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An inhuman screech tore through the haze in my mind —then I was gasping for air, hands at my neck, as the monster stumbled backwards, holding its head with clawed hands.

It started tearing at its own face, and black blood oozed from the wounds as it screamed into the sky.

The inky blood fell towards me, and I lifted my arm to shield my face … but the blood turned to wisps of black smoke before reaching me.

For a moment, its scream shifted in tone and pitch, almost becoming human.

I stared at it in shock. "What … are you?"

Then everything around me just … stopped, as if frozen in time like a painting.

The wind. The screams. Even the little movements of the leaves and grass in the breeze …

I scrambled to my feet and away from the monster — held frozen like some gruesome statue tearing itself apart.

A rustle to my right drew my attention, and a blurred form sped past — too fast to make out any details.

What in the seven hells?!

I took one more look at the frozen monster beforetaking off after the blur. Whatever it was, it and I were the only things still moving.

And following it had to be better than sitting there just waiting for the monster to unfreeze …

The blur led me in the same direction I'd come from — towards Liam, Tye, Della, and Rowan. But when I finally stumbled into the clearing, chest heaving and sides aching, everything there was frozen as well.

It was as though time had somehow stopped …

A tall figure straightened in the middle of the clearing, Della slung over a broad shoulder encased in homemade leather armor.

The figure reached down for Rowan.

"Wait!" I shouted, sprinting towards them — past Tye, who was frozen mid-stride on his way towards the forest. Then past Liam, looking as though he'd been helping the woman to stand before that stranger had picked her up.

The tall figure had just tucked the boy under his arm when I reached him, and he looked over at me. Scars cut through his brow and nose, and wide silver eyes were bright beneath a familiar mess of dark auburn hair.

My heart stopped.

Lynk —

"You … are not affected?" he asked, that raspy voice vibrating along my bones, dragging out memories I'd thought long buried. "Must be that damn bond again …"

His words were lost to the past, though.

Lynk, helping me rescue Eli back in Gleyma, those silver eyes wary.

The way he always called me "Little Thief" and made fun of my dagger.

How he'd looked up from his papers, spectacles perched atop his nose, irritation twisting his expression.

Those cheeks darkening as he shared his drink with us at the picnic.

The feel of his finger on my chin as he told me to stay strong.

The cold look in his eyes as he'd cut that stone from my back and unleashed my magic.

The warmth of his embrace as he'd bandaged my wounds in Karemi and carried me to safety …

"YOU," I snapped, heart slamming in my ears.