“What? Just saying.” She grins. “If we’re all done being dramatic, can we go before the next round of bastards show up?”
Therion claps a hand on my shoulder, steadying me. “We need to move, brother. Now. We need to get into The Wastes before anyone else comes looking for...her.”
His eyes flick toward Elyssara.
She’s standing apart from the others, shoulders stiff, hands clenched at her sides. Tortured. Confused.
I fall back from the others, slowing my pace to match hers, giving myself a reprieve.
“So now it’s you saving me, Duskae.” I try to keep it light, give her something to hold onto. “I think I’d make a decent damsel in distress, don’t you?”
I brush my fingers along hers, just once. A grounding tether. She doesn’t pull away.
She doesn’t blink.
“What... was that?” Her voice is low, almost raw.
I don’t have to ask what she means. I know. Because I felt her, too.
Her panic for me. Her darkness.
I exhale. “I... don’t exactly know.”
Her eyes flick to mine—silver-rimmed, bright with emotion she doesn’t quite let fall.
“I felt you,” she whispers. “And I think... I’ve been feeling it for a while.”
I swallow hard.
“I know.” My voice drops to something quieter. “I feel you, too.” And I think it’s only getting stronger.
CHAPTER FIFTY-EIGHT
ELYSSARA
The tunnel stretches endlessly,plunging deeper into the earth’s crust, swallowing sound, light, and life as it goes.
Kael’s breathing is labored, rasps and wheezes escape him, alongside his scuffing feet and skin slick with sweat—evidently still holding the cloak in place over Aura and Nyx. I could tell him to drop the cloak. But I already know—Kael would rather die than risk exposing us.Stubborn bastard.
“I’ll be right back,” I throw over my shoulder to Kael as I run to catch up to Seren, who’s still brandishing her crossbow and looks as if she might squash it to death.
“I need to talk to you,” I say, and by the erratic jump she answers with, Seren did not hear me coming.
“Of course, of course,” she says, flustered. “What about exactly? Are you okay?”
“I’m... confused,” I say, brows knitting together. “I... can feel him.”
“What do you mean ‘feel him’? Like emotionally or...” she trails off.
“Here,” I say, tapping my chest. “And I know this sounds absolutely insane, but I think... I heard his thoughts.”
Seren’s composure shatters—her face turns ghostly pale, and she grips the crossbow like it might keep her upright. “When? How?” she says with intense scrutiny.
Well, if I knew that, I wouldn’t be fucking asking.
“I—”
But before I can continue, Therion halts, holding his hand up to stop the group. Kael doubles over, taking respite with his hands on his knees, and Merrik and Jax automatically take up fighting stances.
