After the four of us find an even stride, I slow my pace a little until I am next to Rowan. She’s dulled her armor, just as we have, but I sense her excitement that she is wearing it at all—here, out on a mission like she’s always wanted.

“Hey, Ro,” I say. “I didn’t realize you were serious about your promise to come get me yourself.”

“I’m always serious about promises,” she replies. “Besides, I didn’t come for you.”

I blush. “Right, right. The prince.”

“Skies. Sorry. I didn’t mean it like that,” she says. She touches her fist to my shoulder meekly, an offering of peace. “I’m glad you’re safe. Ox told me about Exin. I’m so sorry, Callen.”

My friend’s name is like a sucker punch. “We were ambushed at the Cliffs,” he says. “I’m not sure how many other teams made it.”

She walks ahead of me a little, getting between me and Sethran. “We’ll light a candle for him at the grotto when this is all done.”

My heart quickens at the unspoken offering behind her words. The grotto is our place. She isn’t mad. She wants to go back, at least one more time.

“When this is all done,” I echo.

We fall into a steady silence, and pretty soon, I’m panting from exertion, but there is no way anything is going to slow us down at this point. With Rowan at my side, things feel right, like she is supposed to be here to help us. And skies know we need the help.

Four days until Tabrol dies. Four days until the Heliana falls and life as we know it is lost for good.

20

ROWAN

I stay ahead near Seth with Callen behind me. Ox is last, the wide range of his bow giving us some safety. He shot a pair of rabbits earlier, and my mouth waters at the thought of a meal.

“Did you see your sister before you left?” Seth asks quietly.

I nod. “We had a fight, actually.”

“Oh?” he replies. “About what?”

“Not being trusted to go on a team.” Then quickly, I add, “It was before they changed their minds.”

“You know nothing the sentinels do is personal,” he says. “Believe me, I know it feels that way.”

“I know.” And I do. I was surprised how much he supported Shirene’s decision to become a sentinel. Shirene loves kids the way our mother does, and I always figured she’d want to be a mother herself. Thinking of it now, I wish I’d just asked her, at least once.

“Well, for what it’s worth, I’m glad you found us,” Seth says, giving me a sincere smile. “Though I won’t tolerate any of the back talk that you used to give me when you were little.”