But now, with each mile we ride, the sun beats down harder onto my skin, making me sweat rivulets.
We’re leaving Sorrel behind, too, the ground changing gradually from the soggy hills to solely red dirt and eventually sand. My head turns side to side, taking it all in –the boring, bland,hotterrain…Shit, I’ve become someone who has nothing better to do than describe the terrain that surrounds her.
“Are you ever going to speak with me, Eveera?”No.I snap inside my head. The withering look I give him should be enough, but unfortunately, it does little to deter him. “You have nothing to say? Really, you?” He tries again.
I have plenty to say. They just don’t have as much of an effect without my tendrils.My conscience chimes in before I settle on a simple, “fuck you.”
I see his eyes roll from my peripheral vision. “Yes, you’ve said that already…” he replies, adding, “many times,” quietly.
“Well then, why do you keep probing me for conversation? Besides, I was under the impression you’ve grown tired of hearing me talk. Considering most often, you use your Wield on me so that to any onlookers – I’m mute.” His posture stiffens next to me as he adjusts his hold on the reins of the horse guiding us.
“I’m doing this for you… to keep you safe.” He mumbles under his breath.
“Yes, you’ve said,” I answer coldly, using the same words he did only moments ago. The two of us resume our uncomfortable silence, allowing the sound of clomping hooves against the sand to be the only thing hitting our ears.
My mind spins as I envision what his life could have looked like before he was employed by me.Clearly, it must have involved a lot of traveling through other kingdoms, because how the hell else would he know where to go? Unless he has been planning this since Rorin came to court.I muse.
I’ll admit I wasn’t very up to speed on what he was doing behind closed doors. I was more concerned with a certain princeling.
A certain princeling who – for all I know – is probably dead by now.
“Open your mouth,” Ezra demands, gripping my chin tightly. I jerk my head back and forth, making it difficult for him to keep hold of me without spilling the tonic in his hand. “Eveera.” He grunts the frustration prevalent in his voice. Roughly, his thumb pulls down my bottom lip, and he jams the opening of the bottle between them, pushing my head back. “Swallow.”
My mouth purses as I push the liquid up against the back of my teeth with my tongue. He reads my face and quickly clamps a hand over my mouth before I can spit the liquid back at him, the angle causing it to slide down my throat. My protests are sliding down with it.
Keeping his hand clamped on my face, he forces me to look at him. It’s in moments like these that I wish more than ever for my Wield. How easy it would be to spear my tendrils through those damned eye sockets.
Ezra’s face contorts as he concentrates, my tongue grows heavy, and I know he’s commanded the magic to glamour over my voice. He’s already Wielded over my appearance, but as the city began to crest over the horizon, it was time to render me completely useless.
With a few more miles, the city comes fully into view, and if my voice weren’t already stolen, it would be now.
It’s unlike anything I’ve ever seen. There are hundreds of metal buildings clustered together; their patchwork of rusted copper and gray metal is a stark contrast to Obsidian’s more vintage and traditional architecture.
A city that Vada could melt.My conscience muses as I take in the odd structures.Yeah, if she knew where the fuck I was.I remind myself, suppressing the rush of loss and desperation. Our bond is as quiet and empty as the seal between Rorin and me.
I could almost deal with the sudden disappearance of him from my head – buther?I nearly went insane during mytime in Vellar without her judgmental voice. This silence makes that experience seem like no big deal, especially because it was her choice.Selfish beast, keeping quiet while watching and following me the whole time.
But this time… this time I don’t think it’s just her stubborn attitude keeping the bond quiet. I think it’s these fucking tonics.
Somehow, Ezra has become in complete control of everything. More control than I would ever let him be in under normal circumstances.
He holds the key not only to me being able to Wield, but to the magic that tethers Vada and me together.Which means, I’ll be stuck in this strange city for gods know how long, and there’s not a single damn thing I can do because not a single soul will be able to find me.
Rorin
I’ve done it now.
Will’s face has turned so red it’s nearly purple, and even though his mouth is open and words are coming out of it, I can’t hear a fucking thing over the roaring inside my head.
Bennett is still as a rock. His body frozen in place as Will tugs him back from the mess I’ve created. I feel a pull on the crease of my elbow as someone pulls me away, also, dragging me out into the night.
By morning, this place will be crawling with people. Word will have spread. As will the fear. Unfortunately, this isn’t something that can just be explained away.
“You’ve gone too far this time.” I hear someone cursing.
Control. What happened to your control?My conscience snaps.“An omen if there ever was one – cleanse, cleanse, cleanse.”
My nails scratch at my ears, anything to make these voices stop. Mine –his.
