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But I can’t.
The night before, we’d thought the battle was over. We’d thought we’d taken down all of our enemies. Ann’s light disappeared, and then we were attacked by four grave trolls and dozens of rot monkeys. It was a lot given how worn down we were, and we didn’t do our best. In fact, Onyx and I barely survived.
Only to discover from Rayne that Ann was gone, leaving behind nothing except the pouch of moon shards she held onto for us and her dagger. Still, we searched the area, hoping she got into trouble and hid. Or that whoever took her hadn’t made it into the Void yet.
Even though the thread of hope we were clinging to was foolish.
We’d searched through the night and into the morning, when we should’ve been asleep and hiding from the roaming rot monkeys, but it was of no use. There was only one place she could be now. And it was the most dangerous place for us. A place completely controlled by our father and Phantom. A place roaming with dangerous creatures and with very little cover to conceal us should we try to infiltrate it.
But that’s where she is.
So that’s where we need to go.
My gaze meets Onyx’s as he sits, carving wood into sharp points, the only thing he can do right now with his injured leg. He drops his tools with obvious frustration and begins to sign, “he probably has her in the castle.”
I nod, then notice Rayne frowning, and I realize he probably doesn’t know the sign for castle, so I sign as I explain, “Phantom has probably put Ann in his castle. That’s what Onyx was saying, and I agree, that’s the most logical place.”
“And you’re all sure,” he swallows, staring down at his hands for a moment, “he didn’t just kill her.”
Fuck. Is that why he’s been so grim? Why he was demanding we go to the Void when we were all exhausted and injured?
“She has no value to him dead. They still believe in the prophecy,” I explain slowly, while signing.
Rayne looks relieved. At least a little bit. “But we still need to go there next. Right?” And his gaze catches mine. “The sooner the better?”
I wince. Yes, that’s where we should be going next. Where we should have gone already. The thing is, that I don’t think I can, and IknowOnyx can’t. Not without a little more time to rest. Rot monkeys had attacked my legs, leaving open wounds that were slowly healing, but painful even to shift. And a grave troll had punched me so fucking hard. His big meaty fist had struck me in the chest and shoulder, leaving my body aching so badly that I don’t think I could pick up a sword if my life depended on it. Without a doubt a rib was broken, probably more given my black and blue skin.
And I was in better condition than Onyx. A grave troll had managed to kick him in the leg. So hard that I was sure it was broken. He’d strapped a branch to it, but the pain in his face was visible in everything he did. Even when he wasn’t moving, he looked miserable.
Without Ann’s healing light, we needed a day, at least, to get into fighting form. Shadow beasts heal quickly, but after so many days of fighting with almost no rest, our bodies were struggling to heal our old wounds along with our new ones.
If we went to the shadow realm like this, I had no doubt we’d be picked off so fast that Ann would never be saved. It killed me to know that, to accept that we were that weak, but it doesn’t change the fact that it’s true.
“You can’t make it there, can you?” Rayne asks.
I don’t want to fucking say it.“Tomorrow, perhaps.”
Rayne doesn’t say more, just looks away, and then we all get to work doing what we can to prepare to move to another location, but the tension in our camp is like another beast. It’s impossible to ignore. So overwhelming that it isn’t just my pain that makes it hard to breathe.
When our soup is ready, we all sit and eat in silence around the fire. I’m waiting, for what I don’t know, maybe for Rayne to demand we pull ourselves together for our mate. But if I thought that was possible, I would have done it already.
He has to know that.
Suddenly, I sense movement outside of our little cave. I’m on my feet in an instant, sword in hand. My head spins a little, but I see that Onyx is on his feet too, swaying with his dagger held out before him. Rayne sees us, and after a second of confusion, is standing too. We all stare at the cave entrance. I have a million thoughts running through my head, but the most pressing one is that none of our enemies should be able to attack during the day.
Could it be Ann?
Who else could it be?
Imara suddenly appears in the opening of our cave, looking filthy and exhausted. We lower our weapons, and Onyx collapses back onto the ground without a word. But I just stare in shock. When the battle with our father happened, and we were betrayed, I hadn’t thought to look for the only female shadow beast among us. I just assumed she’d died or left with everyone else. And I’m so fucking angry with myself for not checking.
I failed the elder. Then Ann. Now Imara. I’m such a fucking mess.
“Are you okay?” I ask her, even though the second the question leaves my mouth I want to take it back.
She nods, moves to our fire, and sits down beside it, filling a bowl with our soup. Without speaking, she simply eats for a long time. Rayne looks at me in confusion, but I just nod, and then we’re all sitting.
If she’d gone with the others, she’d be trapped in her beast form. The fact that she isn’t means she didn’t betray us. Anything beyond that we could figure out, after she feeds and rests.
