And yet I can’t feel her. I can’t feel her, and the thought is burning through me.
“There’s a circle near the heart, but in another room,” Ferer says. “I was there with her. But it’s an exit circle.”
Azur says, “I can transcend anywhere, even to an exit circle.”
That doesn’t make sense. “Even if you don’t know where it is? If you’ve never been there?”
The blond fae looks at me. “You can see thoughts, right? And send thoughts, can’t you?”
“Yes. So?”
“Ferer can show you where the heart is, from his memory, then you show it to me, and we transcend.”
The idea sounds crazy, and then there’s another problem. “What if she’s not there?”
“We’ll keep looking,” Azur says.
The thought of trusting Azur fills me with dread, but it’s nothing compared to my worry for Astra.
Azur then glances at Lidiane. “Come with us. It’s not safe for you to be alone here.”
I frown, more than puzzled. “Not safe? What do you mean?”
“We’ll tell you after you get Astra,” Lidiane says. “It’s not urgent.” She turns to Azur. “And I can go to my house.”
He shakes his head. “No. Stay close. We don’t know if they can track you.” The fear and worry is clear in his voice, which makes me even more confused.
“Who?” I ask.
Lidiane waves a hand. “The Sea Court, but it’s a long story. Let’s get Astra first. I’ll come with you.”
I can’t imagine how anyone from that court would pass through Nymph territory and get here, but it’s true that right now I’m more worried about Astra.
Ferer extends his arm, and I touch it. The first thing I get is anger. So much anger. Anger at Azur, taking advantage of mylittle sister, deceiving her. Then I’m with Astra, surrounded by her light in a forest at night. Ghouls surround us. We walk to a strange, abandoned castle, with a stairway covered with vines. On top we pass by a room with glass on the floor, then head to another room with a transcending circle. I feel that circle calling me, connecting with other circles I know. A door leading to other doors.
I extend my other hand and nod to Azur, who touches it. Then I send him that image, that feeling about that circle, the sensation of being there, standing by it.
“Got it,” Azur says.
“Are you sure?” I ask.
“Yes,” he replies as he looks at Ferer, his expression troubled.
I wonder if some of Ferer’s hatred for him passed through the thought I sent him, even if I tried to avoid it.
Ferer then asks, “Can you get there without me?”
Azur closes his eyes. “I believe so.”
“Then I’ll stay with my sister.”
I sigh. “How did the Sea Court even get here?”
“Flying,” Lidiane says. “A carriage pulled by dark moths.”
That’s disturbing, as I recall what Ziven saw. “Zorwal had a carriage with dark creatures too. The Sea Court flew here?”
“The Queen and some of her guards,” Lidiane says. “I don’t think they’ll return right away.”
