The Citadel let them go without a fight.
One moment they were standing in the Heart Corridor, the next the stone floor under their feet shifted. The blue light that had pulsed through the walls for centuries flared once, warm and steady, then faded to a faint glow.
“Okay,” Kade said, sheathing his sword. “That’s new. Usually ancient evil places try to kill you on the way out.”
Darius didn’t answer. He had his arm around Elara, supporting her weight. The claiming had left her drained, eyes half-lidded but sharp. She’d used too much of herself to bind the Warden without breaking it.
“We’re going home,” she said quietly. “Now.”
Home. The word hit different now.
---
The return trip took two days.
No attacks. No ambushes. The suppression field over the Citadel was gone, and with it, th
