Page 114

The space was entirely empty. No bodies, no sacks… nothing but spiders, dust, and a few planks and boards stacked in the corner.

“How?”

“Are you sure this is the right cellar?”

“Positive.”

“Then, they must have gotten out before the flames reached here. They would have choked to death on the smoke alone trapped down here.”

While we both tried to think of better explanations, a breeze blew over, whipping Zaria’s hair across her face. We turned to the corner where the boards were stacked, and before I could stop her, Zaria was pulling them away from the wall.

I helped her, and within a moment, we’d revealed a tunnel entrance.

“They got out! They have to be alive.” She took a step, but I grabbed her back.

“Sol, there is no way I’m letting you go in there.”

“We have to. We have to find them.”

FORTY-SIX

NYX

“NYX!”

I went rigid. My brother’s fear in my mind was enough to rip the breath from my lungs.

“Kol?” I begged. Goddess, let him answer.

Zaria had noticed the change in me. “What is it?”

“It’s Kol. Something is very wrong.” I reached out to him again. “Kol? Answer me!”

Zaria shook beside me, but the bond between Kol and me was silent. “We have to get out of here. I can’t connect to him down here and with all the poison around.”

Zaria took my hand, and we made for the stairs. I knew what she was giving up for me, but Kol was all that mattered.

“Kol?” I called as soon as we’d cleared the cellar.

Nothing.

We ran through debris and untied the horses. As soon as we were mounted, we kicked them into a flat-out gallop.

“We need some distance from the Dragon’s Bane or I’ll never be able to reach him,” I told Zaria, mind to mind.

“I’m with you,” she replied.

We ran and ran until we reached the road back to the rest of the world. I felt like I couldn’t breathe, but not from the Dragon’s Bane. I could feel the air was free of it here.

Breathless, we came to a stop, and I dismounted and fell to my knees. Zaria came to me, cupping my face in her hands.

“Any word?”

“No,” I choked.

“Try again,” she urged.

I breathed deeply, calming my body as I focused on the thread that connected us. “Kol?” I pleaded.