The courtyard was quiet now. The hunters had fled. The danger had passed. But Kael knew it was only temporary. Darian was still out there. The Council was still in power. The lies were still being told. The fight was far from over.
But for this moment, just this one moment, they were safe.
Kael collapsed onto the ground. His legs gave out. His body could not take any more. He lay on his back and stared up at the darkening sky. The stars were starting to appear. Tiny pinpricks of light in the vast darkness. They looked so peaceful. So distant. So untouchable.
Mira sat down beside him. She was breathing hard. Her face was pale. Her hands were shaking.
"That was insane," she said. "Completely insane. We could have died."
Kael laughed. It was a tired laugh. But it was real. "We did not di
