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“Oh, you’re not a hostage!” she said quickly, though her cheerful tone faltered. “I mean, technically, you’re locked in here, but it’s not, like, forever. It’s just that... well, Aether thought it might be best until we sort everything out...” Her voice dropped conspiratorially. “He’s rather infuriating most of the time. Lucky he’s so dreadfully gorgeous, because the dark and brooding bit gets exhausting after a while.” She gave a light laugh, as if we were sharing some inside joke.

I crossed my arms, unimpressed. “I see.”

Effie tapped a finger to her lips, apparently deciding to pivot. “My apologies about the rice. It’s one of the only things that keeps these days…” She nodded sagely before trailing off.

Frustration prickled at me. “Tell me what a shadow wielder is,” I demanded.

Effie shifted uncomfortably, glancing over her shoulder at the door.

“One that can harness nothingness and command it,” sheresponded, arching a perfectly preened brow as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.

“And you think I can do that?”

“We watched you do that.” She didn’t hide the exasperation in her tone.

A spark of anger tinged the back of my skull. “So your plan is to force me into your unit. To use me against the people I care about.” Disgust laced my words.

Her expression shifted into something like horror. “Force you? Goodness, no! That would be—” She hesitated, her nose wrinkling. “Well, I suppose it would be efficient, but no, we couldn’t.” She gave a weak laugh, but her gaze darted nervously to the door again.

“Oh, but couldn’t you?” The earlier experiment with my focus had been sharply shut down by the captor known as Aether. If my gifts were somehow linked to these people, then they could harness the ability to control my mind just as I had others. “Why not just push into my mind and demand it of me?”

Effie scrunched up her face in confusion. “I’m not sure what you mean.”

My heart skipped a beat—a small kernel of hope forming, blurring my vision as I looked inward, seeking out the pulse of minds in the surrounding area. I could see Effie clearly in front of me, and others smaller, seemingly on the floor beneath us. They looked no different than the minds of the Aossí. It was only his mind that glowed in an unfamiliar golden hue. And as Effie so kindly mentioned in her arrival… he was currently occupied.

“So mind-control is not an ability of shadow-wielding?” I asked, trying to keep my voice level, layered with a bit of disinterest for good measure.

“Not that I’m aware.” Her blue eyes narrowed. “But I’m no true shadow wielder. I’m simply a vessel.” Her breath slowed as her eyesmoved to inspect the door. A sigh of relief slipped out once she realized we were still alone.

I stopped the smile that threatened my lips.

“Perhaps I’m speaking too candidly. I have a tendency to do so, at least that’s what Vexa always tells me, read the room.” Her eyes relaxed again before rolling in a playful manner.

I kept my face calm, even as my focus roared to life. “Effie, I’m going to need your help.” This time it didn’t hesitate, just as eager to find a target that might be susceptible. The iridescent strands fluttered around her, caressing her mind before taking their hold. I almost sighed in relief when I wasn’t met with resistance. My focus thrummed, sending tingles across my back.

“You will escort me out of here, taking the safest route back to the Isle.”

Effie’s confusion faded, muscles relaxing until she looked almost peaceful. Eyes staring at me unseeing, ready for my command.

This has to work.

Without a word, she turned towards the door and started walking. I kept my concentration on the link to Effie’s mind as I followed, the thundering of my heartbeat my only distraction.

I thanked the Esprithe as the door swung open, revealing a hallway mercifully empty. The minds just beyond us beckoned—so close, so tempting—but I couldn't risk it. My teeth ground together as I fought the urge. I’d have to make my way through the building blindly. I’d ruin my chance of escape if I lost connection to my only guide. Even worse if she screamed for help.

I took in my surroundings as we crept down the hallway. The walls were made of a cold uneven stone and heavy wooden doors with locks lined the circular room. A stairwell arched across the wall showing there were floors even higher up. The smell of a burning hearth was somewhere near and I could only hope otherswould be preoccupied enough to not notice a guard and a prisoner of war casually walking by.

“Move faster,” I commanded through the bond, nerves taking over.

Effie upped her pace, keeping to the outer edges of the stairwell as we began to make the descent in a dizzying loop. With each floor we passed my urgency grew, trying to move quickly enough to remain unseen.

I almost stumbled into her when the floor eventually evened out. It was an empty circular space that left us completely exposed with two open arched doorways on either side housing great halls that were empty, and a wooden door stationed directly in the middle. I couldn’t hear over my thundering pulse and hyper focused on the middle door, knowing it was our way out.

A few more moments, and I’d be free of this Esprithe-forsaken tower. I refused to let myself think about what awaited beyond the walls—one step at a time.

Move, move, move.

Effie lifted her hand to push open the door. Just as her fingers wrapped around the handle, footsteps thundered from behind me. The air shifted, sharp and fast, before a force slammed into my back. My breath whooshed out, and I lurched forward, only to have the ground disappear beneath me.