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Back Into the Dying Light Save as PDF
Chapters (72)
  1. Copyright Notice
  2. Dedication
  3. I
  4. 1
  5. 2
  6. 3
  7. 4
  8. 5
  9. BEFORE
  10. 6
  11. 7
  12. BEFORE
  13. 8
  14. 9
  15. 10
  16. 11
  17. 12
  18. 13
  19. BEFORE
  20. 14
  21. 15
  22. 16
  23. 17
  24. BEFORE
  25. II
  26. 18
  27. 19
  28. 20
  29. 21
  30. 22
  31. 23
  32. 24
  33. 25
  34. 26
  35. 27
  36. 28
  37. 29
  38. 30
  39. 31
  40. 32
  41. III
  42. 33
  43. 34
  44. 35
  45. 36
  46. 37
  47. 38
  48. 39
  49. 40
  50. 41
  51. IV
  52. 42
  53. 43
  54. 44
  55. 45
  56. 46
  57. 47
  58. 48
  59. 49
  60. 50
  61. 51
  62. 52
  63. 53
  64. 54
  65. 55
  66. 56
  67. 57
  68. 58
  69. AFTER
  70. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
  71. ABOUT THE AUTHOR
  72. Newsletter Sign-up

“Why are you helping us?” she asked as Illya started to climb the stairs up to the next deck.

He paused, looking over his shoulder at her.

“I just don’t get it,” she said.

“No,” he agreed. “You wouldn’t.”

He resumed climbing the stairs. Ephyra followed.

“Did Pallas do something to you?” Ephyra asked. “You want revenge or something?”

He didn’t answer.

“Is it guilt?” she asked. “Because of what you did to Anton?”

He gave her a wan smile that did not reach his eyes. “Beru is right down the hall.”

She searched his face, but found nothing, no crack in the facade that would tell her whether she was getting close. He wasn’t going to answer her.

Without another word, Illya turned and descended back down the stairs.

Ephyra took a breath. Beru was here, safe. Everything else could wait.

Her heart tripped in her chest as she approached the door. Before she could knock, it swung open and Hector stepped outside.

They stared at each other.

“Jude?” he asked, slightly desperate.

Ephyra nodded. “He’ll be all right. He’s resting.”

He gave her a jerky nod. “Thank you.”

He stepped aside, and Ephyra rushed into the room without a backward glance.

She was greeted by the sight of Beru sitting peacefully on the bed, collar firmly back on.

Ephyra threw her arms around her, breathing deeply for what felt like the first time in days. “We did it. We really escaped.”

Beru pulled back, a familiar shadow of worry on her face. She shook her head. “We almost didn’t.”

Ephyra took her hand, pressing it between her palms. “But we did.”

Beru dropped her gaze. “The god—It’s getting stronger. When it took over just now … I didn’t think I would be able to overpower it. Every time I use its powers, its will gets a little stronger. We’re running out of time.”

Ephyra brushed her fingers through her sister’s hair and patted the side of her head. “What’s new? We’re always running out of time, aren’t we?”

Beru let out a rueful smile. She picked at a loose thread of her sheets. “I suppose that’s true.”

“We’ll find a way,” Ephyra promised. “Whatever it takes.”

17

ANTON

Eight hours had passed, and Jude still hadn’t woken. Anton clutched his limp, feverishly hot hand, watching the rise and fall of his chest as he breathed. A plate of food sat by his elbow, ignored.

“Anton?” Evander’s hesitant voice called.

Anton tore his gaze from Jude’s unmoving face to take in Evander, looking frail and lost in the doorway, his usual cheer and effervescence dimmed.

“Are you all right?” Evander asked.

Anton reached for a reassuring smile. “I’m all right. Are you?”

Evander approached slowly, sitting tentatively beside Anton, facing Jude. “You don’t need to worry about me.”