But the door in Penn’s grip had already begun to swing open.
I caught the barest sliver of my father’s face. A bloodshot eye flared wide to see me, the emotion shimmering in its depth—relief and icy rage and anguish.
My hands reached forward, about to shove aside the shocked-faced servant and fling open the door. I wanted it to be between us,when—
Harsh fingers gripped my upper arms, biting my flesh and bruising my skin.
I was yanked back—
Swung upside down—
My stomach curved around a broad shoulder.
Gone, with only a single word drifting in the air, a name I so rarely used.“Papa!”
2
Nelle
Iscreamed and howled and struggled against the firm, broad hands that pinned me in place. The speed at which Graysen ran made my hair snap about like a pennant. The world gave way to nothing but snatches of blurred impressions. I was gone in a series of twists and turns, through hallways and open-spaced rooms, too fast to take any note…
Into a star-flecked night, the clattering sound of boots on cobble…
Swallowed up by darkness…
Around and around, we climbed a spiral staircase, up, up,up.
Abruptly, we slammed to a halt. I was suddenly upright, back on my feet, swaying drunkenly with streaks of grays and blacks whirling around me. Graysen’s hands were at my elbows, steadying my stance as my head slowly stopped spinning and a strange room came into focus.
I blinked rapidly, shying away from the harsh light flooding the space.
My father… My father…
I’d been stolen away before I could speak with him.
I hissed in rage and tried to pull myself free. With this magic tied around my neck separating my connection to the wyrm, I had no superior strength, and it was a shock to discover how feeble I’d become. My fight was pathetic, and it wasn’t I who freed myself. Graysen, staring with those dark, fathomless eyes, let me go as he stepped back.
My father’s here on the Crowther’s estate…
I flew for the door—twisted the handle, only to find it locked—thumped my fists on it. Kicked and shunted my shoulder into unforgiving wood. Nothing…Nothing!A great wave rose, a tsunami, black and muddied with hopelessness, crashed down and pummeled me into despair. I barely heard the desperate noises coming from my throat above the blood rushing in my ears and the pounding of my battered fists on wood.
I have to get out…get out…
Two large hands closed over my wrists. Warmth met my back. “Stop it. You’re only hurting yourself.”
It was only then that I realized my fingers throbbed and ached, and my knuckles were rubbed raw. But that pain was nothing compared to my heart.
And he was responsible!
I slammed my elbow into his gut. He grunted at the sharp contact. His hold loosened on my wrists, and I wrenched myself free, spinning around, only to pitch wildly into the door handle. Fiery pain sliced down my spine. A startled cry left my lips.
Graysen reached for me, and I slapped his hands away, darting past.
There had to be another way out.
Has to be!
I barely noted the room as I ran like a panicked mouse caught in a maze, scurrying about, flinging open doors, before I stumbled to a frantic halt, breathing hard, my hands shaking.
