He gave me a wry smile. “You should taste it before you thank me.”
I chuckled; it was such a Tarrin answer.
Taking a tentative bite, surprise washed over me as the deep, rich flavors swam across my taste buds. “You found rosemary and sage?” I asked in disbelief.
An arrogant smile tugged at his mouth. “I did.”
“It’s delicious, Tarrin, thank you. Thank you for everything.”
A shadow fell over him, chasing away the humor, but he stayed quiet as he placed the other rabbit on a similar bark plank and sat down on the chair adjacent to me.
Eating was slow, my protesting from the slightest movement, but every satisfying bite that staved off the hunger was worth it.
“Hey!” I said, realizing something.
Wary amusement danced across Tarrin’s face. “What?”
“At least I didn’t vomit this time…so that’s a win.”
He broke into laughter, almost choking on his food. “I think we need to work on your definition ofa win.” His words mirrored the same sentiment he’d made when I’d shattered the windows.
“But…I didn’t vomitorpass out. And I’m able to eat. I’d say that means I got out of this relatively unscathed.”
“Is this how you cope with your life?” His tone was serious. “You need a better baseline, Ny.”
“Well, I don’t see that happening anytime soon. Do you?”
“No. But, you bleeding from the nose, coughing up blood, being unable to move on your own, and looking like you were someone’s punching bag—that can’t be okay.”
I looked down at my hands. “I know.”
“What did he say?” Tarrin asked, his tone cold, but not toward me.
“What do you mean?”
“When you threw your body on top of me, you knew what was coming. What was his command? What spell did he cast?” I looked at him, about to feign ignorance. “I know you heard it, and the look on your face…you were ready to die. Please, Ny, what did he say?”
I didn’t know what the word Thaddeus had said meant, but I had felt the malice in the power that had prowled toward us. I swallowed. “Estania,” I repeated, and another bolt of pain ripped through my body, pulling a scream from me.
Tarrin was there instantly, stopping me from falling into the fire.
“Fuck,” he cursed under his breath.
Breathless, I managed to say, “Agreed.”
My body calmed and Tarrin sat back down. Once I caught my breath, I asked, “What does it mean?”
His eyes narrowed as he continued to stare down the fire. “Directly translated, it meansbe gone. As a spell”—he breathed in deeply—“it calls for the soul to be ripped from the body, cleaved apart, as to be taken from this life.” His voice didn’t betray his emotions.
I was too wrung out to feel the shock I knew should have hit me.
“How did you stop it?” There had been silence between us for so long that his words startled me.
“I didn’t—or, not intentionally, anyway.” My thoughts traveled back to that moment in the dome.
“I don’t think I can be hurt by my own power,” I said, and Tarrin’s eyes widened. “Yes, Thadde—” I choked on the word—his name—fear rushing through me. Tarrin marked it, his eyes dimming at what I’d revealed. I tried again. “It was someone else’s spell, but it was my power. Like he tried to use lightning to electrocute the clouds; it’s not possible.”
As an afterthought, I added, “You stopped him, you know. He was about to take every drop of my power and force it to bend to him. He knew it too. His blind fury toward you… I’ve never felt anything like that.”
