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She eyed the cup. “He calls her his favorite. She’s down the hall.”

“How long has she been here?”

“I don’t know. A lot longer than you.”

“How long have I been here?”

The girl paused to think. “A few weeks, I think.”

His heart stuttered. A few weeks? Weeks? His breath turned ragged. He’d thought a few days maybe, but weeks? Gods, what was Arianna thinking right now?

The girl backed away, but Rion couldn’t calm his racing heart. “Don’t go.”

“I shouldn’t be in here too long. I’ll get in trouble.”

“I won’t tell,” Rion promised, desperate to glean any information from her that he could. “Does he let you go outside?” She shook her head and stepped back. “Do you know where we are?” Another step. Shit, he was scaring her. Her eyes had gone wide, but before he could ask anything else, she closed the door and left Rion in the dark.

Weeks. Rion returned to the bond, examining it. His body shook. He could feel Arianna on the other end, almost as if she were breathing. He wanted to reach out, needed to know if she was okay, but—what if she rejected him? What if he touched that strand and it snapped? What if they all snapped because she wanted nothing more to do with him?

No. No, she’d told him to run. The bond was still there, even if it was weak. She wanted him.

His body trembled and his fear almost won out, but Rion carefully reached out a tentative hand and ran invisible fingers down one of the frayed strands. Just the ghost of a touch lest the strain prove too much.

Desperation flooded his body. Her desperation. A plea, a calling. Tears rolled down Rion’s face when her essence flooded that little space tethering them together. Her worry engulfed him and he knew for certain then that she wasn’t responsible for his capture. Of course she wasn’t. She’d never condone imprisonment like this.

He wished he could feel more, but the weakened bond wouldn’t allow it. He could do nothing aside from attempt to send feelings of reassurance. Her questions, however, bombarded him.

Where are you?

Why haven’t you come back to me?

Are you okay?

I don’t know, he wanted to say. I wish I could and no, I’m not okay. Not in the slightest. Because he’d hurt his mate and he wanted to fall to his knees before her and beg for her forgiveness.

But he couldn’t say any of those things.

***

The door opened again hours later. Or what seemed like hours. The girl stood there, looking at him with a wary expression. She carried another tray and more water.

“I thought you might still be thirsty.”

“I am,” he said, determined to keep his emotions in check. Arianna hadn’t stopped prodding him, but he didn’t know what else to do aside from bask in her presence. He was powerless. Maybe the iron prevented him from sending anything her way. He wasn’t sure whether it affected bonds or not.

The girl brought the stool over. He needed to be careful. Make this child trust him before asking anything that might make her run away again. Rion decided to start with an easy question. “How is the female?”

The girl lowered her eyes. “She’s okay, but I couldn’t get her to eat.” He wondered if the female conversed with her as well. Maybe she hadn’t today and that’s why the child had returned so soon.

“How long have you been here?” She shrugged. “Do you know how old you are?” The girl shook her head and Rion had to rein in his anger. He tilted his head. “I’d say you’re probably eight or nine.”

“You think so?”

He shrugged as best he could. “We can pretend you are.”

She offered him a rare smile. “When do you think my birthday is?”

Her excitement surprised him. “That depends. What’s your name?”