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But nothing returned to her.
No matter what, she’d keep trying. However, she broke her meditation long enough to contact Mastyrs Ian and Zane. She wanted them on call, as well as Davido, if she was finally able to determine Stone’s exact location.
The men responded as she expected. Each would await her telepathic call to arms.
But was she too late?
~ ~ ~
Stone had branding burns over a large part of his upper body and the temperature seemed to be dropping. He’d thrown up several times and now shook all over. He felt death creeping up on him.
Margetta was looking more and more shriveled as she sank into her furs and waited as her minions continued to press the heated branding iron against his skin. Her eyes were closed. He realized she’d fallen asleep.
The three troll slaves who kept the fire burning and the iron hot, were miserable creatures, beaten into submission by their mistress. Each had mouthed their apologies to Stone when they’d seared his skin. He didn’t blame them. He knew exactly what would happen to them if they disobeyed. He wished like hell that he could do something to save them.
He was weak now and at times confused. He kept hallucinating Rosamunde’s voice in his head, Stone, can you hear me? Please respond. If we work together, I’ll be able to find you. Then I’ll bring an army to get you away from Margetta.
Death couldn’t be far away, not if he was hearing things that couldn’t possibly exist.
One of the minions had just finished sinking the brand into his flesh. The smell alone was hard to bear. But at least he’d have a few minutes before it would be hot enough to do its job again.
Stone! Please hear me! Stone, are you there? I want to bring you home. Please, talk to me. Tell me you’re okay.
Though he hung forward in the shackles and his joints ached, though his feet were frozen and his blood sluggish, he realized it was an odd hallucination to invent a series of repeated urgings. Either that, or he was closer to death than he thought?
Besides, Rosamunde had a lot of power. Maybe she’d found a way to reach him?
Is that you, Rosamunde?
He really didn’t expect a response. Yet Rosamunde’s voice came through with startling clarity. I’m here! Stone, I’ve been meditating and hoping we could reach each other.
You’re not dead? But you were burned so badly when Margetta took me away.
Kaden healed me.
Kaden. Davido. His birth father, his mentor. Thank the Goddess.
The unexpected connection to Rosamunde filled him with hope and his energy began to rise. Yet at the same time, his heart hurt and he was filled with remorse. He’d been so harsh with Rosamunde, judging her badly because she’d refused to act on Margetta’s visions. But here he was, shackled to a wall in an ice cave because he’d been so sure he could make a difference when she couldn’t.
He’d been arrogant beyond words and so willing to believe the worst of her.
Yet, if he was truly honest with himself, he knew now that Davido was right, that he’d been using his bad-opinion of her to keep her at a distance. Beneath everything was his fear he’d lose someone again that he loved. His parents’ deaths had strangled his heart, closing him off from meaningful relationships.
He’d thrown himself into his Guardsman missions because the harder he worked, the less energy he had to either feel his grief or to try to have a real relationship with a woman.
Well, what he had with Rosamunde was very real and they shared their love of the Nine Realms and an equal passion to keep their world free of tyrants. And he no longer wanted to hide from potential grief.
He wanted Rosamunde.
Can you forgive me? He asked.
For what?
He would have laughed if his cheeks weren’t frostbitten and his lips frozen together. For everything. I’ve been an arrogant ass.
Stone, you are so forgiven. How could you have known what Margetta was truly capable of?
Is the Communication Center intact?
