She glares at me with judgement all over her face.
“But still. You can go and find them. Tell them…” Tell them what? That I’m still trapped here? They must know that. I thought I was onto something for a minute. I thought she could go and help free them. But I forgot for a brief lapse that they’re apparently already free. And they’re still not coming.
My shoulders droop.
“I cannot go now, anyway.”
“Why not?”
“The bond. I cannot go far from you now, nor can you travel far from me.”
“What will happen?”
“It will break. Not all at once, but slowly, the farther we drift. And one cannot be made again.”
“Okay. Could be worse.”
“Everything can always be worse.”
True. I feel like a fool now. I thought I had a breakthrough for a moment there. I thought I could use her to communicate with someone off the island. But what would I have her say anyway? Have her beg them on my behalf to come rescue me?
Pathetic.
“Never mind,” I sigh.
“He screams your name in his slumbers.”
I snap my head toward her, my heart suddenly filled with an unbearable ache. “What?”
She sighs.
“Daegan,” I whisper.
“The one who smells of fire and burns even brighter,” she says with a nod.
“You saw him?”
“When they still had him chained,” she confirms.
I cover my mouth with both hands. I want to ask more, but I can’t bear to know.
“He escaped,” I tell myself. “He escaped,” I say again in a whisper.
“I know not what path he is on now. I have been here.”
I nod, feeling disappointed. I had hope for a moment that she knew more of his whereabouts. Of all their whereabouts.
“And Rhyrdra and Raef? Are they safe?”
“As safe as they can be… last I saw.”
There’s a tiny ember somewhere deep inside of me that’s still holding out hope. Most days, I don’t realize it’s still there, but now and then I feel the flicker. Usually when I hear his name spoken, or his face appears in my mind. But if I don’t get off here soon, I fear it may burn out forever.
Chapter 49
I was hoping the bond with Kezra would help me break out of these cuffs. If I could just get my powers back, I could get out of here so much more easily.
That hasn’t been the case. I woke up today feeling like something was different, but it’s very subtle.
