Page 155 of A Storm in Every Heart
“You nearly died,” Jett adds, clearly thinking along the same lines that I am. “Just wait a second before you run off and try to die again.”
His eyes widen and he seems to remember at the same time as I do that’s not going to happen. I’m not going to die again…ever.
Thinking about it is too much, so I don’t. I shove the idea to the back of my mind and turn to look around the dungeon. “Where are we?”
“Under the castle,” Jett answers.
“I knew it. But then, how did you find me?”
“That woman came and found us.”
“Lyra?”
“Yeah,” Jett says, still frowning. I’m not sure if his expression is due to worry over me, or something to do with Lyra.
“I thought she was mad,” Connell interjects. “If it had been up to me we wouldn’t have come after you…no offense, mate.”
I look over, narrowing my eyes at the pirate, who is leaning against the wall looking slightly winded. As I watch, he slides down the dark stone wall to sit on the floor, and I notice for the first time that he’s not bound with the belt anymore. When did that happen?
I turn to Jett. “You let him go?”
Jett shakes his head. “Not exactly, but we’ve come to an understanding.”
My brow furrows, but I don’t ask. There are more pressing questions on my mind. “So Lyra found you? I can’t believe she cared. Why did you trust her?”
Jett digs in his pocket and pulls out a piece of paper, thrusting it at me. “She had this letter that Dessa must have written—or been forced to write—to Daemon and Alix. She refers to Magnus as ‘just as wonderful a ruler as King Thorne.’”
I take it and scan it quickly. It’s exactly as he said, Odessa was trying to write something that Magnus would allow to be sent to Daemon that would still alert him she was in trouble. It’s so smart, and so very her. “Where is Odessa now?”
“She’s in the castle,” Jett answers.
“I have to go get her.”
“Obviously,” Jett agrees, a hint of his usual smile returning. “But you won’t be able to do anything for Dessa if you collapse. At least have some water. When was the last time you ate?”
“I’m fine,” I say again, more pointedly.
Actually, “Fine” doesn’t even begin to explain it. I feel entirely reborn. Alive. Perhaps better than I ever have before…although, all my sudden energy seems to have come at a cost.
“Are you alright?” I ask, glancing back at Connell.
The pirate looks up, and flashes a shaky grin. “I’m better than fine. Right as bloody rain, don’t worry.”
Jett and I exchange dubious glances. There wasn’t a lot of time for Connell to explain exactly what I agreed to, and I’m not sure if my life comes at the expense of his, or if he’s merely weakened by the ordeal.
As callous as it is, I’m not entirely sure I want to know right now. I don’t want to think about what I might have done to myself, I want to go find Odessa. If I can’t get to her, then what was the fucking point?
I take another large step toward the door. “I’m going to find her.”
Connell looks up at me, and winces slightly. “You two go on ahead. I’ll catch up.”
Jett glances at the pirate again, and looks more conflicted than I would have expected, before turning back to me. “Fine. We’ll come back for him later. You and I have a wedding to crash.”
Itake the lead, running out of the dungeon and into the long corridor outside.
We run down the rough-walled hallway to a door at the end and shove it open, stepping through, I stop short, taking in the familiar white stone hallway. My heart pangs and my stomach turns uncomfortably.
“What’s wrong?” Jett hisses, skidding to a stop before he runs into me.
