I ground my teeth harder. Everyone loved to call me Ehuna's pet. I had no way of knowing if she was even looking for me, let alone if she was close to finding me. If Tannin was here and kept her from finding me, I might never get out of here alive.
But if I didn't try to escape, what worse horrors would be in store for me here?
Wait a second. I hadn’t told Varna about the warehouse or my sniffing ability, so what did Tannin mean by a “little bird”? By little, did he mean giant? I hadn’t thought to check the sky before breaking into the warehouse.
I looked up at Tannin, straightening my shoulders as the chains rattled. "Whatever you plan to do, do it. There's no reason to keep dragging this out."
Tannin nodded slowly, although he made no move to approach me. "Ehuna always said you were brave. Perhaps too brave, but we shall see. We're not nearly finished with you yet since I suspect you can do more than just sniff out magic."
He stepped out, and the door clanged shut behind him, the room pitching into darkness.
My magic sparked on my fingers, and I breathed deeply, letting it flow over the chains. Perhaps if I moved slowly, I could weaken the chains without completely destroying everything in the room, including myself. It was the best chance I had at escape.
I highly doubted that I’d like whatever Tannin had in mind for me. Better to take my chances on my magic.
“Perhaps you’re not finished with me,” I muttered under my breath. “But I’m finished with you.”
Chapter
Nine
My hands were raw and bleeding from struggling against the rusty chains that bound me. The only thing keeping me going was my magic, but even that was fading fast.
I hung limply, too exhausted to try and break free again. Using my magic had weakened me, and the chains still had not given way. Shame washed over me, but in my exhausted state, I couldn't even muster the energy to feel it fully.
How ironic that just a few days ago I had been so determined to escape and been so sure that I could. Now, with no food or water, and a few minor beatings from the guards who hated my attitude, my energy and my attempt to flee had quickly been destroyed.
I could barely stand, my entire weight hanging from the chains. Every bit of my body ached, and I barely lifted my head as the door opened.
Once again, Legacy stepped into the cell, but she didn’t send the guards outside away this time.
"Want us to leave, my lady?" one of them asked.
“No.” Legacy's slender fingers lifted, revealing a gleaming canteen in her grasp.
I cocked my head, unsure of what exactly she held, but I trusted her more than anyone else among them. She had yet to hurt me like the others had, although I supposed that wasn’t saying much.
She said something to the guards, so low I couldn’t hear it, and they chuckled. It was an unkind sound that made my skin prickle.
Legacy stalked closer, leaving the door to my cell open. The metallic canteen glinted in the dim light, its shape and size foreign to me. Why did she have it? Was it for me?
“What do you want?” I asked.
“An answer.” Her eyebrows rose. “To a simple question.”
She held up the canteen. Time had begun to run together, and I had no idea how long it had been since I last had anything to eat or drink. Enough that my throat felt like it was on fire. Even if it was just water in that canteen, I was afraid of what I would say or do to get it.
I licked my dry lips. “What question?”
“What’s your name?”
I shook my head. It was all too easy. “I don’t believe that’s all you want.”
Legacy shrugged nonchalantly, her piercing gaze locking onto mine with a sense of determination. With effortless grace, she brought her free hand up to rest on her hip, while the other held the canteen tightly.
“You’re right,” she agreed, stepping closer.
She unstopped the canteen and tilted her head back, her throat flexing as she drank. I gritted my teeth.
