Chapter 28

Jovie wakes nestled with Acker and Blue, momentarily comforted despite lingering loneliness and the toll of her awakening. Light banter about odd dreams and shared history builds fragile intimacy, and Jovie notes her pain has faded to a strange numbness.

The calm shatters when camouflaged fighters surround them. Their leader, Vad—the oracle who once ambushed Aurora—greets Acker with tense familiarity and publicly names Jovie as the lost Princess of Maile. Vad casually invades Jovie’s mind, exposing her thoughts and asserting she is dying from an incomplete awakening without a healer.

Vad circles with his men, pressing Acker’s fears: Jovie’s body is failing, and reaching the border in time is unlikely. He offers a bargain—healer’s location for thirty seconds inside Acker’s memories. Before Acker can respond, a dart slams into Jovie’s chest. Acker reacts instantly, ripping weapons free with his metalcraft and impaling several attackers, halving their number.

Vad halts his men and insists only he can direct them to a nearby healer. Acker, seeing Jovie cough blood, agrees but demands a blood oath terms: he will not harm Vad or the remaining men if Jovie survives. After swearing, Acker opens his mind; Vad takes what he wants and then provides directions to a disguised cottage twenty minutes away if they run.

Acker lifts Jovie and bolts for the brook and mossy trees Vad described. High above, Blue savages the hidden archer, ending the threat as the remaining men flee. Acker doesn’t look back, racing to reach the healer before Jovie’s failing breath runs out.