Page 38

I tried to keep track of the passing time by counting the number of collections Jarrett made, but without being able to see the moon, it was still a guess how many days I had remaining.

With all my plotting, I hadn’t foreseen being locked in the dungeon.

The elixir was hidden in my servant’s room, thus useless—not that I had a map or plan to get beyond the fortress doors, anyway.

Days wore on. There were no signs of Devrix since I had been taken from his room. Without him being allowed inside the fortress walls, I doubted there was an elaborate arrangement to break me free.

Apart from the instance when Jarrett slipped me the ointment, no sign had been given that he was in on some secret scheme.

Then there was the letter. I took it out repeatedly, feeling the edges of the paper, tracing my finger over the seal, which was still unbroken. What does it say? Does it even matter now?

So much had changed since it had been written; I told myself the message inside was now irrelevant. I tucked the note back in my pocket next to the ointment and tried to forget about it.

I rose to my feet and began my daily ritual of walking the perimeter of my cell, my fingers running along the wall to show me the way.

When I reached the door, I started counting—one.

The goal was to reach twenty laps without allowing negative thoughts to pull me down into a wallowing pool of tears. The previous day, I made it to twelve.

Another morning was signaled by blue torchlight. Jarrett and Arden brought me to the dreary lab down the hall.

At the sound of Jesmine’s self-assured gate, my pulse quickened. Entering, her eyes pinned me where I sat. “Nova, what a grand occasion.” Her mouth twisted as she stepped forward. Jarrett moved aside, leaving my arm exposed. “Seeing as it is your last offering, I couldn’t miss this special moment.”

I instinctually pulled away as she bent to grasp my arm.

Noticing my reaction, she responded, “Oh, it wasn’t all that bad, I’m sure.

” She looked down at my forearm, quiet for a moment.

Her brow arched. “Interesting. Your arm is barely irritated. You must be very thorough about keeping it clean, or have an extraordinary resilience to infection.” Her eyes drifted up to mine in question.

If she looked, the medicine responsible for my healing would quickly be found in my pocket.

I held a mask of indifference.

Jarrett had already prepared my arm for the cut. Jesmine grabbed the knife from the table and slashed it across my forearm. The incision was deeper than any before, forcing me to gasp. Blood gushed out, running across my skin.

The space was silent. All eyes were on the incision and the crimson river flowing from it.

Jesmine took her time, slowly bringing forward a drawing vial. We all watched as my blood redirected and lifted into the glass tube, filling it quickly.

Securing what she came for, Jesmine sealed the vial and straightened, leaving my limb bleeding and forgotten.

“Now, with that tiresome dilemma resolved, we can finally have some fun!” Her eyebrows danced and lips curled.

She turned to the door, heels clacking, and called over her shoulder, “See you soon, my dear Nova.”

Jarrett applied pressure and waited for the bleeding to slow. No one spoke. After my arm was bandaged, I was returned to my cell.

The only thing left to do was wait and find out exactly what Jesmine’s idea of fun was.

I was certain I wouldn’t agree.

My heart sank when a generous sized meal was delivered several hours later.

I knew the only reason I ever received a proper meal—to catch a Slip.

The thought dampened my appetite, but I had become dangerously malnourished since being locked up and wasn’t foolish enough to pass it up.

It made me curious, however—did the Slips think a victim was more appealing when they were well fed?

Or maybe it was a way to make sure the human sacrifice didn’t perish too soon?

Pondering over the preference of Slips—I had been locked up too long, my mind was breaking.

Sure enough, at what I assumed was early evening, footsteps sounded in the hall.

Blue torchlight filled my cell and Jarrett's and Arden's faces emerged in the open door, Arden holding the Ashloran torch.

The air felt heavy, their expressions solemn.

They had arrived to take me out into the Shadow Wilds.

Rising to my feet, I studied Arden. He had said he wanted us to remain friends—I wondered what that looked like for him, because he was duty bound to follow the Keeper’s orders, and duty was always his priority. His eyes avoided mine, and he remained the perfect unmovable sentinel by the door.

Jarrett passed by him, entering my enclosure.

Pressing myself against the far wall, I shook my head. “Can’t you stop this?” The plea came out throaty and dry.

“I’m sorry, Nova, but I need to bind your wrists,” Jarrett insisted.

Anger and disbelief burned hot inside me. I erupted. “I thought you were on my side! Neither one of you does anything. You just follow her stupid orders and act helpless!” I pushed Jarrett back and made to dart around him. I knew the effort was futile, but my body just moved, instinct leading.

Jarrett hooked his arms around my shoulders and Arden stepped forward.

“I’m not letting you take me like last time!” I tried twisting out of his hold. “You’ll have to force me!” Too weak to break free, I flung my head back.

Jarrett anticipated the move and avoided the head-butt. I figured they would easily corral me, but it felt good to give into the storm of outrage building within my soul.

A scream of frustration peeled from my lips. I leaned my weight back on Jarrett, using him as leverage to aim a kick at Arden.

“Nova, stop!” Jarrett ordered, his arms squeezing tighter. My shoulder pinched and my legs flailed. “This is not helping anything. You’re only going to injure yourself.” His voice lowered, and he murmured into my ear. “Trust me.”

His words had no meaning. I had trusted that he might help me before—that he and Devrix would devise some sort of scheme. But now my time was up, and nothing had been done. I only wished I had enough strength to fight my way free.

“I’m going to tie your hands,” Jarrett said. “I can tie them in the front if you agree to stop fighting. … If not, I’ll need to bind them tightly behind. Are you going to cooperate?”

I let out a groan of defeat, because that is what it was—defeat. Exhausted from the exerted effort, I deflated in Jarrett’s hold, and nodded.

Jarrett stepped around to the front of me, pulled the rope from his belt, and began to bind my wrists.

As he looked down to tie the knot, he stepped closer.

Something hard and small slid into my palm.

“Swallow it as soon as we leave,” he whispered.

My eyes went wide, then caught with Arden’s gaze.

Repressing my shock, I lowered my eyebrows and scowled at Jesmine’s loyal guard.

The object felt like nothing more than a pebble. I squeezed it tight, wondering how it could save me.

Jarrett put a hand on my shoulder. Holding the length of the rope, he guided me out of the cell.

Arden led with the torch, winding down the corridor. Our steps became louder as we climbed the narrow stairwell. When the door opened at the top of the stairs, we were greeted by warm air. I knew better than to be comforted as my eyes strained against the yellow torchlight of the hall.

What had Jarrett given me? Was it like the elixir? … Will it stop the Slips from attacking? If I’m not possessed, won’t that raise Jesmine ’ s suspicions? I wished he had given me more details.

If he was still fighting for me, then maybe Devrix was out there waiting—or maybe he wasn’t. I didn’t know what to expect, yet my life depended on it.

We arrived at the foyer. Jesmine waited beside her coveted crystal sphere, dressed for the occasion in a black gown with scarlet-red embroidery on the shoulder and waist. She, no doubt, had donned a dozen fine dresses over the time I rotted in the dungeon wearing the same grimy smock.

“Oh, don’t look so grim, girl. You have successfully helped restore that precious little human ward, and are now a hero to your pathetic kingdom.

But more importantly, you are about to assist me in my research, which will have far more reaching effects than you can imagine.

... You said you wanted to be of use.” A vicious grin filled her mouth and spilled into her eyes.

With a flick of her wrist, she directed Arden to guide us toward the gate.

I waited until we passed before her, then released my anger. “You witch! I hope you drown!” Jarrett’s grip around my elbow kept me from striking. Instead, I spat at her feet.

Jesmine let out a soft chuckle. “Save your energy, dear. This is only the beginning. Let’s hope you’re a little more resilient than that useless mixed girl, because I have so much planned for us.”

Her taunt burned through me. “Claire!” I screamed.

“Her name was Claire!” My voice echoed violently through the vaulted chamber.

Wishing my glare was enough to strike her down, I craned my neck, not letting her slip from view.

I hissed, “Claire was a loyal friend, something you would know nothing about.”

Unfazed, Jesmine motioned for the doorman to open the gate.

With Arden in the front and Jarrett steering me by the elbow, we exited the fortress.

“I’ll see you in the morning,” Jesmine sang as we passed over the threshold.