Ahead I saw Connor holding his swords low, his expression bleak as the wolves approached. My heart felt like it was being torn in two. I knew what I had to do.

Ren stands a better chance against the Lyulf than Connor. I sent a shaky thought to Mason. Adne is our only way out of here.

I know, Mason answered, putting on another burst of speed.

Keep moving, Ren, I called to him, not daring to look in his direction again. We’ll be there as soon as we can.

Just keep her safe. His answering thought came almost immediately. Don’t worry about me.

Shut up, I snarled. And stay alive.

We’d almost caught the wolves. I threw all my strength into the leap as I hurled myself over the flaming bodies, landing in front of them and skidding to a stop in front of Connor. I wheeled around, snarling. My appearance startled the Lyulf, which gnashed its white-hot fangs. I dashed forward, teasing it by putting myself nearly within its reach and then sliding just out of range of its teeth. Out of the corner of my eye I saw Mason mimicking my actions.

It seemed to be working. Fury at their inability to reach us drew the wolves’ attention off Adne and Connor.

Let’s try drawing them toward Ren.

I was about to make a dash for the alpha, but when I turned, I was shocked to see Ren barreling straight for us. I could see the pain in each movement as he hit the ground with his injured paw. The Lyulf was right behind him and it was faster now that Ren was hurt.

I barked a warning as the fire wolf leapt, but there was nothing I could do. The flaming creature rose into the air, about to come down on Ren’s back.

Roll! I shouted a warning, hoping Ren would hear me in time. Roll to the side!

Ren threw his body away from the descending wolf. But in the same moment another wolf took Ren’s place beneath the attacking Lyulf. And then it wasn’t another wolf but instead it was Shay, a sword in each hand.

The twin swords sliced through the wolf. It screamed, belching smoke. And then there was nothing but ash falling like gentle snow on Shay’s shoulders. He whirled, meeting my eyes as I bounded past him. Shay wielded the blades so swiftly I could barely follow their movement. A second scream signaled the demise of my own Lyulf attacker.

Connor whooped. “Scion!”

The celebratory cry was a terrible mistake. The Lyulf that had been focused on Mason spun around, its burning-pitch eyes narrowing as it stalked toward the Searcher. Mason howled, trying to draw its attack, but the Lyulf ignored him.

Connor lifted his swords as the fire wolf leapt. “Adne, stay back!”

I was running, all too aware I couldn’t get there in time. Shay was at my side, in his wolf form, his toenails clattering on the rocky floor as we ran.

Adne’s scream cut through the chamber. “No!” And then she was there, shoving Connor aside.

Her sudden appearance startled the wolf, throwing its attack slightly off. She threw her arm up and the Lyulf’s jaws locked around her biceps. She shrieked as it took her to the ground.

Connor rolled to his feet. “Adne!”

He threw himself at the wolf, but I reached him first, knocking him aside. Shay shifted, running the Lyulf through even as it stood above Adne. The wolf shuddered and crumbled, blanketing Adne in ash.

“Get off me!” Connor shoved me away from him, struggling to his feet. He rushed to Adne’s side.

“Connor.” Shay was kneeling beside her. “Just wait.”

“Let me see her!” He knocked Shay over, cradling Adne against him. Her eyes were glassy and she wasn’t moving.

Connor began to sob. I shifted into human form, crouching beside him. My breath caught when I saw what he was staring at. Adne’s arm from fingertips to shoulder was unrecognizable. Her skin was charred to black, and I glimpsed the white of bone where the wolf’s jaws had torn through her flesh. Her shirt had been partially burned away, revealing blistering red on her neck and chest.

Ren limped up beside us, whining. He shifted forms, kneeling behind her head.

“Is she breathing?” he asked.

“I don’t know,” Connor choked. “I can’t tell.”

“Let me have her,” Ren said.

Mason pulled Connor back and Ren stretched out beside his sister, laying his head on her sternum. After a moment he blew out a long breath.

“It’s faint, but it’s there,” Ren said. “I need to give her blood.”

“She’s in shock,” Shay said. “I don’t know if she’ll be able to swallow.”

“All we can do is give it a shot.”

When Ren bit his arm, I saw that his own hand was badly burned, the skin broken and blistering.

“Lift her head,” he instructed Shay. When Shay had her chin tilted up, her head resting in his hands, Ren carefully opened her mouth, letting blood slowly drip in. It began to fill her mouth, red liquid trickling down her chin.

“Come on, Adne,” I murmured. “You’re a fighter.”

“Please.” Connor twisted out of Mason’s grasp, dropping on his knees beside her. “Please come back to me.”

Her throat began to move. She swallowed.

“More,” I said. Ren pressed his arm to her mouth. She swallowed again. And again. Her other arm came up, fingers curling around Ren’s wrist as she drank. Slowly, her body began to remake itself. The redness and blisters faded from her chest and neck. New flesh flowed over her arm, the charred remnants of her muscles falling away as Ren’s blood healed her. After another minute, all signs of the Lyulf’s attack were gone. She sat up, wiping her mouth.

“That was incredible.” She looked down at her healed arm, flexing her fingers.

Connor swooped her into his arms. “Damn it, girl.” He kissed her, curling his body around hers. “What kind of crazy stunt was that? Don’t ever try to save me again.”

“You were about to sacrifice yourself to protect me.” She smiled up at him. “There was no way I was going to let you get out of our relationship that easily.”

TWENTY

WAVES LAPPED THE SHORELINE a few yards from where we lounged on the rocks. We’d been staring at the Elemental Cross for several minutes, catching our breath, trying to believe we’d succeeded in our impossible task.

“I’m itching to make a clever remark like ‘I thought they would be shinier,’” Mason said, clamping his hand over the wound on his arm that he’d opened to give Ren blood. “But I have to admit they seem to be the perfect shininess.”