It was empty.
Panic drove me to run toward yet another yawning tunnel, though of course, I had no idea which exit she’d actually used.
My family had scattered.
Somehow, I’d lost them a second time.
How could I save them if they didn’t even want to be saved?
When Soren came up behind me, I didn’t think twice.
I yanked at the front of his vest and snatched out the pen he kept in the inner pocket. “Paper,” I gasped, freaking out.
“I don’t have any on han—”
Clicking the pen open, I pressed it to my finger and let it suck the blood in.
Hands shaking, I started to scribble barely readable words on my opposite arm.
I will do anything. Save them.
“What’re you doing?” His voice was sharp.
I ignored him.
“Stop. That’s a binding spell. There’s no way to change it—”
Signing my name with the blood, I shoved the pen back into his hands. “Here. Please. Whatever you want, just help me!”
He gripped the pen and stared down at me.
An intense moment passed during which neither of us moved.
I didn’t see him grab the drink from a passing fae’s hand until the creature protested, but he’d already thrown it onto me.
Gasping, I tried to yank my arm from his grasp, but he held tight and rubbed the liquid over my arm, smearing the blood.
That wasn’t good enough, apparently, because he dropped to pick up the corner of my long skirt, using the gold fabric to wipe every last bit of blood and liquid.
I struggled against his grip, but he didn’t let go until it was gone.
Breathing hard, I took two steps back, staring at him with wild eyes.
“Never,” he growled, “ever do that again.”
A sob escaped me.
He wasn’t going to help.
I crumpled to the ground, not caring if the fae around us saw, but then his hands were on my arms again, lifting me up.
“There’s no time for that,” he grumbled in my ear, though his hands were gentle. He held me up, arms tight, like he knew I’d slip right back to the floor if he didn’t. “If you want my help corralling your family again, we have to find them first.”
I couldn’t stop the tears from flowing as I made myself look up and reveal the hope in my eyes. “You’ll help me? Without a bargain?”
“You have such a low opinion of me,” was all he replied, slowly pulling back and turning toward the tunnel before I could see his expression. “Come.”
I couldn’t argue. He was right.
