Page 18

“Me?” Gaiel spluttered. “She’sthe one who—”

“Enough!” Kyia snapped, standing again and brushing snow from her leathery pants. She gestured to a pair of armed Meyarins who had exited Roka’s tent along with her and Zain and said, “Take him away. We’ll deal with him later.”

Somewhat hazy from the pain in her leg, Alex realised that with Roka out of commission, as his betrothed—and therefore Meya’s future queen—Kyia must be the highest-ranking Meyarin amongst those safe from Aven’s control. Either that, or perhaps Zain, as the leader of theZeltora. Both options boded well for Alex, especially if Gaiel wasn’t the only one to believe they’d be better off with her dead.

“Let’s get you inside and have a look at the damage,” Kyia said in the common tongue, taking Alex’s arm and helping her limp towards the hut as Gaiel was dragged away.

Zain didn’t follow straight after them, and Alex had a feeling he was interrogating the crowd for details of what had happened. She would have been more apprehensive about her own upcoming answers, but it took all her concentration to keep from using some of Drock’s more colourful expletives as the blood flowed freely down her jeans with every throbbing step.

Finally Kyia had her in the tent and pushed her down onto a wooden chair. Unlike when Alex had last been there, the area in which Roka lay was now curtained off, but she could still see his vague outline through the wispy material. There was no Lady Mystique by his side this time, nor anyone else.

“Is he…?”

“No change,” Kyia said. She wandered around the room, grabbing items as she moved, and continued offering up information. “His condition hasn’t worsened, which was our main concern. The supernatural effects of his stasis appear to be keeping his body in pristine health despite the lack of hydration, nourishment and muscle movement. He’s simply frozen in time.” Kyia swallowed. “If he were to wake up in five minutes or five years, his body and mind would be as perfect as the moment before Grimm Helkin struck him with his gift.”

Grimm Helkin. Alex had never met the gifted human under Aven’s control—the person responsible for Roka’s current state—but she was determined to hunt him down and Release him, and in doing so, awaken Roka.

Or… that was her hope, at least.

“If we were anywhere but here, I would be able to give you something that would heal you in an instant,” Kyia said, sitting beside Alex and prodding her wound.

“Ouch!” Alex hissed, jerking her leg away. “Easy, Kyia. I’ve just been stabbed by six inches of Myrox.”

The only reason Alex was able to string a sentence together and wasn’t just sitting there wailing or even passing out was because she’d been injured similarly during her training with Niyx—many,manytimes. Stab wounds were, unfortunately, a common experience for her.

“As it is,” Kyia continued, pushing the torn edges of denim aside and dabbing a clean bandage against the entry wound, “our supplies are alarmingly low, especially the amount oflaendrawe have on hand since we used much to heal those injured in our escape.”

After mopping up as much blood as she could, Kyia unstoppered a glass bottle and, without warning, poured its contents over Alex’s leg.

The pain was instant, and so much worse than when the dagger had pierced her flesh. Alex would take a repeat of that a thousand times over rather than the torture of the excruciating liquid.

“Deep breaths,” Kyia said, reading Alex’s agonised expression. “I know it stings a little—”

“Alittle?” Alex gasped, trying not to scream.

“—but Gaiel is notorious for coating his weapons with poison,” Kyia continued, ignoring Alex. “For Meyarins, the dose is just strong enough to make us a little sick; to incapacitate us in a fight so our opponent can get the upper hand. It doesn’t last long in our systems since our blood is quick to rid us of the toxins. But since you’re human, I’m not willing to take any risks.”

“So the liquid?” Alex wheezed, still affected by the burning pain.

“An antidote,” Kyia said. “Just in case.”

Given the agony she was in, Alex might have been willing to take that chance rather than endure the cure.

“I’m afraid this is all I can offer you,” Kyia said, handing a single silver petal to Alex. “You’re fortunate Gaiel didn’t sever an artery, since that’s the last of ourlaendra.”

Grateful—and a little guilty that she was using the last of their supplies—Alex put the glowing portion of the flower in her mouth, finding almost instant relief thanks to the sweet-tasting medicine.

“It’s not enough to heal you completely, but it should take the edge off and speed up your tissue regeneration,” Kyia said as Alex chewed. “Once you’re back at the academy, I suggest you visit your Doctor Fletcher and he’ll give you something to complete the healing process.”

“I don’t understand,” Alex said, swallowing her mouthful. “Why can’t you or Zain just zip down on theValispathand pick up a handful oflaendraand whatever other supplies you need?” Remembering then that neither of her friends were willing to leave Roka in case Aven decided to attack, she amended, “Or why not send one of the others?”

“It’s not as simple as that,” Kyia said, looking more exhausted than Alex had ever seen her. “We’ve tried and failed three times to retrieve supplies. The first and second Meyarins we sent out never returned. And the third made it back here with grievous injuries. It’s only because of her that we were able to learn Aven has teams scouring the forests surrounding Meya. Gifted humans—mind readers, mostly—are paired with ClaimedZeltorain search of anyone not yet bound to him. With the range of their gifts, we’re cut off from the Silverwood, since the moment we set foot down there, they know. And while Aven can’t access theValispath, those Claimed by him can use it just as we can.”

Alex couldn’t believe how bad things were, or how quickly they were escalating. She felt so helpless. And yet…

“You can take theValispathelsewhere to restock food and other supplies, right? Just not close to Meya?” Alex asked. At Kyia’s nod, she said, “Keep doing that, and next time I visit, I’ll make sure to bring somelaendrawith me.”

“Absolutely not,” came Kyia’s immediate and firm answer.