Page 60 of The Scars Within (Twisted Thorn #1)

Shayde was trying—and failing—to summon fire.

I mirrored his motion, but the result was the same.

All we managed to conjure was a single flickering flame each, so small it barely gave off any heat, let alone the warmth we needed.

I stood up, gripping the cavern wall for support, and tried to channel air to lift myself.

My heels barely left the ground, hovering for just a moment before I stumbled back down.

I lowered myself to the ground and scooted backward until I could lean against the stone wall, tucking my legs close to my chest. Within five minutes of being trapped down here, I was already shaking from the biting cold.

If Drithan and Lakota hurried, they should make it back to Mageia in a couple of hours, but then we’d still have to wait for help to return. My mind drifted to Laney and Pehper.

Ew, I must have hit my head hard to be worrying about Pehper. They have no idea what is going on, and I could only imagine how frantic they would be once the sun began to set and we hadn’t returned.

“Drithan’s rushing back to Mageia, but Lakota refuses to leave,” Davis called down from above. “How are you two holding up?”

Shayde and I exchanged deadpan looks, then glanced up at him.

“Got it. I’ll shut up,” Davis muttered, clicking his tongue before disappearing from view. From the sound of his footsteps, he was leaning against the wall up top, tapping his boot on the ground.

Maybe an hour had passed; I had lost track of time—and the feeling in my toes. Shayde finally gave up on searching for a way out and plopped down on the opposite side of our awkward-as-fuck space.

I lay sideways on the dirt, feeling the least bit of warmth from it. Tucking my body in as tight as I could, I attempted to summon a flame repeatedly, but nothing would hold. I had left my bag, along with our flint, tied to Lakota’s saddle.

“Are you okay?” Shayde asked softly.

I ignored the asshole.

He waited five minutes.

“Scarlet? Are you okay?” he asked again.

I still didn’t respond, standing my ground.

Figuratively speaking, of course.

But as my stubbornness faded and the reality of our situation sank in, my heart began to race. I wasn’t just trapped in a collapsed cavern with Shayde; I was lying on the filthy floor of Rock Bottom.

I was freezing, the numbness in my limbs the only relief from the biting cold. I could hear the clank of iron shackles as my body shook uncontrollably .

Then, warmth enveloped me. I opened my eyes to see Shayde draping his winter cloak over my curled-up form. He pulled the hood down to shield my face, and our eyes locked.

For the first time since I met him, his deep brown eyes held no warmth—only raw vulnerability. Something was eating at him; he had told Laney as much. Seeing the boy who once overflowed with joy and laughter now hollow and withdrawn twisted a knife in my chest.

“Thank you,” I whispered, watching my breath fog in the frigid air.

He nodded a silent acknowledgment and returned to his spot. He wasn’t wearing his leather jacket, just a short-sleeved battle tunic, leaving his arms bare to the chill.

Without his cloak, I noticed a bleeding gash on his left forearm. I pushed myself up from the ground. “You’re wounded. Was it the knife?” I asked.

He fought the urge to meet my gaze but eventually looked up. “I’m fine.”

Yeah, I like to say that, too, when, in reality, I’m not fine.

“It looks deep, and it’s still bleeding—”

“It’s just a scratch. It can be stitched up.”

I unzipped my jacket and tore off a piece of my tunic. Crawling over to him, I silently requested that he extend his arm. He complied, and I wrapped the cloth tightly around his wound, securing it with a firm knot.

I gasped once my fingertips grazed his ice-cold skin. Shayde was freezing, yet he had given up his cloak for me. Despite everything that has happened between us, I cannot let him suffer. There is no telling how long it will take for help to arrive.

I sat down beside him, lifting the cloak. “Come here,” I said softly.

“No, it’s okay. You need it more than I do,” he replied, his teeth chattering.

“Quit being stubborn for one minute and let me in,” I pushed, undeterred .

His jaw tensed, his skin gradually regaining some of its color.

Finally, Shayde relented, extending his arm and wrapping it around my waist beneath the cloak.

He pulled me close, and I nestled into his shoulder, spreading the cloak over the two of us.

We sat in silence, the cold air biting less as we shared body heat.

Another hour might have passed when my body began trembling again. Shayde gently ran his fingers up and down my back, his voice barely a whisper. “It’s going to be okay. Help will be here soon.” He tightened his hold on me.

This was far from how I imagined the War Campaign would go.

It was supposed to be a routine mission—no risky circumstances, no disconnection from my elements, no close calls with death.

And certainly not the first time I’d spoken to Shayde since the Burn Trials.

We were supposed to protect and capture an egg, not nearly get taken by Tyrian rogues.

Shayde’s reluctance to explain how he fought so well is telling. That wasn’t basic self-defense. He is a trained fighter—years of experience, no doubt. But where had he learned it? From whom? If Mageia trained cadets like that, Davis and I wouldn’t have been so defenseless.

Despite everything, I didn’t surrender. I didn’t fall back into the helplessness of my past. No flashbacks of when those men dragged me into that shed, no canvas bag over my head. This time, my fury fueled me. I refused to let those men take me or hurt the people I care about.

I would rather face Rock Bottom again before letting my friends suffer. I survived it once.

I could handle it again if it meant saving my friends.

“Wylder! Thorne!” The echo of a voice startled us from our huddle. Shayde and I scrambled to our feet, calling out, “Down here!”

A light flickered across the cave’s ceiling, and soon, faces appeared. It was Allie, Aunt Cora, Professor Reynoski, and—Rhodes.

Relief surged through me as I locked eyes with him. He was out of breath, his gaze fixed on mine. Allie tossed down thick ropes, instructing us to grab hold, but I didn’t break eye contact with Rhodes until I felt Shayde wrapping the rope around my legs and waist, securing a makeshift harness.

“Pull her up!” Shayde shouted.

The rope tightened, and I was lifted into the air. I shook my head as I looked down at him. There were two ropes—plenty thick enough to haul us both up separately. There was no reason for me to go first.

As I reached the ledge, Rhodes leaned down, hauling me the rest of the way. He quickly untied the ropes and pulled me into his arms, resting his chin on the top of my head. His body trembled, his heart racing. I wrapped my arms around him, savoring the warmth of his embrace.

He pulled back slightly, his eyes scanning me for injuries. “I’m okay,” I whispered. “Go save your brother.”

The rest of the evening passed in the infirmary.

Shayde and I were thoroughly examined for any hidden injuries.

Laney and Pehper had been found and brought back to Mageia, and since our reunion, Laney hadn’t left my side.

And Lakota hadn’t stopped questioning me, making sure that I was okay.

Cleo and Tatum arrived soon after Laney did, arms full with dinner for the four of us.

Rhodes remained stationed in the corner, a quiet presence that never wavered. From his position, he occasionally caught my eye, but he stayed just out of sight from Shayde, separated by the thin curtain. I wasn’t even sure if Shayde knew he was there, but Rhodes never left his side.

Professor Reynoski pulled back the curtain from where Shayde was resting and approached me.

“How are you, Cadet Thorne?” he asked.

I blinked, surprised that a professor I barely knew was asking about my well-being. I opened my mouth to respond but hesitated, my mind flooding with all the unanswered questions from the past twenty-four hours. In the end, I settled on a forced grin and shrugged.

Professor Reynoski rocked on his heels, glancing around quickly before settling his gaze back on me.

This time, his voice was lower, almost cautious.

“Why didn’t you all use your elements to fight off the attackers?

And I know you’re more than capable of air-lifting.

Why didn’t you do it to get yourself and Wylder out of that collapse? ”

His change in tone sent a wave of unease through me. It wasn’t just the questions, which I’d expected from any professor—it was the way he seemed nervous as if he didn’t want to be overheard. I cleared my throat and glanced at Laney. She nodded subtly.

“Once we made it to camp for the night, we realized our elements were somehow suppressed. We could still access them, but barely. We couldn’t even summon a fire. I had to use the flint Professor Lamport gave us in Survival Training,” I explained, matching his quiet tone.

Professor Reynoski nodded, taking in everything I said. He placed a gentle hand on my arm. “I’m glad you’re all okay. Good work today, Cadet. Get some rest.” He nodded at Laney before walking away.

Once I was released from the infirmary, my friends invited me to unwind with them in the Bolthole, but I declined. After the chaos of this weekend, what I really needed was some time alone in my own bed.