“No ‘buts’.” I shook my head. “Promise me you’ll run.”
She furrowed her brows, looking between me and the door. “Why?”
“Beyond this point, there is no magic. No powers. No shadows. After this, I am nothing but a soldier.” I clenched my jaw so hard, the coppery tang of blood flooded my mouth.
I prayed to both Isvana and Ithiar that these instructions were unnecessary. That I was overreacting. Even as I did so, a small, niggling voice inside of me said they were important.
After a moment, Luna nodded.
“I need to hear you say it,” I insisted.
She inhaled sharply, and a beat passed before she whispered, “I promise. I will run if you tell me to.”
Every single part of me wanted to turn us around, but we couldn’t. Nelo had thoroughly interrogated the prisoner, but the male had insisted he had information that he would only give to me.
That meant that Luna needed to come, too. Thanks to Ciro and his gods-damned Tether, Luna and I couldn’t be separated.
Not now.
Not ever.