“Those aren’t ordinary dreams.”
I stare at his hands as I continue slowly backing away, so focused on them that I trip over my own feet. My arms windmill wildly as the ceiling comes into view. I’m falling backward, and then Kilkenny hashis arms around my waist, setting me upright again. I squirm to get free of his grip.
“Stop fighting me, Garrick,” he says into my mind.
I shudder. “Stop that!” My hands move sharply.
“Then stop fighting me!” he motions, just as sharp.
His words are so casual that I want to send my fist flying at his face again. I clench my hands at my side.
“Give me just one minute.” He starts urgently searching his pockets and pulls something from one of them at last. He takes my hand, places the small item in my palm, and closes my fingers over it.
I search Kilkenny’s face, but he’s as stoic as ever. “Put it on.”
I open my hand to a leather band with…
My gaze snaps up to Kilkenny’s. “How did you?—?”
“I have my ways,” he says. “Now put it on. I know I haven’t earned your trust, but I need you to trust me on this. I’ll explain everything later.”
I stare at my bracelet, at the gift bestowed upon me by my mother so long ago, the gift that was confiscated from me when I arrived in this place. The image of the bracelet blurs before the tears slip down my face. My chest is tight as I start to put the bracelet on, and my hands are shaking so hard that the ends keep slipping from my fingers. Kilkenny’s hand closes over mine and he takes the bracelet. He secures it onto my wrist and takes a step back, giving me space.
A stillness comes over me, but it doesn’t bring me peace. It’s as though I’m being smothered, an invisible force pressing against my body.
“I know,” Kilkenny says. He glances around and then takes my hand. “Come,” he says, then he begins marching down the hallway.
I follow behind him numbly, having to focus on my breathing, trying to push away the strange, illogical despair that fills me.
I’m not sure where we’re going until we enter a familiar corridor, the vacant pathway to my door. I step into the room and stand there, gawking at my shaky hands. It’s like my energy has been sapped and I have the urge to crawl into bed and sleep for a few days.
“I feel…” I blink up at Kilkenny.
“I know.” Sympathy softens his otherwise sharp features. He lifts a hand to my face, his thumb stroking over my cheek, wiping away a tear that I didn’t even know was there. “Your bracelet is a dampener.” He lifts my hand so that it’s eye level. “Within it, there’s an element imbued with a rune that prevents elemental wielding. Or it can stop the wearer’s powers from manifesting if they haven’t before.”
Elemental wielding?I yank my hand from his grasp. “You’ve lost your mind. There’s no such thing as elemental wielding.” I know my voice is breathy.
My mind is racing. Dampener. Powers. Magic. Laughter escapes me and I clap my hands over my mouth. Bursts of giggles continue to erupt through my fingers. My hands are useless at quelling the outburst, so I let them fall, the laughter spiraling even more out of control. As Kilkenny opens his mouth to say something, the floor beneath us quakes.
My laughter is cut off.
Pictures fall from the walls, crashing onto the floor, and I’m launched into Kilkenny’s arms. He staggers into the door and presses his back against it, his arms around me protectively as the shelf of wool and fabric shakes and throws materials onto the floor.
“What’s happening?” I yell.
At last, the tremors beneath us stop, and Kilkenny releases me from his arms. “Explosions,” he signs. “I have to get out there, but don’t leave this chamber. Lock your door.” He stares intently into my eyes before my gaze falls to his lips. “Please do not be stubborn about this, Garrick. For your own good.”
I nod hastily, my heart racing, my ears starting to ring.
Kilkenny turns to open the door, but I grab his hand. He spins back to me, confusion breaking through the urgency on his face.
“Be careful,” I tell him.
He nods and runs off, shutting the door behind him. I lock the door just as everything shakes again, though not as aggressively as before. I hope Carys, Ellynne, and Lowri have gotten to safety.
I hope that Tiernan stays safe.
CHAPTER 38
