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Limping, I make it around the last corner and come to a complete stop.
There, standing before the exit and entrance of the maze, is Enver and his group. It doesn’t look like they have gone through, some of the group still sitting with their injuries while others rest.
Spotting me, Enver stands up from his seated position and moves closer to me. As soon as he moves, the rest follow suit, slowly making their way over.
I ready myself should they wish to go ahead with the guards’ deal, but pause when Enver gives me a look full of relief and gratitude.
“You helped us all when you did not have to. You fought for us, protecting us without question. Your place among the guards is well earned.” He moves to the left of me, and the others follow,each taking a side until there is a small line each side of me and an open path that allows direct access to the exit.
“After you,” Enver says, a gleam in his eyes and a knowing look on his face.
I swallow hard as my eyes begin to blur and burn.
They chose to wait. To let me pass ahead of them. They could have all easily moved through the exit, and one or more of them would have possibly won the trial. But they chose to stay and wait for me.
I glance at each of them, and they all give me warm smiles full of gratitude. There is not one glare or shred of hostility. Some of them are badly injured, and yet they waited. Waited for me to pass first.
“Thank you,” I whisper. They will never know how much this means to me. To all the Sidus fighting daily who suffer. They will never know, but I will never forget this nor any one of their faces.
Struck silent with shock and gratitude for their gesture, it takes me a minute to realize that Oryn isn’t among them.
“Oryn?” I question Enver, my stomach dropping when he gives me a strange look.
“He already made it through. He said you would understand.” He frowns, but I nod, understanding completely.
His sister’s life is on the line. I could not fault him for moving ahead. I just hope we both make it in time.
Taking a step forward, I move through the path they have created for me. They follow a step behind as I walk out of the maze and meet Alderic’s and Amaro’s gazes. Once they realize it is me, their eyes fill with nothing but wild rage.
I ignore them to search for Oryn and quickly find him standing beside another male, with wild bright red hair. I glance around, but there is no one else here, and that is when it hits me.
I’ve made it.
Relief and happiness seep into every muscle in my body, making my injuries feel twice as painful. But I don’t care. All that matters is that I’ve made it. My plan will go ahead. And in the end, I have the Caligo to thank for it.
Amaro and Alderic storm back toward the palace. I spot Oryn as he makes his way toward me, a look of guilt slashed across his face, but I give him a small smile and it lessens.
Just before Oryn makes it to me, one of the males from Enver’s group steps in front of me. His dark brown eyes are hesitant as he rubs a hand up the back of his neck to his wavy brown strands of hair.
When he doesn’t say anything after a moment, I go to move around him, but he steps to the side, blocking me as he glances over at the guards.
“Please just give me a moment of your time,” he says as he swallows hard. “My name is Sloane. I saw something the other night that I need to tell someone about, but the guards…” He glances back at them, a fearful look creeping into his eyes. “I know it’s against the rules, but I snuck out the other night to meet my girl.”
I don’t really care about him breaking the rules, but I don’t think he wanted to talk with me just to confess.
“What happened?” I ask, keeping my voice low so as not to draw attention to us.
He moves closer and lowers his voice. “I heard a noise, so I got my girl to go home and followed it. It was near the bridge, the biggest one, just at the end of it, near the gates. The shadow-jumping block only reaches so far, so anyone can reach it if they have the power. But when I arrived, no one was there.” He glances back over at the guards before shaking his head to himself.
“I couldn’t… I’m not strong like you. I won’t survive it if I go against them.”
“Who do you think you heard?” I ask, needing to confirm who I also suspect.
“The guards,” he whispers, and my stomach churns at what this could mean.
I glance at Oryn, and he frowns at whatever he sees on my face.
“What did you hear?” I ask Sloane as my gaze stays fixed on Oryn while my mind tries to figure out a way to tell him.
