TENN
Tenn was halfway to the wall when Jarrett stepped out and intercepted him. The last person he wanted to see.
“We have to get you out of here,” Jarrett said.
“I’m not going anywhere.” He looked up to the blazing red sky. Thought of the boy he was bound to save only a few hundred feet away. He couldn’t leave Aidan. He couldn’t leave anyone. Not after he’d come so far.
“Please, Tenn,” Jarrett said. And his voice softened. Took on the tone that melted Tenn’s heart like butter. “Please. I’m sorry about before. About everything. But you have to understand—you are important. So very important. And if you die here, we lose. All of us. We all lose.”
Bile rose in the back of his throat. This felt way too much like when he had let his old Guildmates die for him, back at Outpost 37. It seemed like years ago, but even now, even with the true battle looming around him, he could hear Matthias’s mocking laughter as he chased Tenn down.
Tenn was done running.
“I can help them,” he said. “I have runes—”
“You know they aren’t enough. The twins are already rallying Aidan and Kianna. They’re going to fly him and the two of them out of here. And we have to be out there, waiting, for when they arrive.”
“What?”
“They want you to create a safe spot,” Jarrett said. His eyes flickered to the red above them. “Just out of harm’s way. Like you did before. For me. They’ll bring Aidan and Kianna to us.” He looked back to Tenn. “Trust me. Please. This is the only way.”
Tenn swallowed.
An explosion shook the Guild, toppling him into Jarrett’s arms. Jarrett, who held him strong and secure, warm and loving. Tenn took a deep breath. There was logic in Jarrett’s words. He didn’t want to leave the others to die, but this was the only way to keep them safe. At least for now.
“Okay,” he said into Jarrett’s chest.
Jarrett kissed the top of his head.
“Thank you,” he whispered. “I know where to go. I just need you to draw the runes.”
Tenn nodded and knelt. Quickly scrawled the runes in the dirt.
“Ready,” he said.
Jarrett took his hand.
“Ready.”
Tenn opened to Earth. Jarrett opened to Air. And as the world around them vanished in a swirl of dust and shadow, Tenn had to convince himself he wasn’t running away.
He was helping.
He was helping.