“If I get in, we won’t be able to get out. It’s not going to open from the inside either. There has got to be a key somewhere.”
Nyx sent Jaxus to look while he and Kol kept working on the door.
“What magic is he talking about?” Nyx asked, but I didn't get to answer before Faolan called out again.
“What if you can take me with you?” His voice was barely audible. How much had Arkyn tortured him already? I wanted to kill Arkyn with my bare hands.
“We don’t know that it will work, and even if it did, I don't think I have enough reserves for both of us. I’ve already pulled Nova with me once tonight.”
“If I could get these shackles off, I’d give you power. They’re blocking my magic.”
“Would you have any left to give?” I asked.
No one asked or questioned us. I’m sure we’d have a lot of explaining to do later, but right now, all my focus was on Faolan.
“We’ll figure it out,”he said, sounding desperate.
Jaxus sprinted into view. “No keys, but the alarm has been raised. There are more guards headed this way. We have to get him out now.”
We were out of time.
“What if I can’t bring you with me?” I asked through the door, fighting the fear that crept like ice through my veins.
“Then at least I get to hold you one last time.”
“Don’t you start that!” I couldn’t handle it.
“Then have them work on breaking down the door while you get in here. You have three dragons with you—use them!”
“Okay, fair point. I can’t believe I have to do this blind again.” I closed my eyes. “Stand back. I’ve never been in that room, and I don’t want to end up inside you…and not in the fun way.”
“Only if you promise I can get inside you later,” he said through a croak.
I sighed. “Only a male would make a sex joke when it sounds like he can barely stand. Will you get in the damned corner?”
“I’m already there.”
I drew into myself, starting the process while shouting sounded from somewhere nearby.
FORTY-THREE
FAOLAN
Caly came into being before my eyes, and I still couldn't believe it was real. She’d come. And if nothing else, I would get to hold her again before Arkyn finished me off.
“Are you okay?” she rushed to me. “What has he done to you?” She searched me for injuries, but they were all inside. The supposedly small dose of Dragon's Bane I’d been given was still enough to make me wish for death. It had left me weak and cut off from all that I was. It was slowly coming back, but I was in no doubt there would be more coming if I couldn’t get out of this cell.
“I’m fine, just weak and chained. Can you free me?”
She inspected the shackles behind my back. “Not without a key.”
“Fuck.”
“What are we going to do?” She sounded like she was losing hope, and I couldn’t have that.
“Look at me,” I commanded.
She met my eyes.
