We Who Will Die by Stacia Stark - 36

T he gorgon continues to show me her memories.

The harpy barreling into Albion, taking him unaware as she attacked. Albion throwing up a hand, but not before she slammed one powerful wing into his head.

My mind provides me with its own images—memories of every time I’ve seen Albion since Leon was attacked. Twice near the healers and once near Leon’s room.

And then standing next to me, pretending to grieve for Leon as I grieved.

Balling my fists, I breathe through the rage. How did I miss it? How?

I don’t have time to wallow. The healers are busy, distracted. They won’t know Albion is a threat.

He’s going to kill Leon.

“Thank you,” I say to the maginari. “I’ll come back to you. I will free you. Somehow. I promise.”

The gorgon snorts, while Linaros shakes his head. “You should know better than to make those kinds of vows to the maginari, human.”

“Not all of us humans are cowards. My friend Maeva has been planning to get you out since the moment she learned you were here. She’s the reason I knew how to find you.”

He goes still, studying my face. “She sounds like a good friend to have.”

“She is.” Shoving the helmet back on my head I turn, sprinting for the corridor that will take me back to the arena.

My feet thunder against stone, and it’s not until I round a corner that I realize mine aren’t the only feet pounding down this corridor.

I freeze, listening. Either the patrol is early, or I’m late.

“Oh look, it’s one of the emperor’s pigs,” the centaur calls.

“Come, human, lookkkkk.” The gorgon’s power sweeps toward me, potent even through the silver bars.

The footsteps stumble. “Fucking maginari.”

The maginari erupt into screams and insults, their voices masking my footsteps. I reach the third aether lamp and crouch at the intersection.

Please let me have the right lamp. Please.

My hand brushes several cool stones, and my relief makes me lightheaded. Maeva truly planned for everything.

Lifting the stones, I throw them with all my strength. They rattle down the opposite corridor, and the sound of approaching footsteps echoes down the corridor as the guard sprints faster. I press my body against the wall as his shadow rounds the corner, in the direction of the stones.

Seconds. I have seconds.

Lungs tight, breaths uneven, I sprint for the stairs, throwing my body up them and against the trapdoor.

I’m up and out of the maginari level within seconds, closing the trapdoor behind me. Sweat coats every inch of my body as I remove the attention-grabbing imperius armor and stash it in the corner to collect later. I force myself to walk at a purposeful yet unhurried pace back through the arena and to the corridor leading to the ludus.

Strong fingers clutch my upper arm and I whirl, dagger in my hand. Neris leans close, her expression coldly furious. “Where have you been?”

“Albion is the murderer,” I blurt out, shaking her off. “And he’s going to try to kill Leon. We’ve got to get to the healers.”

“Let’s go.”

Neris shoves the door open, falling into step next to me. We sprint along the corridors, weaving in and out of groups of novices.

“Arvelle.” Axia smiles as we burst through the door. “Maeva’s asleep, I’m afraid. And Leon already has a visitor, so if you wait a few minutes—”

“Who?”

“I’m sorry?”

“Who is visiting Leon?”

Her brows twist into a puzzled frown. “Albion.”

“No. No, no, no.”

Turning, I run down the corridor. My breath comes out in a sob, and Neris doesn’t hesitate, launching into a sprint once more.

Together, we push through a group of healers, breathlessly apolo gizing. My skin tingles with urgency, my chest so tight I can barely breathe.

Please don’t let me be too late. Please.

Neris slams Leon’s door open, and Albion whirls, dagger in his hand. Behind him, Leon is still unconscious, still in the same state he was last time I saw him. Still alive. For now.

“Get away from him!” I’m already moving, but Albion ducks to the left, barreling into Neris.

Her head hits the stone wall with a crack, and Albion darts out the door.

“Go!” Neris roars.

I go.

Albion grabs Roisin, pushing her at me, and I slide left, slamming into Axia.

“Neris,” I gasp out. “Help her.”

Albion sprints out of the healers’ quarters.

I follow his fading footsteps.

Unsurprisingly, Albion knows all about the hidden corridors.

He bashes into the wall near the healers, directly into Rorrik’s garden. I hesitate for a single moment and then plunge in after him, letting the door swing closed behind me.

I gulp in a breath of cool night air and leap over a fallen log as he sprints into the cover of the trees.

I don’t see the wyvern, but that doesn’t mean it’s not going to appear at any moment, ready to catch the prey currently scurrying through its territory.

Branches crack, bushes rustle. There’s no way for Albion to hide his tracks here, and he must realize the same because he begins to move back toward stone walls.

He can’t return to the guardant quarters. His only option is to flee the ludus.

And I won’t let that happen.

I catch a glimpse of curly blond hair as Albion makes it to the stone, slamming a shaking hand against the wall. Another hidden door slides open, and I pump my legs faster as it begins to close. I make it through the space with inches to spare, and the door slides closed behind me.

My eyes struggle to adjust. This corridor is filled with shadows that seem to jump and move of their own accord, regardless of the aether lamps. The walls are so dark, the stone is almost black, and I can barely see Albion ahead of me.

I lose sight of him as he rounds a corner, and my boots slide on the smooth floor.

I force my knees to lift higher, my arms to pump harder.

I’ve never seen Albion train. He has no business being this fast.

Where is he going?

I round the corner and get my answer. The silver door to the library glows like a beacon, and Albion rushes through it, slamming it behind him.

He’s bought himself a few seconds as I wrestle it back open, but he’s allowed himself to be cornered. There’s nowhere for him to go.

Pushing through the door, I freeze.

I haven’t trapped Albion.

He’s trapped me.