“How are you feeling?”
“Very confused. Where’s Du?” How had she gotten here? She couldn’t remember anything. Not really.
Everything was so vague. Like a strange, flimsy dream.
Thorn didn’t answer. Rather, he stepped aside for another woman to enter the room through the door behind him. “I don’t think the two of you have ever met.”
Nay, she’d never seen the …
Her heart stopped beating as she realized who this was. It was a face she’d only seen in her visions. “Elyzabel?”
She inclined her head to Mara. “Aye, my lady. How are you?”
“Where’s your brother?”
Elf glanced nervously to Thorn.
When they didn’t answer right away, a bad, horrible dread went through her. She tried to leave the bed, but Thorn prevented it. “You’re still weak.”
“Tell me where Duel is!”
Thorn continued to hedge. “Well … you know where you were.”
“Aye.” She was finally beginning to remember the hellish hole where Vine had cast her. She couldn’t imagine how Duel had stood it for so long.
“To get you out, we had to have someone sacrifice their life and harthfret for yours.”
Oh dear God, no!
The blood faded from her cheeks as tears welled in her eyes. Surely Thorn wasn’t telling her what she feared he was saying. Nay, Du wouldn’t be so stupid.
You know better!
Of course, he’d be that stupid!
Agony and grief wrapped around her heart and set it to pounding. “Tell me he didn’t,” she breathed as dread washed over her and brought tears to her eyes.
Elf nodded. “He wouldn’t be swayed. For you, he was willing to do anything. Sacrifice all his crew. He wanted me to tell you that he’s always loved you and that you are not to feel guilty. That you are to remember him fondly and only smile when you think of him.”
Silent tears streamed down her face. “Nay!” She struggled to breathe past the pain that choked her. “We must get to him.” Rising to her feet, she shoved Thorn out of her way. “I … I…” Her legs gave way and sent her to the floor, where she broke down into fierce, racking sobs. The agony of his loss was unlike anything she’d ever known.
Du! Oh gods … She couldn’t do this. She couldn’t make it without him. Especially knowing that it was her fault he was gone. That he’d done this to spare her.
Suddenly, strong arms surrounded her and held her against a hard, muscular chest. She started to struggle for release until the scent of this man’s skin hit her.
That sweet sea musk scent wasn’t Thorn’s.
Shocked and stunned even more, she looked up into a pair of angry red eyes. “Thorn! You rank futtocking bastard! What did you do?”
“Du?” She reached to touch his face, then sobbed even harder.
“Shh,” he breathed, rocking her in his arms. “All’s well, my love.”
Her breathing ragged, she glared at Thorn. “What cruelty was this?”
Crossing his arms over his chest, Thorn smirked. “No cruelty. All of it was the honest truth. Devyl took your place in order to set you free.”
Elf nodded. “He said to tell you every word I spoke.”
