“Oh, and where do you suppose you’ll go?” he challenges.
“To Hyrax. To the portal.”
“You’ll never make it. It’s too far, and you heard what they said in the hall. Something came over, left two Guardians dead, and shredded the other’s mind. You have no idea how hard that is to do. They are death machines built to stop anyone who tries to cross into this world. There is something out there, something bad.”
“But that’s why I have you, isn’t it? My blood-bound protector?”I quip and pull the shift over my head. I don’t pause to see if he’s looking. I really don’t care.
“No. It’s too dangerous. Let’s just take a second and talk about this.”
“You said you want what’s best for me—you want my happiness,” I point out as I brush past him in nothing but undergarments and yank open the top drawer to fish out the clothes I came here with.
“I do, but?—”
“This is what I want. I want to go home. That is literally the only thing that will make me happy.”
“No, it’s not, and you know it,” he pleads, sitting on the bed and staring up at me beseechingly. “Don’t tell me you aren’t the least bit curious about all this. You can lie to me all you want, but at least be honest with yourself before you do something rash.”
“The only rash thing would be staying here and seeing what’s in store for me,” I snap, angrily shoving my leg through my jeans.
“What of the king?” he presses.
“Of course, I want to know him.” I whirl on Zadyn, half-dressed. “How could I not? I want to understand why he looks like my dad. I want to be close to him no matter who he is, but I don’t belong here. This place is cruel. This world is cruel. I’d rather be alone in my world than here with the people I love looking at me like nothing more than a piece of gum on their shoes.” My voice cracks as tears threaten to overtake me. I shake them away and tug my jeans over my hips.
I can feel Zadyn’s gaze burning into me.
“This is about the captain. You’re letting him drive you away.”
“It’s about all of it, all of them!” I say more defensively than I intend.
“Just give me one more day. One more day to make sure they won’t risk your life, and then I’ll go before the king. I will make him listen. We can’t make it to Hyrax. It’s too far on foot.” He runs his hands through his smooth hair.
“So we steal a horse.” I shrug as if it’s the simplest solution in the world when, in reality, I’ve never even ridden solo.
“It’s a five-day journey from here without stopping. The second they notice you’re gone, they’ll have patrols out to drag you right back. And you heard the captain. They’re riding out to Hyrax tonight.”
“If we leave now, we can beat them there. This is my best shot to go home,” I point out.
“You don’t know how to use a portal, Serena. It’s not that straightforward. Shadow smoke is one thing, but the portal…traveling between worlds is dangerous. There are too many spaces in between. It’s too easy to fall through the cracks and be lost forever. The force alone can tear you apart from the inside out.”
I recall the feeling of being ripped open when I was transported here. That searing pain is unforgettable.
“If you’re really that desperate to leave, then we need to find another way.”
“I can’t stay here another minute. I have to try.” I shove my head through the neck of my T-shirt and sit on the bed beside him to slip my sneakers on. Zadyn says nothing for a long time.
“Are you going to try to stop me?” I ask.
His eyes meet mine, and there is anguish in them. He’s torn.
“If I did, I doubt you’d listen. As much as I’d love to talk some sense into you, your mind is made up. I won’t force you to stay if that isn’t what you want. Even if this plan is the most idiotic and ill-advised I’ve ever heard.”
I sigh and run my hands over my face, thinking of Jack’s expression as he stalked away.
“He won’t even acknowledge that I need to see the king, that I need to talk to him,” I say, shaking my head. “I can’t. I can’t do it. Are you coming, or am I doing this alone?”
“No,” he says, taking my hand. “Never alone.”
10
