Page 132 of The Kingdom of Eternal Ice
“Yes, we need to find a way to stop her,” Aylin says. “And Princess Azadeh can’t be alone for one minute anymore. I mean it, we can’t leave her alone!”
“She is right,” Endellion says seriously. “I know this is going to limit your freedom, a lot,” he says to me.
“I know, but we can’t help it,” I say. “I want this to end, too, so I will do everything that’s necessary.”
Endellion takes my hand beneath the table, squeezing it gently.
“I think we should go with Tynan’s offer then,” Gillean says and stands up abruptly.
“Didn’t you say it’s too dangerous?” Kilah asks.
I look at them, curious. “What do you mean?”
“Tynan offered to use the mate bond he feels to Shayan,” Aylin explains. “To track him down. It does mean getting deep into Tynan’s mind, though. And we all know, by now, what mind games can do. The bond needs to be very strong, and as for now, Tynan and Shayan haven’t marked or mated. They haven’t even talked much, and we don’t know Shayan’s feelings. If the bond is too weak, this whole spell might kill Tynan.”
Silence engulfs us, while everyone ponders about what she just said. Most of us look gloomy at the prospect of endangering our friend like that. To my surprise, Flinn speaks up. “I think we should do it. Tynan offered it. He is aware of the risks.”
“But, what if we lose him?” Kilah asks.
Endellion sighs, pinching the bridge of his nose. “What if we lose Shayan?” he asks in return. “What if he dies in the claws of the witch?”
“Then it would destroy Tynan,” Kilah says.
“I know it would have destroyed me had Azadeh died today,” Endellion says. “And I know that I would always take the risk to end my own life if it saves her.”
I feel instantly horrified at his words. I don’t want him to get hurt, not for me, not for anyone else. Even the thought of him doing something so dangerous would terrify me. Yet, if roles were reversed, I’d do it too. Just like Tynan, I would take this risk, because to me the world would never be the same again without Endellion in it.
“Let’s just agree not to be unnecessarily reckless,” I say quietly.
“My choice of words wouldn’t have been that diplomatic,” Kilah grumbles.
Flinn looks like he wants to say something, but to my surprise he just closes his mouth and remains quiet. It’s the first time he doesn’t take the bait to argue with his sister.
“I agree with Prince Flinn. I think we should respect Tynan’s wish,” Beta Quinn says. “He has proven to be very capable. Due to his kind and fun nature, we tend to underestimate him, but maybe we should trust him?”
His words seem to give everyone the final push. The discussion goes on for a while longer, but everyone seems to be ready to give Tynan this chance. I listen to their talk, but my mind goes back to feeling dizzy. It’s like I have difficulties focusing on anything. Maybe it’s from the hot soup I just ate, maybe the shock from today was too much.
I feel my chest clenching again, as a crippling fear tightens around my heart. A fear, I don’t understand.
“Excuse me,” I say to the others, before getting up and heading to the next bathroom. In there I finally break down, coughing. It’s like a knot in my chest dissolves and tries to crawl up my throat violently.
Did I swallow too much water?
I grasp my throat, trying to take big gulps of air to chase the tightness away. My lungs feel like they are constricting.
I cough again, this time more violently than before, feeling how my chest and throat ache from how much my body shakes. I blink in confusion when I raise my hand and realize there is blood dripping from it.
Another coughing fit shakes my body, making me cough up more blood.
But why?
“Azadeh?” Endellion asks. “Is everything alright? You disappeared so fast, and everyone is worried.”
I try to open my mouth to answer him, but I’m still gasping for air.
“I’m coming in now, okay?”
I can’t answer him, as another cough makes me curl over in pain.
