“Yes.”
She doesn’t turn away from me, but she shouts, “Bring them in!”
Spittle lands on my face, and I want desperately to wipe it away. The shackles bite into my skin as I move my hands, and I remember that I’m bound. The room brightens slightly from the oil lamps beyond the door as it opens. In a flourish, Cadet Bronn marches in, his pale, bald head shining in the flames. My cheek immediately smarts with phantom pain as I remember when he struck me weeks ago. He’s tugging a chain attached to manacles on the wrists of a taller man.
The prisoner’s auburn hair glints in the lanternlight. His face is bruised and scratched, a trail of blood congealing on his broken nose and down his chin.
Panic surges within me and his name rushes out along with the air in my lungs. “Osheen!”
“Durvla,” he says. “I’m so so?—”
Cadet Bronn sinks his fist into Osheen’s stomach and Osheen drops to his knees, his body shaking with violent coughing. I yank against my chains, thrashing my body even as the chair goes off kilter.
Angharad grabs the arms of the chair, shoving it back onto all four legs. “I’m going to ask you one last time,” she says. “Have you ever harbored an Undesirable?”
Heat floods my veins. “Where is my brother?”
Angharad straightens and steps aside as Bronn hoists Osheen to his feet.
“Where is he?” I repeat to Osheen.
There is pain all over his bloodstained face. “I don’t know! We got separated.”
An icy fist squeezes my heart with unrelenting force.
Another soldier grabs Osheen, hauling him away as Cadet Bronn marches toward me. My stomach churns, pinpricks racing across my skin. I blink as black spots fill my vision. One moment Osheen is there, the next he’s gone from my sight.Again. No …
More black spots. My head swims. Lungs constricting. The soldiers tug me out of the room.
If Taig is here … all alone. Gods …
Dinner churns in my stomach and dizziness renders me intermittently blind as the soldiers drag me along.
I wassoclose to going home. So close.
Pain erupts through my knees as I’m flung onto the rough stone floor of a prison cell. I scramble to my feet and run toward the cell gate just as it closes shut and a guard locks it. Grabbing the bars, I shake them with all my might, the manacles chafing my wrists. I throw my shoulder into the bars and cry out when pain shoots down my arm.
Sobs tear through my throat, even as I scream to be released. Even as I beg them with all my heart and soul to let me see my brother. My Taig.
My energy dwindles, and I throw my shoulder against the bars one last time before dropping to the floor like a rag doll. I squeeze my eyes shut against the image of Osheen, bloodied and battered. My stomach roils at the memory of that dream—his throat split from ear to ear.
At least he’s alive, but he’s been taken, along with Taig, and I have no clue where.
Not that it matters. There’s nothing I can do about it.
With a grunt of frustration, I pound my fists against the ground and suck in a sharp breath when pain flares in my hands as well.
Don’t break.
Find your center, Garrick.
A huff of despairing laughter rushes out of me, Kilkenny’s words lingering in my mind. I’ve managed to survive a month in Paramount,under the constant scrutiny of Mainlanders. I’ve made friends and even a home here. Perhaps the others will find out that I’m down here and vouch for me. Perhaps they’ll help me find Taig.
Deep breaths. In. Out. In… Out. I close my eyes as my tears continue to flow. I sit, breathing slowly, letting the heat and tumultuousness flow from my body and the physical pain pour in.
Everything hurts but I won’t break. Ihaveto stay strong for Taig.
CHAPTER 39
