Before She Ignites (Fallen Isles Trilogy #1)(83)

“Hristo.” I pushed myself up until I was sitting. Ilina helped support me where my arms trembled. The numbing medicine still rushed through me, making my movements uncertain. “This isn’t your fault. This is Elbena’s doing.”

“It was my job to stop her,” he insisted.

When I reached for him, he rounded the foot of the bed and took my hand. Ilina took my other, and there I was, connected to the two people I loved best. Their strength filled me, and for five long heartbeats, I just closed my eyes and breathed in this moment.

“You are both the most loyal, bravest people I know.” I didn’t deserve friends like them. “How did you get here?”

“It was your parents, actually,” Hristo said.

“Did they send you?”

He shook his head. “They don’t know we’re here.”

“Your parents worked day and night for your release,” Ilina said. “When they heard about the Bophan Senate dinner, they suggested taking you out of the Pit for it. They said you’d learned your lesson about questioning the Luminary Council and you’d do whatever you were ordered.”

My heart sank. When Mother heard about my performance last night, she would be furious. Even in prison, I was a disappointment to her.

“The Luminary Council fought about it for hours,” Ilina said. “Your parents told my parents, who told me. I think they were just relieved that I was speaking to them, because they told me more than I should have known otherwise—about ship schedules, Luminary Guard selection, and when you would be here.”

“No one let us come,” Hristo said. “But we’d promised we’d help you.”

“I was serious when I said I’d drain the seas if I must.” Ilina squeezed my hand. “So when the council decided to give you a chance, we formed a plan to get you out, just in case they decided to try sending you back to the Pit.”

Or in case I ruined my chances.

“It wasn’t easy,” Hristo said. “I stole a Luminary Guard uniform, but I had to be careful about the times I was with you. I didn’t want to insist I be near you and risk getting caught.”

I nodded, but the movement made my head swim. “Even I didn’t realize you were there until the other night.”

Hristo smiled. “I wanted you to know someone was there for you, but I also didn’t want you to know, because I was worried Elbena might figure out that I was your protector.” Again, his eyes flicked to my cheek. His smile disappeared.

“You still are,” I whispered, my fingers twisted tight with his. “No matter what, I know that you are always protecting me.” I wouldn’t tell him that I’d been imprisoned with someone who’d tried to murder me—not yet, anyway—but he needed to know I still trusted him. I trusted him more than ever.

His response was low and rumbling. “Thank you.”

I turned to Ilina. “And you? How did you come to be a server at such an important state dinner on Bopha?”

She gave a weak laugh. “I’ll tell you when we’re out of here, but my story involves forgery, stowing away on a ship, and bribery.”

They brushed all that effort aside, as though it had been nothing to learn where I’d be and come for a big rescue, but I knew it hadn’t been easy.

Never had I anticipated them taking such actions, and my eyes stung with tears as I imagined the challenges they’d endured—for me. I didn’t deserve such friends.

“As for the rest of our plan”—Ilina leaned forward—“the Chance Encounter leaves on the morning tide. Elbena won’t be on the ship, and we know the captain. The crew will help us if we board tonight. No one will search it for you in the morning, and once they’ve made their stops, we can get off anywhere. Or we don’t have to get on the Chance Encounter at all, if you don’t want. We can leave the Shadowed City and go anywhere on Bopha. It will be more dangerous, though.”

“Thank you.” My voice broke, caught somewhere between love and fear. “You’ve done so much.”

Ilina drew back, already sensing what I was about to do. “But?”

I dreaded saying the words. Their reactions. But if I didn’t speak now, I might go along with their plan and feel terrible about myself for the rest of my days. “I have to return to the Pit.”

“No.” Ilina squeezed my hand. “We won’t let you. You’re never going back there.”

I was already shaking my head—carefully, because I didn’t want them to think I was too weak for this. “I must. My allies—”

“Forget about them.” Ilina surged to her feet. “Forget all about them. Everything that happened there.”

“I can’t. I left people there, and they don’t deserve to be in the Pit any more than I did.” Tears stung my eyes. “Altan hurts them to get to me. He’s a Drakon Warrior.”

Ilina’s eyes grew wide. “Really? They still exist?”

“Not legally, I think.” I bit my lip. “He wanted to know about the shipping order.”

My friends exchanged uneasy glances. “What did you tell him?” Ilina asked.

“Where he could find the dragons, before they’re shipped to the Algotti Empire for good. I thought better the dragons remain with the Fallen Isles than with our enemies.”