Mira's POV.

The bonds between us hummed with coordination. I knew where Kael would move before he did, felt Lyra shift her weight before she attacked. Darius's forces surrounded us, but we cut through them. Not because we were stronger, but because we were unified.

Kael stumbled. Lyra caught him before he fell. Kept him upright with one arm while her blade stayed ready in the other. "Don't you dare die now," she said through clenched teeth. "I have questions."

We fell back to the council hall, ...