“You don’t know why you’re here?” Jessandra asked.
“I cannot tell you why I’m here.” The words came out strained as if he pushed them through his teeth.
“See my conundrum?”
“For the last time, I need to speak with Mergle.”
Jessandra’s eyes widened. “How do you know Mergle?”
Serwin looked at her like he wanted to reveal all of his secrets and then some. “If only I could tell you, love.”
She jerked back and faced me. Were her cheeks pink? I do believe she was blushing.
Quickly clearing her throat, she said, “I need to see Mergle, too.”
I sighed. “Fine. I will take you both to him, but you,” I pointed at Jessandra, “will keep your mouth shut and observe.”
Her jaw clenched, but she nodded.
I took us to the dungeon. The moment we stepped inside the dark corridor, Serwin noticed the pixie orbs. He reached out for one but dropped his hand. “Why are they in there?”
“Why are they here?” I countered. When he didn’t respond, I asked, “Are they spies?”
Serwin smiled. “They can be used as such, among other things.”
A non-answer, answer. Now that someone was doing it to me, I understood Calista’s frustration when I did it to her.
“Where are we?” Jessandra asked as they followed me down the brick tunnel.
I debated whether I should tell them or let them discover it on their own. Mergle’s cell was quickly approaching down the first offshoot.
“The dungeon.”
“Dungeon?” They chimed together.
Serwin stormed up to me and took the lead in questioning. “Why is he in the dungeon?”
My teeth ached because I ground them so hard. “He committed treason.”
Jessandra’s voice came from over my other shoulder. “Mergle would never.”
“He did,” I seethed.
“What did he do?”
I spun on them. “He aligned with others to steal the stone in an attempt to wield my power.”
“No. I don’t believe it.”
“Believe it. He should wither with the rest of them—”
“You cannot allow that to happen!” Serwin lurched forward. “You need him!”
I needed him for more than information. Mergle was my confidant and friend. The only friend I had. Although he deserved it, I couldn’t leach his essence and watch him wither. Keeping Mergle here went against every fiber of my being, but I couldn’t trust him. This was the only safe place for him and me.
“Which is precisely why I didn’t.”
“Serwin?” Mergle called out. “Is that you?”
