Hot tears run down my cheeks as I watch him struggle with his secret.
His fear.
Histruth.
Now I understand why he’s so guarded and angry—not only because of the past Algar told me about, but this, too. Now I understand why he wants to increase the power of his magic. Did his brother die because he became a shadow assassin? Or did he become a shadow assassin because of his brother’s death? How was it his fault?
So many questions run through my head, but they slip away as Frevella squeezes my shoulder and says, “Speak, girl.”
I can only stare at Thane, whose eyes open to focus on mine. “My greatest fear is…” I bite my lip. It seems cruel to say “losing my sister” after Thane’s retelling of his own brother’s death, but whatever spell she has us under compels me to speak. I decide to start from the beginning.
“I still have nightmares about my last day in Ember Coast,” I confess. “I’m a native. I loved it there and was so happy, but then the Ruvain attack happened.”
Frevella’s grip on my shoulder relaxes.
“I…I remember the explosions. The raids. Thescreams. Some of my friends’ bodies on the streets…dead. There were fires everywhere, and I was so scared.” My voice breaks as Thane’s eyes soften at the corners. “I still remember the desperation in my father’s eyes and the fear in my mother’s before Analla and I were hauled away to safety by soldiers from Meriva. The attack had gone on for four days before they found us.
“We’d been hiding in a fortified building, and we were lucky because not many of us made it there. But when we were taken, my parents insisted on staying behind to help. My father was a doctor and my mother a nurse, so it was in their nature to take care of others. Meriva won and drove out the Ruvainers, but…I never saw my parents again after we were removed from the coast. My sister and I saw so many of our friends reunited with their parents, but it never happened for us. Instead, we were sent to a refugee center for orphaned children in Meriva.”
I drop my chin as hot tears slide down my cheeks. “I know you think it’s reckless, Frevella, that we’re going to Elphar’s temple, but this journey is important to me. I’m doing it because I hadeverythingripped away from me before, and I couldn’t do a damn thing about it. Now my sister will be taken away from me, too, if I don’t act. She’s the only family I have left, and the truth is…” I fight through the emotions clogging my throat. “Well, the truth is I’mafraidto be alone. Without her, I’m afraid loneliness will swallow me whole. I hardly even have friends,” I say with a humorless laugh. “I have no one else. Ineedher, and I don’t care what I have to do to get her back. You ask what my greatest fear is? My greatest fear is not being able to save her. It’s knowing that if I fail, there will be no one else left in this world who loves me back.”
The cave drowns in a deafening silence.
Frevella releases our shoulders, and the shock coursing through my bones melts away. I draw in a full breath before exhaling, trying to calm myself. I can feel Thane’s heavy gaze on me, curious, lingering. I’m sure he has a million questions just like I have for him, but I’ve revealed enough for one day. I’m too ashamed to look at him right now.
Talking about Ember Coast, about my parents, about my past…it’s always been too much for me to bear. In the beginning, the mere thought of it made me curl over and weep. Each year, it becomes a little easier, but I still have moments where crying is the only way to cope with my reality.
I can’t do that here, so I clear my throat and shove away my frustrations.
“Can we have the sphere now?” I ask in a softer voice.
Frevella angles her chin higher. “The sphere is yours.”
Chapter 30
“My Kelvanite Sphere will detect traps and assist you in avoiding all dangers.” Frevella places a pale-blue glass ball in the palm of my hand. “When you wish to activate it, you simply rub it four times and saydrusako.Drusakomeans—”
“To guide,” Thane fills in.
Frevella’s snake turns its eyes to Thane. “You know Thelasian?”
“I’ve studied it,” he answers, as if it’s no big deal. But itisa big deal. Not many people know our originating language.
“Hmm.” Frevella taps her chin. “You’re smarter than you look, boy.”
Based on his frown, Thane doesn’t take her remark as a compliment.
“When you say the proper word, the sphere will spark with an arrow. If it’s green, it means you are in a safe area,” Frevella continues. “But if it sparks red, it means danger is nearby, or you’re alreadyindanger.”
“Sounds easy enough.” I weigh the sphere in my hands—it’s light.
“There is something you should know,” Frevella adds, a finger rising in the air. “All creations, no matter how powerful, have their limits. The Kelvanite Sphere will burn out. Its power usually only lasts about an hour.”
I blink at her. “Only an hour?” I look at Thane, who shifts on his feet. “That’s not enough time to make it through the whole island, is it?”
“No, it isn’t,” he mutters.
“Can you add more power to it?” I ask Frevella.
