We said nothing, and Oberi went on.Charlie is an Elf, which means he has the ability to break bonds. That meansanybond.
My mouth dropped open in horror. “You’re not suggesting what I think you are.”
What other option do we have? Oberi asked.
“Then it’s simple,” Charlie said. “I break my bond with you, and with Ava, then the both of you will be safe.”
“Charlie, no,” I protested.
I’m afraid you don’t understand,Oberi said.The two of your souls are so intertwined that you won’t be able to control who I remain connected to. The connection you share is not an ordinary bond. The result of who I stay bonded to is completely up to chance.
“Then who would you go with?” Charlie asked.
Oberi was quiet, before he said,I believe I would remain bonded to whoever’s connection with me was the strongest.It could go either way.
I shuddered. The idea was abhorrent to me. Lose my bond to Charlie, and possibly to Oberi? A fate worse than death. I’d rather perish in the Underground at the hands of the Warden, as much as I hated the man.
Charlie, though, was contemplating it. I could see it on his face.
“Don’t you do it, Charlie. I’ll never forgive you,” I threatened.
“What other choice do we have?” he said miserably. “This seems like the only way to make it fair.”
“Nothing’s fair at the Institute. That’s why we have to play dirty,” I snarled.
“Why can’t you see that everything I’ve ever done is to protect you?” he said hopelessly.
“I’m a big girl. I can take care of myself,” I demanded. “Don’t break our bond. Just wait. There has to be another solution.”
Charlie was still. I grabbed his hand. “Come on. We’re going to the library. There has to besomekind of loophole.”
I was damn determined to find some sort of law or rule that would make the Warden unable to take Charlie to the Underground, no matter what his blood status. Kallie and Marcus joined us, sifting through books and papers. I read the Institute’s code of conduct three times and got nowhere. Marcus shuffled through pages in the international law book from the United Supernatural Union, and Kallie read illusion books, trying to find some sort of fae trick or contract that would get us out of this.
Charlie couldn’t really help, so he just sat there. His fingers caressed my arm as I worked, or wandered around my thigh. He was looking for some kind of comfort, preparing himself for what he thought was inevitable.
I motivated myself as I worked.I am Ava-Marie Mitoh. I am the firstborn of a great chief and the daughter of a powerful Chosen One. I will not be beaten by the Warden. I won’t lose the man I love and allow him to be tortured and killed. This is within my power to stop.
As time went on, though, my determination began to dwindle. By the end of the day, we were all back in the music room. I sat on the floor with my back against the wall, crying heavily. Whenever I shed one tear, there was another to come.
The Warden could take Charlie away at any moment, and we had nothing to stop him with. As clever as we all thought we were, we had no options.
“Let’s just enjoy the rest of the night,” Charlie offered. He sat next to me, Oberi splayed across his lap. “It’s the last one we’re gonna get together.”
“We have to keep trying.” I sniffed.
“Pidge, just let me have this. One small moment of happiness,” Charlie begged.
The door opened. I didn’t look up to see who it was, but the stereo in the music room clicked on, and a familiar song drifted out of it. A Latin ballad.
My brother stooped in front of me. He smiled and held out his hand. “Remember this?”
As if I could ever forget. Opal, Chancey, and Ivy stood in the doorway. They must’ve heard the news.
I didn’t much feel like dancing, but Ez kept his hand suspended there. I took it and rose to my feet. He twirled me around, then pulled me into a tango hold. We began to move in unison, like we’d just done this routine yesterday instead of years ago.
Despite the misery I felt, a smile broke its way across my face. I remembered this dance. It’d been our favorite routine. I sang along to the words in Spanish, and Ez spun me around.
I was laughing by the end of it. Charlie smiled, like he loved to hear that sound. Our friends applauded in appreciation.
