Stark backs out of the cell, eyes warily trained on Saela as he moves. As soon as he’s out, Grigore slams the cell door shut again, grabbing the key to the door from a ring mounted on the wall opposite.
The sound of the key thudding the bolt into place echoes in my ears.
Saela fights to her feet and staggers over to the bars. Grigore jumps away as Saela throws her small body against them. Metal groans and clangs.
She slams herself against the bars again and again, and the sound yanks my heart from my chest. I wish I couldholdher as I did when she was in the king’s prison.
But if I reached through, she’d rip into my arm and drain the blood from my veins.
“Stop,” I beg weakly, taking a half step forward. “You’ll hurt yourself.”
Saela’s eyes are wild and frantic, darting to and fro. Never meeting mine, not even acknowledging that I’ve spoken to her.
The girl I love isn’t there at all.
Anassa’s warmth is at my back, and I let myself lean into her. Her heat settles over me. She keeps me upright when my legs grow weak.
By the time Aldrich finally appears, I feel separated from myself.
The older man surveys the scene in front of him, his bearded jaw momentarily dropping open in shock before he composes himself. What a sight we must be.
Especially me, still wearing a ridiculous fucking gown, a crown atop my head.
Aldrich opens his mouth to speak, but I step forward, reaching out a hand to stop him. Anassa helps me shore up the energy that I have left.
“How do I do this?” I ask her quickly. Somehow, she had been the one to share the memories with Helene and Grigore before, but I know I need to do this now.
“Find the river in your mind that connects you to the Bonded, and search for him among the Strategos pack. Form the connection with Aldrich alone, and ensure you focus on him, then push your memories toward him, as if placing them on a boat down current.”
I do as she says, and simultaneously reach my hand out again, laying it on his weathered forearm. His concerned eyes meet mine, and I have to look away to stop myself from breaking down. The skin contact helps solidify our mental connection. Then I focus and push my memories toward him.
My head instantly aches, and sweat starts to bead across my scalp from the strain.
But it works.
I grant him knowledge of my royalty, of the curse, of what’s beendone to us. How Alistair Brightbane stole the throne from my ancestors, how he’s used his line to stay in control all these centuries. How a Siphon blood curse locked away the truth. How Stark helped me uncover it all, and how Killian fled.
Leader Aldrich falls to his knees. His hands shake as he reaches for me wordlessly, taking my hand, pressing it to his forehead.
I swallow roughly. “Please stand. Please.” The words pour from me, pleading and pathetic. “Aldrich… this is my sister in the cell. We have to help her.”
Understanding dawns on his face, and his mouth twists in a mixture of pity and disgust. I have to look away.
“Surely there must be something we can do.” Even I can hear how desperate I sound. “Some way to fix this, to reverse it.”
I became Bonded, I became aqueento rescue her from the Nabbers—or from Killian and his father, it turned out. I’ll do anything for her.
It can’t have all been for nothing.
Aldrich doesn’t immediately respond. Instead, his eyes move to Stark. They linger there, and I’m not too lost in my grief to understand what that look means.
I know what they’re both thinking: They don’t believe we can reverse this.
“Please,” I beg again. “Tell me what to do.”
Aldrich swallows. He clasps his hands together, sympathy in his eyes. “The main thing that would help Saela is human blood. As much of it as possible. She has an unquenchable thirst, and if it’s not fulfilled soon, it will kill her.”
“Fine,” I say, gritting my teeth. “Then she’ll drink from me.”
