Dominic groaned at Ace’s retort, cursing himself for letting his second get so close to him that Ace was comfortable speaking to him with such impertinence.
“I’m not leaving, Dominic, so either you open the door or I’m kicking it down,” Ace threatened.
“Fine, come in,” Dominic said. “What do you want?” He struggled to sit upright. His blood rushed even from such a minimal task. Dominic’s eyes stayed glued to the floor, head down, as he fought a wave of nausea.
Ace stepped into the room, settling into the chair next to Dominic’s desk. The wood creaked beneath his weight. “The boy survived. A bit maimed, but alive,” he said solemnly. “His name is Evreux.”
“I know,” Dominic snapped.
Ace shot him a quizzical look.
“Adara found him on the ship and kept it secret.” Between her hiding a stowaway who was a potential threat to them all and her lies about the relics, it took every ounce of will inside Dominic to keep from gutting her.
“Is that why I found you two trying to kill each other yesterday?” Ace asked.
“No, but that only adds to the list of reasons why Ishouldkill her,” Dominic grumbled.
“Then what was it?”
Dominic put his head in his hands, fingers attempting to rub out the ache in his temples. “She lied,” he explained bitterly. “She said she knew where to find the dragon scale and shadow steel, but claims it’s in Blemythia.”
Ace’s brows drew together in confusion. “Where’s that?”
“Exactly,” Dominic replied. “As far as everyone but her knows,it doesn’t exist.” He ran a hand through his hair, sighing in defeat. “She said that there must have been some spell or something to cloak it from the world and shield it from memory.”
“Do you believe that?”
No.Dominic opened his mouth to speak, but the words stuck in his throat. With part of his own memories gone, he began doubting himself. Perhaps the disappearance of Adara’s home was yet another puzzle piece missing from his memories. Dominic slouched forward, resting his elbows on his knees. “I don’t know,” he muttered, defeated. “But why else would she need the Realm Fracturer if her homehadn’tdisappeared?”
“Yet how are you supposed to use the Realm Fracturer if you can’t get to the relics needed to make it?” Ace asked.
Dominic’s hands slammed on his knees as he stood. “I don’t know!”
Ace startled at his sudden outburst. Dominic paced the room, fingers pressed to his temples, trying to suppress all the ruminating thoughts deep within, but they pounded relentlessly against his skull. His entire body felt weak, shaky, and he took a seat at the edge of his bed. Air came in ragged, trembling breaths as he attempted to sort through all he knew.
“I need you to tell me everything I erased from my memories,” Dominic asked. If there was anyone who might know, anyone who could help him remember, it would be his second.
Ace’s eyes flared wide for a brief moment. He bit his lip, brows knitted together, and shook his head in defiance. “You were gone for a long time. Longer than usual. You know how it is here,” he said. “It was hard to keep track. It could have been years.”
Dominic subconsciously leaned forward, waiting for him to go on. His elbows rested on his knees, hands clenched together. His second only paused and averted his eyes, fingers twitching against his arms crossed over his chest.
“Why?” Dominic urged.
Ace shook his head. “I’m not sure,” he admitted, brown eyes focused on his feet. “You didn’t tell anyone where you were going, why you were leaving, or when you’d come back.” Apause, filled with the hurt that came with uncertainty. “A few others started to think you completely abandoned us.”
Dominic scoffed. He’d never do that. This was his island, hishome.
“I know as much as you do,” Ace said with an apology written across his face.
A weight settled upon Dominic, making his muscles go taut. His mouth drew into a thin line. He muttered a curse, standing to pace the room again, fingers curling into fists at his side. If Ace didn’t know anything, Dominic was lost. He didn’t know if there was any way to retrieve his memories. Any way to know for sure what past he shared with Adara. He cursed again, shouting this time and slamming his fist on the desk. Wood charred and splintered as lightning zapped at his fingertips.
Ace looked at him—truly looked at him—as if seeing Dominic for the first time. As if seeing the raging storm in his mind, the hollow ache in his chest. His eyes filled with sympathy or pity, Dominic wasn’t sure, but he sure as Hel wanted to punch the expression right off Ace.
“But Dominic, you should know this,” Ace started softly, as if treading lightly around a rabid animal. “You shouldn’t try to get your memories back.”
Dominic opened his mouth to object.
“It won’t do you any good. You’re better off without them.” Ace spoke with strength and authority that no one else had ever dared use toward Dominic. “I don’t know what happened when you left, but you came back completely destroyed. You locked yourself in this room, not allowing anyone in, never uttering a word. Hel, you wouldn’t even move to eat or drink.”
