arya , worse than the rest.

“ We need to get out of here,” Ravi said.

Jai lifted his head and nodded. “ And see to Arya’s wounds. My magic is back, which means I can help get us out of here.”

“ We can’t leave the way we came in,” Arya told them.

Dain’s brows drew together. “ Why ?”

“ I tricked the Masters into thinking I was joining them, but I had to prove it by killing all of you first. Until then, the fort is locked down. There’s no leaving it.”

Jai wiped blood from her cheek. “ I knew you hadn’t turned.”

“ Never ,” she said with a smile.

Yasmin wiped her cheek with her forearms, smearing blood. “ The stones alerted me about your agreement with those in charge.”

“ You did what you had to do,” Dain said.

Ravi grunted. “ Any of us would have in that situation.”

“ You didn’t think…none of you actually believed I would harm you, did you?” Arya asked nervously.

Ravi’s lips twisted as he shrugged. “ We were cautious. As you would be in our place.”

“ Aye ,” Arya said softly.

Jai kept her on the ground when she tried to stand. “ Easy ,” he whispered. Louder , he asked, “ So , how do we get out?”

Yasmin wore a frown as she turned in a slow circle. “ Someone else is here.”

“ Where ?” Dain demanded, his gaze scouring the chamber.

Jai got to his feet to search with Ravi .

“ In one of the tunnels,” Yasmin answered. She pointed midway up the wall to her left. “ There .”

Jai saw a Star Elf standing just at the edge of the opening, observing them.

“ You’re fucking kidding me.” Ravi’s voice dripped with indignation.

Yasmin took a step forward as if to go after the elf, but Ravi held her back. Yasmin said, “ He has to pay.”

“ He will,” Dain replied, the words a vow.

The others’ reaction troubled Jai . They needed to make a clean exit, and if that meant taking another life, then so be it. “ Who is he?”

“ He helped me,” Arya said as she tried to get to her feet.

Jai helped her stand, and when it became evident that she couldn’t, he lifted her into his arms. The Star Elf bowed his head to them before vanishing into the tunnel.

“ Who is he?” Jai repeated.

Yasmin bit out, “ One . He’s part of the Trinity that ran Shaldorn for Gita .”

“ I think we need to have a chat with him,” Dain said as the shadows enveloped him. Within moments, Dain was back. “ The bastard is gone.”

Jai looked at Arya . “ How did he help you?”

“ I came upon him when I was searching for all of you. He told me I would find Priya in the back port. He also said there was a way out,” Arya explained.

“ Did he say anything else?” Dain asked.

Arya swallowed. “ He said there is more going on, and that I needed to connect the dots. But I don’t understand. If he is One , why would he help me?”

Yasmin looked at Ravi . “ Don’t say it.”

“ Say what?” Jai asked.

“ One helped us at Shaldorn ,” Dain explained. “ He told us where to find something we had been sent to locate.”

Jai grunted. “ Is he an enemy or a friend?”

“ Enemy ,” Dain , Ravi , and Yasmin said in unison.

Arya shrugged. “ I hurt too much to think about it now.”

“ Let’s get out of here, then. Yaz , which direction?” Ravi asked.

She pointed to the water. “ That way.”