I try to stifle my gasp. The burning is beyond any I’ve ever felt. My own power rises to counteract Roman’s, instinctively fighting back, because I’m not sure I’m going to survive this interaction.
Roman’s jaw is clenched and his shoulders are rigid. “The door has moved,” he says. “But it’s changing all the time. Switching places. You’ll need to move fast.”
I’m nodding. “Tell me where it is.”
I wait a beat for him to lift his hand, and then another, while the pulsing under my palm hits a nine on the scale of one to ten that I can handle. If it increases even a tiny bit more, I’m going to be in a world of hurt.
“Roman,” I choke out. “I can’t… I need you to stop.”
His eyes snap open and I’m staring into black voids, not an iota of warmth inside his eyes. “I feel your father’s energy.”
I blink at him. “My father’s? In the prison?”
What in the…?
Roman lifts his hand, pulling us both away from the surface before drawing my burning palm to his lips. Still holding my hand, he strikes a rune on his wrist, sending soothing magic across my skin, cooling it immediately.
I sigh with relief, leaning into him, but the need for answers burns within me. “Has my father been trapped in the prison all along?” I ask. “You wouldn’t have found him because you never interact with this place!”
“I sensed his energy just now,” Roman says, his forehead creased in thought. “But not strongly enough to mean he’s physically present here.”
“How is this possible?” I try to reason through it. “Did my father put some of his energy into the prison like he put his power into that stone Koda stole?”
Roman shakes his head in thought. “I can’t explain it, but this felt… different to that. Jareth isn’t in the prison, I’m certain of it, but his energy wouldn’t be here for no reason.”
I haven’t forgotten Roman’s warning that the door is shifting, and I need to know where it is before we lose it again. Right now, my questions about my father will have to wait.
“Where did you sense the door?” I ask, refocusing on getting to my sisters.
“All the way around the side. That way,” he says, pointing to the narrow pathway along the side of the prison, but even as he speaks, the building changes shape again. With soft, swishing sounds, the walls grow taller and the shape molds itself to new angles and curves. The pentagon wings disappear and pyramid shapes form at intervals along the top of the building.
Dammit!
My fingers brush over the rune behind my ear, and I wish I could hear my sisters’ voices. Being with Roman has dulled the impact of our separation, but now it’s hitting me hard.
I jolt to a stop as the door flashes open at the corner of the building. Right in front of me.
Roman, too, seems stunned. “It moved to where you are.”
I’m not sure why it would do that, but I can’t take this chance for granted. “I’m guessing you still can’t come inside with me?”
“I’ve already taken a risk touching its wall,” he replies. “Be careful, Nova. The prison is more volatile than it’s ever been.”
“I have to make sure my sisters are safe,” I say, quickly taking a step inside, worried that the door will disappear again.
My wolves dart inside with me, their hackles up, and they growl into the silence.
Roman doesn’t try to stop me, but his tension is palpable. “Keep your wolves close—”
The door shuts, his voice cuts off, and I’m suddenly enclosed with no way out until the prison decides to release me.
CHAPTERTHIRTY-TWO
Ifind myself in the same shiny silver entrance room as the last time I was in the prison, but the structure is different. It was square before; now it’s long and narrow—and much darker.
The energy flowing around me snaps at my body like bites of electricity, making the hairs on my arms stand on end. Tingles race across my spine and my heart feels…heavy. As if the energy is low and desolate, but at the same time, somehow angry.
I try to shake it off as Temple presses into my side, her presence comforting as I brush my hand through her fur.
