Page 79 of The Stone Survival
“Derek?” She rushes over and puts her arm around his waist. “Hey. Are you okay?”
“I’m fine,” he says gruffly. “Just a little dizzy.”
“It’s all the traveling, isn’t it?” she says.
“I can manage.”
She frowns up at him, looking torn between letting it go or arguing her point. “Do you have enough juice to get to and from Willowman’s cottage? If you don’t, that’s fine. We can figure something out.”
“You’re back,” Derek says to Willowman.
But Willowman is focused on Derek’s hand, the one braced on the counter. He approaches, reaching out to touch the bracelet that’s clasped to Derek’s wrist but pulls back his hand as if he’s been singed. “Where did you get that?” His lip curls in a slight sneer of disgust.
“Yarrow gave it to me.”
“Why are you making that face?” Sharniza says.
“What did he tell you the bracelet was for?” Willowman asks.
“To help him become independent of Cam,” Sharniza replies. “So he can fuel himself and not need her and can choose to be her shield rather than be obligated.”
Willowman’s jaw ticks. “And how have you felt since having that thing on your wrist?”
Sharniza and Derek exchange a look before Derek responds. “Disconnected and…weaker.”
“What is it?” Sharniza asks. “What did Yarrow do?”
“He gave you a dissonance band. Powerful magic that disrupts the natural rhythm of the wearer’s power to weaken them. In ancient times, witches used these as punishment for magical transgressions.”
“But if Yarrow gave it to him…” Curi says.
“No…” Derek’s mouth turns down. “Not Yarrow.”
“What are you talking about?” Flora says. “What are you saying my brother did?” Willowman crosses the room to Flora, amber eyes glowing as they rake over her. Flora shrinks from him. “Why…why are you looking at me like that? Like you’ve never seen me before.”
“Oh, I’ve seen you. But never without your brother by your side, and now…now I can understand why.” He drifts closer.
Flora’s lip quivers. “Stop it. Stay back.” She looks to Ginia then Palia. “Make him stay back.”
“I’m not going to hurt you,” Willowman says. “Just answer me this: Where were you before you came to the academy?”
“I was with Blake, of course.”
“But where?”
“Wherever he went. I was with him.”
“Uh-huh, but where? What places? What did you see?”
She blinks sharply. “I…I don’t know what you mean.”
“Where in the rim did you go? Who did you meet and speak to?” She opens and closes her mouth, and Willowman continues. “Flora, do you recall anything about your timebeforeyou came to the academy? Anything aside from what Blake told you to remember?”
“What? He told me? What’s that supposed to mean? I…I have my own mind and memories…I…I do. I can…” She blinks rapidly again. “I was hurt. The office…Travani messed with my head, and I can’t remember things now. Blake said that when I asked him. It’s her fault. But before that…Yes, I could remember.”
“Could you? Did you ever try?”
Her chest rises and falls rapidly. “No. Stop it. Stop this right now!”
