No matter how far we roamed, I couldn’t escape the fact that I owed everything to the Naturals. Arondight had saved my soul for Light’s sake and what had I done? I couldn’t leave knowing that the Dark was bearing down on Camelot. I had friends there, no matter how few they were.
And I couldn’t leave Elijah to die knowing I could have saved him.
So, I made the only choice I could.
It was my life or Elijah’s…
…and I chose his.
14
The outer wall of Camelot was alive with Light as we approached. I could see it rippling through the night like a sheen of oil floating on top of a puddle.
Elijah’s boots scraped against the trail, but he came without complaint—though he was too delirious not to.
I bit my bottom lip as I looked up at the barrier that surrounded base camp. This was new, thanks to me. There was no getting through unless I could repeat last night’s performance.
I’d patched Elijah up as best I could with the bandages I’d stolen from the village, but my basic field training wouldn’t hold for long. It was enough to transport him, nothing more.
We had to get through the barrier, then through the camp to the infirmary . . . both without being seen. Once there, I’d convince Ramona to help.
Elijah’s only crime was being a demon and that had been forced on him. I’d convince Ramona that his intentions were pure. I’d convince them all, even if it meant my exile.
I drew him into my web as we huddled behind an outcropping of rock. The square edges gave away that it’d once been a part of the wall, the massive block flung here when the rift had torn apart the castle and the tremors rippled through the city.
I pressed my palm against Elijah’s forehead as I watched the rotation of guards on the perimeter. It felt like liquid fire was burning underneath his skin, and I knew we didn’t have much time.
Taking a chance, I hauled him across the open space between the block of stone and the barrier. I reached for my mutation, disregarding the fear I had of being seduced by the seductive nature of the Dark, and allowed it to cover us.
Elijah’s presence anchored me to reality and he stirred. “Madeleine?” he muttered. “Where…”
“Shh,” I murmured, “it will be over soon.”
Taking a deep breath, we stepped through the barrier. Light tickled my face, tendrils sticking to my skin like the gossamer of a delicate spider’s web. I blinked, dazed by the sight of the base camp before us. It was familiar, but alien all at the same time.
I slammed my Light down around my mutation, cutting it off before it could ruin my life with its sarcastic comebacks.
“Welcome to Camelot,” I muttered as Elijah slumped against me.
The infirmary was located three rows down and two tents across. I dragged Elijah into the shadows behind the first khaki-coloured monstrosity. From memory, it wasn’t occupied being on the outer edges.
Ahead, a male Natural dressed in head to toe black tactical gear rounded the corner. My eyes widened and I backed against the wall, my heart pounding. Elijah’s knees buckled as my gaze dropped to the arondight blade at the guy’s belt. If I was quick…
The Natural jogged past us, never breaking his stride. His gaze fixed ahead and never strayed towards us. It was as if we were invisible.
Elijah groaned, but the soldier was already far enough away from our position that he didn’t hear.
Across from us, a tent flap swung open and a woman slipped through. She hefted a box in her arms and her gaze swept past us like my ability encased us in empty air.
No one could see us.
But that was impossible. Naturals could see through a cloak and so could demons. Something wasn’t right about this, but I wasn’t going to take it for granted.
I understood whatever I was doing was a unique ability, one the Naturals wouldn’t take kindly to—impervious to Light, immune to Dark. I hoped my current theory was wrong.
I cursed and shook my head. I was already referring to my people like I wasn’t one of them anymore. What was I now that the enemy had awoken my Dark side? A hybrid, I supposed.
Anchoring Elijah against me, I held him steady with my Light and forged through the camp, no longer worried about being seen.
Dragging Elijah into the infirmary, I saw Ramona sitting at the opposite end of the tent, bent over a microscope.
“Ramona.”
At the unexpected sound of my voice, she shot to her feet and stared at us. “What the…”
I eased Elijah onto the closest bed. “I need your help. His wounds are infected and—”
She strode across the tent and pushed me aside, dragging me away from the bed. “What have you done?” she demanded. “Everyone is out hunting you. If they—”
“Ramona,” I snapped, “he’s dying.”
She blinked and looked down at Elijah as I eased him out of his T-shirt. He was barely conscious, pain the only thing keeping him tethered to life. The trek here had only been a few miles, but the toll had been high.
“A demon attacked him,” I told her as I uncovered my hasty bandaging. “If it was a Balan or one of those things that captured me, I’m not sure. He didn’t say.”
“How long has he been like this?”
“Since last night.”
She shook her head in disbelief. “How is he still alive?” Clucking her tongue, she leaned over Elijah and pressed her palm against his brow. The moment her skin came into contact with his, she snatched her hand away as if it had been burnt. “He’s—”
“A demon,” I finished for her. “Though his humanity remains.”
“How did you find him?”
“It’s a long story,” I muttered.
“Long enough that you never reported it, I assume.”
“No one would have believed my intentions were for the Light, even if I did.”
“Madeleine, that’s no excuse
