Page 232 of Fangs
I hesitated briefly, but now that he’d opened these floodgates of truth, I had to know more, desperatelyneededto know more.
“Ok,” I whispered. “Ok, I’ll trust you, but I swear if you?—”
“I won’t,” he interrupted fiercely. “I swear.”
His hands settled on either side of my head, and shadows filled his eyes, slowly swallowing the blue until there was only black—just like Clarity’s power. Then I felt it, a shimmer of darkness sliding through my veins, and it felt so similar to the Shadowbane that I almost jerked away.
“Wait,” he suddenly spoke sharply, and his voice sounded both close and far away, crackling with power that made the hair on my arms stand up. “You have?—”
“Em? Em, please wake up. Please. Please don’t be dead!”
I dragged my heavy eyelids open and stared at the sky, slowly lightening with the dawn through the bars of a cage. I tried to move, but my body was still partially paralyzed by the narc. I managed to turn my head to see Roe sitting beside my cage and gripping one of my hands. Relief filled his tear-stained face when he met my gaze.
“Em!” he sobbed. “Are you ok?”
“M’ok,” I mumbled.
“They killed Sax,” he said through sobs.
Sax. Sax was trying to help us, but he failed. He killed Zana, and the Voiceless killed him, and now it was just me and Roe.
Roe let out a squeak of terror, and Talmar crouched beside him. He was frowning, an icy anger crackling in his eyes.Fuck.
“Ember,” he began, and the cold tone of his voice made my hands start shaking, “running was a grave mistake. You cannot escape your destiny, and all you have proven is your own weakness and lack of understanding. As you continue to delay the inevitable, you bring more suffering upon yourself.”
“Is it inevitable if it can be delayed?” I mumbled without thinking, then winced. I’d gotten too used to speaking freely.
Talmar stood, towering over us with a furious expression. Then he turned andkickeda booted foot hard into Roe’s ribs. All the air rushed out of Roe’s lungs with a pained gasp, and his hand was ripped from mine as he fell backward. Before he could get up, Talmar was kicking him again and again.
“No!” I shrieked, forcing my numb body to lurch upright. “No! No! Stop! Please stop!”
Talmar withdrew, and with horror, I noted there was blood on his boot. Roe didn’t move.
“I had hoped it wouldn’t come to this, but your defiance comes at a cost. There are consequences to each act of rebellion. If you persist in this, the consequences will be severe.” He gestured at Roe, who was curled in a ball, gasping sobs. “Do not mistake my mercy for weakness. The child will suffer if you continue to challenge your divine purpose.”
Tears streamed from my eyes as I clung to the bars of my cage and stared helplessly at Roe. I knew better than to run my mouth, especially with Roe here.
“I’m sorry.” I forced the words out, the lie bitter in my mouth. “Please forgive me, Talmar.”
He stared at me, his expression unreadable. I couldn’t tell if he believed me, but I put my all into keeping my expression contrite.
“This is your last warning, Ember,” he finally said. “You will accept your fate or suffer the wrath of the God of Death. The decision is yours but know that we are watching and will act accordingly.”
I bowed my head in what I hoped looked like an act of submission.
“You shall remain here until we are ready to depart,” he finished before standing and striding away.
I waited until he was a safe distance away before scrambling to the corner of the cage closest to where Roe lay.
“Roe, can you hear me? Roe!”
He moved agonizingly slowly but lifted his head and looked at me. His face was already swelling, and his nose and lip were bloody.
“Oh my gods,” I sobbed, horrified. “I’m so sorry, Roe. Can you come here?”
Roe pushed himself up, tears sliding down his cheeks, and managed to drag himself back to me, one arm wrapped around his ribs.
As soon as I could reach him, I took his arm and let my healing power flow. Talmar had broken two of his ribs, his nose, and a part of his skull was fractured. Relief filled his face as my magic healed his injuries. Once fully healed, I pulled him as close as possible, hugging him through the cage. His body trembled as he clung to me.
