Page 93 of On Broken Bonds

"We’re safe."

Fenric raises an eyebrow.

I wince.

"How?"

"Magic."

“What magic?”

I try to keep my face blank. “Just magic.”

Despite everything, the corner of his mouth twitches.

I look away.

"What matters," I say quickly, forcing my attention back to Fenric, "is that no one should be able to see us."

I gesture toward the shimmering air.

"The monsters couldn't. The other groups probably couldn’t. Everything just sort of... looked past us."

"Looked past us?"

"I don't know how else to explain it."

The words sound foolish even to me.

But they're true.

"When I use it, beings stop noticing us. They stop paying attention. It's like we stop being important."

Fenric studies the shimmering air around us.

Then he studies me.

A thoughtful expression settles over his face.

"And you think it will work on warlocks?"

The question lands heavily between us. I want to say yes. I want to sound confident. Certain. Instead, I think about Thorian. About the fireballs. About the screams. About the fact that I'm making all of this up as I go.

"I think so," I say finally.

It's not a lie. Not entirely. It's just not certainty.

Fenric seems to realize that. His gaze softens. "Hey."

I look at him.

A tired smile appears on his face. "We made it across the swamp."

"Barely."

"We still made it. We’ll be okay now too."

Something warm settles in my chest.