Tired of Galen leaving.
“Tired of…” I run my hands through my hair, attempting to tame the curly locks. “I’m tired of everything.” I sigh, slouching against the settee. “The people are at unrest. The Guilds have shut me out?—”
“I just got word this morning that the Jade Guild will attend the Autumn Moon. I can’t imagine the other’s responses will be much longer now.” Crossing his arms, his mouth tips upward at the sides. Clearly proud of this information and turn of events he decided to withhold from me.
“How? We haven’t sent invitations.”
Galen shrugs. “I sent a page the day I returned to Valebridge. I’m not sure what’s changed, but it’s an opportunity we can’t pass up. This is our chance to win them over. Force them to see the good we’re doing by ridding Valebridge of Enchantressesand putting the magick into ourownhands. With the Guilds on our side, it’ll be easy to convince Scandavi and Hofin. Their soldiers have been restless, not to mention the people of Valebridge have been questioning more and more.”
My jaw clenches. Of course he’s right. Valebridge has been anything but united the last few years and the violent outbursts and frustrations against us,me, have been more notable. I can hardly pass through the courtyard without some profanity shouted my way.
“If we are backed by them,” Galen continues, “the rest of the country will have no choice but to aid in our favor.Wecontrol our fates, remember?”
It’s me who finally raises my voice this time. “How can you be so indifferent about the lives and people we are hurting?”
Galen flinches, his eyes widening slightly.
He studies me long enough for the silence to thicken between us, and that nagging self doubt to sprout up again in my stomach.
When I’m about to apologize for raising my voice he lets out a long breath. “I am indifferent, Roman”—I flinch at the use of my full name, it sounds so formal coming from his mouth—“becauseno onewas ever there to save us. We saved ourselves from the hands of our fathers and ignorance of our mothers.” He cups my face in both of his palms.
“So why should I waste my life saving anyone else?”
Five
Elora
A sharp painpierces my abdomen so I curl onto my side, hoping the pressure will give me a sense of fullness. Since the last failed attempt to harvest my magick, the meals sent to me have been more and more sparse. I have no doubt this is intentional. Galen is doing his best to whittle me down to nothing so that I’m more cooperative for harvesting.
It infuriates me that it’s working.
I have never felt more weak, even in my darkest days after my mother died. And with her voice gone from my head, the tether I’ve become reliant on, it feels as though there’s nothing keeping me afloat.
This is it.This is the moment I break.
My head spins, so I close my eyes, pushing against my stomach as tightly as I can. My consciousness drifts in and out, images taking hold in the otherwise dark corners of my cell that make me less and less certain what is real and what is inside my head.
I don’t fight my body this time and let sleep take over. My dizziness subsides as I close my eyes and drift to sleep.
There’s nothing before me but inky black.
“I’m here with you,” a voice whispers against the back of my neck.
Spinning around, I stretch my hand out. “Sorin?”
I reach and I reach, but I can’t find him.
“I’ve missed you, love.” His voice ghosts across my skin. His fingers are feather-light against my jaw and even in the impermeable dark, his touch is familiar and comforting. “When this is all over, I promise we’ll go away. Just you and me. Somewhere quiet, just like you like.” His lips find mine, and my knees go slack. “But right now, you need to do this.”
“Do what?” I ask, savoring the warmth of his body next to mine, even if I can’t see it.
“I have to go.” He kisses the back of my hand before slipping away from my reach. “I’ll see you after.”
“Wait.” I grapple for his shirt, anything to grab onto but my hands swat around nothing but the darkness. “Don’t leave.” I rub my eyes, trying desperately to see but it’s no use. “What do I need to do?”
I bolt awake, sweat settling on the back of my neck and upper lip. My lungs push against my chest, my hands trembling at my sides.
I rub my chest until my heart slows to a healthier rhythm, taking a few deep breaths. “Just a dream.”
