NO. NO. NO!
But Dahes wasn’t taking it back, wasn’t telling me this was one, big horrible mistake. If I knew anything about him, it was that he only spoke in facts, even if they were twisted and manipulated. If he made a threat, it wasn’t idle. If he told me something, there was always some truth. But this, this couldn’t be true…
“He’s not dead,” I whispered, my voice barely audible, but I knew he heard every syllable.
“You think I wouldn’t know who is dead, little ghost?”Dahes’ voice crooned inside my head.“I own them.”
I was barely aware of Hael watching. He was standing so still, his fists balled at his sides…
“You promised,” my voice stuttered. I couldn’t hold back the tears now. “Our deal was Masin lives…”
“No.” His voice was chilling, cutting right through me. “Our deal was that I’d bring himbackto life. I can’t help it if he dies of his own accord later.”
I was shaking my head, tears soaking my dress. “No. No. No.” My voice rose an octave as I screamed. “He’s alive. You’re fucking lying!”
Alive. Alive. Alive.
He couldn’t be dead. This couldn’t be for nothing. I tried to save him, tried to protect him?—
I couldn’t breathe.
My vision blurred as my eyes glossed over and all I could see was the purple and blue glow from the Examinis.
The river…
My eyes snapped to the river. It was why he brought me here. To taunt me. To show me…
I tried to take a step back, but I couldn’t, my chains were pulled taut.
“NO, NO, NO,” I was screaming, shrieking, sobbing, slowly dying over and over again as my heart was ripped out.
This wasn’t how it was supposed to be. I couldn’t look?—
“Do not close your eyes, Magnolia,” Dahes ordered. “I promised you incentive for completing the hunt, so here it is. You get to see him again.”
My eyes snapped open, and with it, more tears fell, clearing my vision, allowing me to see perfectly as Dahes flicked his fingers and a figure started moving toward the surface. It only lasted a second—but it was long enough to see the head of curls beneath the water, the cheekbones, the same dimples I had if I ever smiled?—
My brother.
My little brother was in the Examinis River.
Chapter Forty-Five
Masin
MAGNOLIA
Iwas sobbing, screaming at Dahes to bring him back. I barely saw his reflection in the river before he was gone, barely got to take in the face I grew up with through the foam in the water, but it was enough that I couldn’t deny it.
Masin was dead.
My little brother was dead.
I went through hell so he could have a better life, so he couldlive. I became Dahes’ slave. I made my deal in order to bring him back.
I kept reliving the last time I saw him in that river, the first time he died. It was my constant nightmare since coming here.
I was fifteen, Masin was thirteen. Only thirteen years old and he was taken from me. I took out a piece of bread by the river, and it was stupid. So fucking stupid. I should have known better, should have waited to give Masin the food until we were well past the bridges. But he was on the brink of passing out. I didn’t think he’d make it to the northern shore to eat. He was so weak, so starved, so cold?—
