"I don't know," I seethed. "I can't see her!"
"You need to find her, Elias!"
"I can't fucking see her!"
The house shook.
Kenya screamed, doubling over in pain. "Alex!"
"Talin, get Alex and get out," I ordered, putting every ounce of command I had into my voice. "Now."
Her voice came to me in echoes, and I didn't know if everyone could hear her or if it was just in my head.
I can't reach him. Elias, we have to stop the ritual or?—
Another tremor. Stronger this time. Plaster dust rained from the ceiling.
Oh gods…
"Talin?!"
She spoke so softly I could barely hear her.
He's using me. He's been using me all this time.
I told Judy what she'd said. "What the fuck does that mean?"
"He's trying to merge our dimensions," Judy said in awe. "Of course. That's how he's going to do it."
"What the hell are you talking about?" I practically roared, but Judy just started chanting louder.
"She needs to sever his connection," I said through gritted teeth. "Can't she just cut the thread anchoring him to that dimension?"
Yessss… Talin's voice was only a whisper of sound now as it ricocheted around my head.
"No!" Judy shouted. Her face went pale. "Damn it! I don't know. I don't know." Then she shook her head. "No. She's still in there. She'll be trapped with Alex."
"No." The word came out flat. Final. There was no way in hell that was happening. "Not acceptable. There has to be another way."
There isn't. Talin's voice was barely a whisper, but I heard her clear enough. Through the bond. Through the air. Through every particle of space between us. Alex can escape. I have him. I'll send him out first. You can all escape.
"And you?" I already knew the answer, but I needed to hear her say it.
Elias...
"Then you're not fucking doing it, Talin."
I felt more than heard her sigh. It's the only way to save everyone else.
"I don't care about everyone else." The words ripped from somewhere deep and primal. "I care about you."
Elias… I'm sorry…I love you…
"No." I held our thread so tight it started to burn through my fist. "You don't get to sacrifice yourself. Not for Alex, not for this city, not for anyone. Do you understand me? I just found you. I'm not losing you before we've even had a chance."
"What is she saying?" Kenya asked, and I told her.
The house shook again. Harder this time. Something crashed in another room.
