If you remove the oxygen, he’ll die within minutes.
I breathed out slowly. Even in our minds, Wyatt sounded shattered.
Can he speak?
No,Wyatt answered.He can’t do anything on his own. These machines do everything for him. Fuck, Rafe. He’s old as sin.
Can you tell how old?
No.
I nodded, then whispered to the old man. “If you can hear me, blink twice quickly.”
The old man blinked twice quickly.
“May I speak into your mind? You can speak with the two of us that way.”
The old man blinked several times in a row, his eyes desperately darting between me and Wyatt.
Thank you,I said.Who are you?
My name is Albert. How old are you?
Wyatt and I shared a look. That wasn’t the question I’d expected, but okay.
I’m twenty-eight,I replied.
Albert appeared relieved.I cannot fathom I’ve only been here thirteen years, it’s felt like a lifetime. But I will not complain. Thank you for coming for me, Rogelio. I knew my future king wouldn’t leave me here to die.
Wyatt turned to stone next to me.
My stomach felt as if it’d dropped out of my body and through the floor.
Rogelio was my grandfather.
This man thought I was my grandfather.
It was on the tip of my tongue to tell him how wrong he was, but Wyatt grabbed my shoulder.
You’ll give him a heart attack,Wyatt hissed, following my train of thought.
How old is he?I breathed.Wyatt, how is he alive–
I don’t know, but–
My king?Albert asked shakily.You are…youarethe king?
I took a deep breath.
My name is Rafael. Rogelio III was my grandfather. He died last year. His daughter, my mother, succeeds him. Her name is Ramira.
Albert looked as if his brain short-circuited. He froze, his eyes going far away as if his lucidity was leaving him.
Albert,I said urgently.Please tell me who put you here. Tell me everything you remember.
Albert took a sudden, gasping breath, and Wyatt shouldered me out of the way, then grabbed Albert’s shoulders. I could feel the warmth of Wyatt’s healing affinity flaring hot from beside me, but nothing happened. Albert continued gasping desperately, his hands twitching like they’d be flailing if they weren’t so weak.
More,Albert wheezed even in his mind.There’s more…
