ARIA POV
I crashed to the ground as the bright light faded. My head pounded like someone was hitting it with a hammer. The stranger—my predecessor—was gone. So was Alpha Darius and his troops. Only Kael remained, unconscious beside me.
"Kael!" I shook him softly, but he didn't wake up.
Footsteps pounded toward us. I looked up to see Jaxon running across the yard, his face twisted with worry.
"What happened?" he asked, dropping to his knees beside his brother. "I felt something—like the bond was being ripped apart."
"I'll explain later," I said, checking Kael's pulse. It was steady. "He's alive, just knocked out."
"We need to get you both out of here," Jaxon said quickly. "Dad's gone crazy. He's telling everyone you've tainted Kael with dark magic."
"That's not what happened," I argued.
"I know," Jaxon said, startling me. "But we don't have time to fight. Dad will be back with more fighters." He helped me to my feet. "Can you walk?"
I nodded, though my legs felt like jelly.
