Moving my attention to the chains, I picked up the one around her neck first and summoned the eather. It responded at once to my will. There was no display of power, but it obliterated the shadowstone. Then I picked up the other, destroying it as quickly as I had the first.
Brushing the fine dust from my palms, I let out a shaky breath. I had no idea how my touch had awakened Nektas, and my so-called foresight was quiet. I lifted my hand, hesitating for a moment.
“If it doesn’t work, it’ll be okay,” Reaver assured me.
But would it?
I couldn’t see how. I pressed my lips together.
You can do this, came Casteel’s voice.Just be prepared to move quickly.
I understood why he worried. There was no telling how Jadis would react upon awakening.
Drawing in a shallow breath, I placed my hand on her talon. I felt the ridges of her scales, and the stone was warm like Nektas’s had been. I kept my hand there, my eyes glued to her sharp claws.
Nothing happened.
My stomach dropped, but it hadn’t been immediate with Nektas either. His awakening had taken a couple of moments. How many, though? Less than a minute? Two or three? I felt Reaver leaning closer.
I scanned the stone, searching for any hints of change and finding none. Disappointment threatened to rise as I concentrated on the thrumming essence. I hadn’t done that last time. I hadn’t even tried last time. But I could feel the powerhumming through my veins, and a glow of silver tinged in gold radiated from my hand.
But still…nothing happened.
“It may take her longer,” Reaver reasoned. “She’s still considered a youngling, and she’s deep in her sleep.”
I nodded, keeping my hand on her.Come on.I repeated those two words over and over as theseconds ticked by, the only sound the pounding of my heart. I couldn’t take back what Isbeth had done to Jadis, but I could at least bring her back to her family and loved ones. I needed to be able to do this. My skin vibrated, and my chest hummed as the aura around my hand pulsed and flickered over the stone.
“Jadis, please come back to us,” Reaver said, his voice soft and gentle in a way I’d never heard it before. “Please return to us.” The breath he exhaled was ragged, and when he spoke again, it came out as a broken whisper, “I’m sorry, Jade. So fucking sorry.”
A slice of pain cut through my chest. I closed my eyes. Desperation swelled. The heat of eather flared from deep within me as I felt Casteel kneel behind me and set his hand on my shoulder.
“Just a couple more minutes,” I said—or pleaded.
Squeezing my shoulder, he stayed silent. We waited more than a couple of minutes, but I was willing to wait hours.
I pressed a little harder against the stone and bit down on my lip until I tasted blood. What if she couldn’t—? No, I wouldn’t let myself think that.
“Poppy,” Reaver uttered hoarsely.
Frustration prickled at my skin. “Just a few—”
“It’s okay,” he swore.
My hand trembled. “No, it’s not.”
Reaver twisted toward me. “Look at me.”
“I need to focus,” I stated firmly.
“Poppy,” he uttered, his voice cracking like a frayed rope about to snap.
I turned to face him, the light from the torch casting shadows across his angular features. Pressure clamped down on my chest.
Reaver swallowed as he took hold of my wrist and pulled my hand away from the stone. “It has to be okay.”
I shook my head, staring at his long, slender fingers encircling my wrist. “I…I don’t know why it’s not working.” I searched my whirling thoughts, but no intuition held any answers for me. And I didn’t know what that meant. Lifting my head, I looked at Casteel. “I don’t understand. And the absolutely uselessvadentiaisn’t working.”
I turned back to Reaver before Casteel could reply, my heart lurching. Not wanting to give up, I pulled against his hold. “Let me try again.”
