Everything was right in the world again. Emma’s words fell into place like the last piece to a jigsaw puzzle long labored over. With his twin by his side, Jamie felt like nothing was impossible anymore.
Chapter 37 – Allyra
Dawn was breaking, casting a pale pink glow over her. Today, they were going back to the Elemental College for the Fifth Final, and Jason had made it clear that he wanted to make an early start. Allyra had woken before the dawn and crept out of the cabin, past Jason still sleeping on the couch. He’d been the consummate gentleman during their week at the cabin, offering her the bed while he tried to fit his long frame onto a couch at least a couple feet too short for him. Meanwhile she refused to acknowledge the idea that she might miss him—after their time in Antarctica, it was hard to remember the last time they spent a night separated by anything as solid as a wall.
She climbed the short but steep incline behind the cabin, straight to the top of the mountain. There was a long, flat rock that jutted out over the edge, and she’d leaped onto it and settled in to the watch the sunrise.
Everything felt like it was coming to an end, like a high-speed train rushing to its final stop. A strange feeling of hollowness had taken up residence in her chest. After the end of the Fifth Final, she’d have all the answers she’d ever wanted. The future wasn’t her Gift, but she could almost see it all—she’d find Alex, bring him back, and together, they would unmask Marcus as the Revenant. The Gifted would see the truth, understand the error written in their history books. And Alex would finally reclaim his proper position as the Elemental High Master.
It had taken her some time, but Allyra knew now that this had been her destiny all along. She’d been entrusted with her Gift for the past so that she could help Alex at the right time. He was the protagonist of this story, and after she saw him safely restored to his proper place as the Elemental High Master, her part in this story would be complete.
She felt strangely at odds with herself, like there were a million ants crawling over her skin, like there was too much adrenaline flowing in her veins. Somehow, she wanted it all to be over, yet she was terrified that once it was, her life would be empty of purpose. Afraid that she had come to enjoy the adrenaline a little too much, that she wouldn’t be able to walk away into the normal life her father had wanted for her.
A winter mist covered the valley below her. Allyra imagined herds of antelope making their way to the watering hole. Her Gift stirred within her—with one flick of her wrist, she could sweep the mist away. But she enjoyed being above the mist line. For a moment, it felt as if she might be the only person in the world, soaring high above everything else.
A small noise caught her attention, and she turned to find Jason, standing just beyond the rock she was sitting on. He was watching her quietly. A strange, considered look on his face. The corners of her lips lifted in a wistful smile.
How far they'd come.
Hate and distrust had transformed into a deep friendship.
Allyra got to her feet, and though she didn’t need the help, she took Jason’s offered hand and allowed him to pull her across the gap. He pulled with more force than she expected, and she tumbled into his arms. For a few heartbeats, she rested against his chest, her head tucked beneath his chin. Jason made no sign that he wanted to move, and all too soon, the moment turned into something too intimate.
She hurried to fill the silence.
“What are you thinking?” she asked.
Jason stayed quiet and then slowly pulled away from her. He rested his forehead to hers, and their breaths fell into the same rhythm. In and out. Together, they breathed the same clear winter air.
“I was thinking that I wished I’d met you earlier in my life,” he said quietly. “I might have done some things differently.”
His voice was serious and edged with despair. They teetered on the threshold of a dark chasm that threatened to reach up and swallow them whole.
“If I remember correctly, you didn’t like me one bit when you first met me. I was a thorn in your side. So, meeting earlier would’ve just prolonged your pain,” Allyra joked, trying to lighten the mood.
He smiled, but it didn’t quite reach his eyes. “We should go,” he said.
Chapter 38 – Allyra
Drums thundered in the distance—a mad, dizzying rhythm that matched her erratic heart. In her mind, time seemed to hurtle backward—one, two, seven months. She was readying herself for battle once more within the Combat Arena of the Elemental College, but this time, she’d walk in with Jason by her side. A partner rather than an opponent.
Jason’s nimble fingers checked the straps of the leather baldric strapped across her chest. He was doing it for the third time, checking and then rechecking. He was nervous though he tried to hide it. Allyra took hold of his hands gently. “They’re tight,” she said evenly.
Jason let out a deep breath. “It’s going to be fine,” he said.
Allyra smiled, amused despite herself by his transformation from tightly controlled and uptight to this bundle of nerves. “I know.”
“The Fifth Final is just a show—a demonstration for the crowd.”
The words were for her benefit, a white lie to comfort her, though
