Too late, Avalon threw her arms forward, and the explosion that followed was akin to that of a volcanic eruption. Behind the shield, Jack felt the unbearable heat seeping through, and could smell Ethel’s hair burning. She cried out with the effort it took to keep the forcefield alive, but it wasn’t enough. It shattered into a thousand fragments and vanished.
He didn’t think; Jack tackled Ethel to the ground, shielding her body with his own. The liquid fire engulfed them, and Jack’s body was consumed with agony. He tried to heal through the onslaught, tears stinging his eyes as Avalon’s relentless attack continued. He must protect Ethel. He tried to heal her, too, but the effort drained his energy.
Finally, the barrage ceased, and Jack was left smouldering in a black crater. He looked down at Ethel, whose body was cradled beneath his own. She was still. Her dark skin was charred and blackened. Jack began to heal her, slowly. It took a long time for her to come back from the brink of death. By the time the last patch of skin had healed, Jack felt very weak. Ethel stirred, but she didn’t open her eyes. She had almost died trying to protect him.
Suddenly, something pierced Jack’s ribcage, pinning him to the ground. He howled in agony and reached around, trying to rip the arrow out of his body. He wrapped his hand around the stem and yanked it from his body so he could heal.
They weren’t going to give him a chance to get away. Their attack was merciless.
Sure, her intentions may have been good, but the ease with which she caused pain was frightening.
Jack rolled away from Ethel’s body, panting furiously, to see that the two Vulmessian’s had landed on the ground and were approaching him.
Ethel stirred feebly.
Hawthorne stopped in his tracks when he spotted Jack. Avalon, on the other hand, hadn’t noticed that it was him.
She urged Hawthorne forward, but he refused to take another step. Avalon looked up to see why he had ceased, and her eyes met Jack’s.
Her jaw dropped open.
Chapter Thirty-Five
Jack’s Betrayal
AVALON REDDING
Jack lay on the ground, his clothes and face blackened, but I would recognise those blue eyes anywhere. His hair had been shaved off, and he wore a guard’s uniform.
Several emotions flared in my stomach. Guilt, hurt, betrayal, anger, and regret.
‘Avalon,’ he croaked, trying to get to his feet.
I dismounted Hawthorne at once and strode towards Jack, my expression impassive.
Behind him lay the shield-Mage that had made Fae’s role very difficult. I couldn’t believe what I was seeing; Jack, protecting a Realm’s guard with his life. He had joined them in my absence. Had he always felt this way? Had he jumped ship as soon as I was out of the picture?
I clenched my teeth together, breathing hard through my nostrils as I approached him. Jack gulped, his Adam’s apple bobbing in his throat.
I didn’t know what to say, so I did the only thing that came naturally. I marched up to him and slapped him hard across the face.
‘Jack Greenwood!’ I hissed, tears in my eyes. ‘You coward!’ I looked at his uniform, an expression of betrayal on my face.
‘Avalon!’ he grabbed me by the shoulders, but released me immediately when he felt how hot my skin was. ‘I’ve wanted to talk to you all day!’
I ignored him. ‘A guard, Jack? You’re a guard?’
‘Yes,’ he said, licking his lips nervously. ‘But for you. I joined for you.’
He tried to bring me closer to him, but I pushed against his chest. ‘Get off me!’ I snapped.
‘Ava, ask your father. Ask R?ven. They’ll tell you the truth.’
‘R?ven?’ I repeated. ‘Where is she?’
To be honest, Jack hadn’t seen R?ven at all since the battle had begun. She was meant to be part of the infiltration squad, but he hadn’t seen her flying around anywhere.
‘I think she is inside,’ he said truthfully. ‘Look, I know you’re angry and confused right now, but you must believe me. I joined the guard so I could help by getting information.’
I chewed on the inside of my cheek. My chest felt tight, and I wanted to hit him again, but despite everything, I believed what he said.
At that moment, Fae landed beside us, an arrow pointing straight at Jack’s head.
‘Why isn’t he dead?’ she said, pulling her arm back further.
‘It’s all right, Fae,’ I said, holding up a hand to stop her. ‘This is Jack.’
Fae’s eyes narrowed on Jack, contempt creasing her brow. ‘This is the Healer? The one who lied to you?’
I gave Fae a challenging look, that quite clearly told her to shut up. This was no time to talk about the locket, or Jack’s lie. Lives were in danger, and we needed to get the cure. My own father had been one of the many Mages to run through the Realm doors after it had been broken down. He had mentioned something about holding off the guards while the infiltration squad scoured the levels.
‘Fae, Jack says that R?ven is here,’ I said. Fae’s eyes widened immediately.
‘She is? Here?’
Jack nodded, wiping the charcoal from his brow. ‘I thought I saw her fly inside after the door was broken down.’
‘I didn’t see her,’ said Fae, biting her lip. ‘Avalon … I’m going to go look, okay?’