“Let him loose!”
My voice ripped through the chamber.
The beast only smiled.
Kael hung in the air, his body stiff, black veins radiating out from the hole in his chest where the creature's hand had punctured him.
I ran at him.
Like a wall silver energy crashed into me.
I smacked down on the floor.
"Lyra!
Kael’s voice.
Soft.
Frightened.
Not for him.
For me.
I stood up.
“Kael!
The creature glanced at him.
“You spent your whole life believing you were the lock.
Kael fought against its hold.
“What are you talking about?
“You were not meant to keep the Gate shut.”
It squeezed tighter.
“You were made to open it.”
Kael winced, his face contorting with pain.
“Not at all.
Inside him the Warden bellowed.
“Don’t listen!”
And the creature laughed.
“The little guardian lies t
