Charlene gasped. Isabelle wrapped her arms around Carlos. Another man came over. Everyone started asking questions. Why hadn’t Carlos told anyone? How long had he known he had a sister? What happened to her? Did I know how to find her?
“She died,” Carlos said. “I felt her link disappear just after we left New York.”
“Link?” Sam said. “You’re not an Elder. Links only happen with Mated pairs and Elders.”
“And twins,” Winifred said, her voice soft and filled with pain.
As much as I truly felt sorry for Carlos and Sophia, I knew more grief would come to all of us if we didn’t hurry.
“Perhaps we can discuss this inside?” I said.
“Yes,” Winifred agreed.
Michelle started handing out keys.
“Everyone should meet in our room,” Charlene said, her hand on Carlos’s arm. “I’ll order all of us something to eat since we missed dinner.”
That statement almost made me cringe. Not because I wasn’t hungry—the snack bar Winifred had given me was long since digested—but because every minute we wasted meant more suffering. How long had it been since Blake called Frank back into his office? Two days and seven hours? A little more maybe. I purposely tried not to think about it or what would happen when my time was up.
“Could I speak to the Judgements alone, first?” I asked.
The Others showed how Winifred and Charlene exchanged looks.
“Why do we have to go through this every time?” Bethi said irritably. “Talking to people alone shouldn’t be this big of a deal. Yes, Olivia. We’ll all talk privately.”
Bethi moved to my side and took my arm. She also plucked something from Winifred’s hand.
“What?” she said. “I just spent the last two hours being burned and skinned alive. Are you going to do something worse? If not, let’s just get our shit done.”
Although I appreciated her sentiment, her angry tone worried me. Luke, too, apparently.
“Bethi, luv—”
“Don’t worry about it,” Isabelle said. “Come here you little crack head. Time for your next fix.”
Bethi immediately released me and walked to Isabelle. The woman put a hand on Bethi’s arm. A moment later, Bethi sighed.
“Thanks. I needed that.”
“I could tell,” Isabelle said. “Let’s go inside and hurry up this talk so Carlos and I can spar.”
Isabelle nudged Bethi forward. I carefully followed, relieved when Charlene once again looped her arm through mine.
“Thank you,” I said.
“I don’t want you to fall.”
We made our way down the hallway, and Bethi opened a door, stepping aside so we could enter. Winifred continued walking down the hall with the rest of the group.
“You know they’ll still hear us, right?” Bethi said, closing the door.
Charlene led me to the bed and sat beside me. Bethi sprawled out on the opposite mattress. Gabby and Michelle sat on the edge of the other bed, facing me and Charlene. Isabelle paced near the door.
“Yes,” I said, acknowledging Bethi. “It’s not that I don’t want them to hear. I don’t want them to distract us.”
“From what?” Gabby asked.
“From deciding. I don’t think the Lady will share how to complete the Judgement until we know which race we’re going to Judge in favor of. And we need to complete the Judgement as quickly as possible. We’re running out of time.”
