Nothing happened.
She kept trying. Crap, this always seemed easy in the movies.
The lizard darted closer, its big eyes wide. It was changing colors rapidly, obviously afraid.
A bug moved closer, on the opposite side of one of the oil channels. It was watching them carefully.
Tears of frustration filled Finley’s eyes. “Come on.”
She did a huge strike and the tiniest spark flared before it was gone. She hadn’t gotten it anywhere near the oil.
This wasn’t going to work.
Her shoulders slumped and a tear rolled down her cheek.
She’d failed again.
She wasn’t perfect, or clever, or brave. Sabin would pay the price, like Brent and Melody had.
“I’m sorry,” she said.
Sabin’s face was turned toward her. He held out a hand, his face twisted into a grimace. She saw that there was blood under him, smeared on the stone.
She wanted to crawl to him and hold him tight.
She tried striking the rocks again.
The lizard cocked its head, watching.
She managed another tiny spark and gasped. But it petered out as well, and the bugs were getting very close now.
“No, dammit,” she cried.
The lizard moved closer and its skin turned red. Then it turned his head and opened his mouth.
Flames shot out.
Holy cow. She jerked backward and fell on her ass.
“Little guy, do that again.” She scrambled up. “On the oil.”
Like he knew exactly what she was saying, the lizard moved closer to the oil and let out a stream of flames.
The oil ignited.
Mouth dropping open, she watched as the fire ran along the channel and then through the fountains. The fountains turned into springs of cascading fire. The channels turned into a wall of flame, rising high, circling around her and Sabin.
Chapter Eighteen
Sabin stared at the flames then turned to look at Finley. She grabbed the small lizard, and held it to her face. It nuzzled her cheek.
“Thank you. Thank you!”
Through the flames, he saw the Kantos bugs had stopped, staring at them hungrily.
Sabin tried to focus. “Well done, Dr. Delgado.”
She dropped down beside him, her fingers brushing his cheek. “I had a little help.”
“I saw that.”
The lizard ran along her arm. She glanced at the flames and bit her lip. “I’m not sure the fire will hold them for long.”
He grunted. Nothing stopped the Kantos for long. He pulled in a breath, but it was hard. He was weak and it was hard to keep his eyes open.
“Sabin, no. Stay awake.” Her voice was laced with desperation. “Stay with me.”
He reached out and managed to grab her hand. “I love you, Finley. Everything about you.”
“I know you didn’t want to fall in love. That you were afraid.”
“I was so wrong. So scared.” He smiled. “Not anymore. You make me stronger, more centered.”
She lowered her head and pressed her mouth to his.
Then he grimaced.
“Sabin? God, there’s so much blood.”
“Finley, I’m going soon.” He felt it. His energy draining.
“No.” She shook her head. “No, no, no.”
The lizard ran along his arm, now a deep black color, like he’d picked up her sorrow.
She pressed her forehead to Sabin’s. “I don’t want to lose you.”
“Hurts.” His voice was losing strength.
She swallowed a cry. “I don’t want you hurting.”
All of a sudden, Sabin felt a flicker from his helian. He sucked in a breath.
“Sabin?” Her fingers tightened on him.
“I felt my helian.”
Her eyes widened and she looked down. “Oh, my God. The lizard is eating the goo on your helian band.”
Sabin turned his head and saw the little creature licking at his helian band, black around its mouth. It kept munching.
“God,” Finley breathed.
Sabin felt his helian breaking through, starting to take over. His body arched.
“Sabin?”
“My helian is…healing me.” But it hurt. His symbiont was pouring everything it had into healing his injuries. Energy filled him.
“Thank God.” Finley wiped her tears away and smiled.
“Help me up.”
With Finley’s help, Sabin rose. He was still shaky, and he knew it would take a while to heal all his wounds.
The lizard leaped on his shoulder. “Thanks, little guy.”
It squeaked and froze with its leg sticking out again.
Sabin turned his head and looked through the flames. He stiffened.
Kantos soldiers and bugs were pacing. Getting ready to attack.
“Finley, behind me.”
As they turned, he saw that there was an entire circle of Kantos surrounding them, just outside the flames.
Cren. It would be impossible to keep her safe.
Where the hell were Malax and Airen? He scanned the sky, but all he saw were the shadows of two moons, and no Rengard.
He commanded his helian to form his sword, and the long, black blade extended.
“Sabin, you’re in no condition to fight. You aren’t healed yet.”
He gripped her chin. “I don’t have a choice. The Kantos are about to attack.”
Fear flared, but she lifted her chin. “We’re not giving up.”
“We’re not giving up,” he echoed. “I can…”
“What?” She gripped his arm.
“I can let my senses free.”
She sucked in a breath. “What do you mean?”
“The full spectrum of my enhanced abilities will let me sense things quicker, move faster.”
“It’ll help you! Do it.”
A muscle ticked in his jaw. “But if I lose total control—”
“You won’t.” She rose up and kissed him. “You’re my strong, disciplined, honorable warrior.” She smiled. “I know you can do this.”
A hunting bug leaped through the fire.
Sabin stepped forward and threw the chains off his senses. He’d do anything to keep Finley safe.
Everything expanded—his eyesight, his smell, his hearing, his touch. Sensation and energy flooded his body.
The bug attacked and he knew exactly where it was aiming. He could read every move a fraction of a second before it happened. He slashed out with his sword. He kicked the bleeding bug back into the flames.
It screeched and struggled as it burned.
Another one leaped through. Then another.
Sabin fought, his senses open wide, his focus on nothing but the swing of his sword.
Then he heard Finley cry out.
He swiveled, his heart thumping.
Three bugs were advancing on her from the other side of the circle.
One jumped, and suddenly the lizard ran along her arm and opened its mouth. It breathed fire in the face of the bug.
The Kantos crashed to the ground, shaking its burning head.
Sabin slashed at a second bug. A third one leaped at Finley. They crashed to the ground, the bug on top of her.
“Finley!” Sabin growled.
He took two steps to help her when a soldier dove through the wall of fire. It attacked him and he whipped his sword up.
He saw Finley struggling to push the bug off her, its snapping mandibles getting closer and closer to her face.