10
Night gives way to morning too soon and the sun rises over us, making the air shimmer with heat. Our last bit of water disappears too quickly. I’ve passed out on top of Nico when I notice the pillars light up. Through the portal steps—
I blink, certain I’m hallucinating.
“Val?”
He is followed by a team of people. Fern is with them. She runs to me.
“Edie, oh my gods. Let me look at you. We’ll get you patched up, then back to the Academy to heal.”
“Fern, help him,” I motion to Nico. “He’s in even worse shape.”
“Who is that?” Val asks, as he unscrews a bottle of water and holds it my mouth. I gulp greedily and Val pulls it away. “Not too fast.”
“He’s from the Academy,” I answer his question, my voice hoarse. Even with that sip of water, I feel like I’ve been gargling with sand for
