Page 3 of Catastrophe

But our cabin and Daithi and Savida’s cabin had survived such destruction.

I jumped over the splintered remains of a door to find that the inside was also torn apart—a sofa overturned, stuffing ripped from cushions; the table and chairs broken in a pile on the floor.

The island was empty. Everyone was gone. And the question remained; what happened here?

And where are my men? Maybe Charlie isn’t safe with Zaide. Maybe our bond broke because he died from whatever attacked the witches here.

My heart splintered at the thought that Charlie really was dead but I collected myself with a shake of my fur. Spinning back around, I started my search again, this time relying on my nose for guidance.

I checked our cabin again and found nothing but moldy toast. The other cabins had the residual smoke from bullets and … a new-leather-shoe scent?

Thankfully, there were no bodies.

I only had the main house to check, but I realized Baelen hadn’t followed as I searched with single-minded focus. Trotting on sore paws, I headed toward the cabin. Maybe he went for a lie-down? Listening closely, I heard a crunch behind our cabin and loped into the long grass and woodland.

He was kneeling near a tree, his hand on the ground, his head bowed like it was a sacred place. I looked at him curiously and waited for him to explain. When he finally spoke, his voice was low and apologetic. “There were hunters. They must have captured everyone.”

I sat down and blinked as I tried to understand. Hunters? How? I thought the island had protection from the wards? They failed?

And then I remembered the horrible vision Daithi had before we came to the island. The one that made the faei turn a similar pallor to his green hair to witness. A vision in which Zaide was captured by hunters and tortured.

With my eyes wide with panic and my fur on end, I clawed at Baelen’s trousers, crying out.

Zaide. What happened to Zaide? Did they take him? Daithi said he was alone in his cage, but maybe Daithi didn’t see himself or Savida or the witches because they were in another cage somewhere else?

Baelen must have seen my fear in my eyes, because he stroked a hand over my head and down my back.

His jaw was tight, and his voice was low as he said, “We saw Zaide. He saved us here. He protected us and got shot himself but told us to leave him and find you and Charlie, that it was his destiny to be captured.”

I heard what he didn’t say. He didn’t want to leave Zaide, but the shadow possessing him forced him to.

I didn’t blame Baelen—Zaide wouldn’t either—but the fact remained that instead of finding Charlie, the shadow portaled us away to use us for his own needs. And because of his actions, Zaide was taken and Charlie was missing, presumed dead since his bond with me was broken.

Anger burned low in my gut. If I ever saw that smokey, evil shadow ever again …

Baelen picked up something in the grass, and I recognized it instantly. My heart sank. Zaide’s prayer stone glinted in the morning light. He usually wore it in his braid, used it to pray to the gods, and treasured it. I meowed pitifully.

I hated the thought of him alone and in a cage, worn down by the thought of this inevitable moment without the comfort of his prayer stone and the hope of his gods listening. It was easy to picture.

Our last stint in a cage didn’t bring out the best in my titan, and he withdrew as his fears overwhelmed him. That it would happen all over again but I couldn’t be there to comfort him was the worst kind of torture.

I was powerless to help him until we found him. Until we tracked the hunters and rescued him from their cruel grasp.

I screamed in my head at the injustice of it all. How much more could we be tested? How much more could we take until we broke?

I tugged on my bond with Zaide, the purple line buzzing with power, and called out to him. I prayed for him to talk to me, to assure me he was all right despite everything, but he stayed silent. Cold. Distant.

Baelen bowed his head and gripped the stone tightly. He whispered, “I didn’t keep my promise to keep you both safe. I’ve failed you all.”

Baelen had felt the moment my familiar bond snapped and saw the pain and death overcoming me. Was he assuming the hunters got Charlie, too? Why would Daithi only forewarn us of Zaide’s capture but not Charlie’s death or suffering? But why would being captured by hunters break our bond?

I couldn’t understand it. Any of it. I wanted to cry and cursed being in this body, where tears weren’t an option.

“Let us look for signs of Charlie. He was last at the main house, yes?” Baelen said and wiped his trousers as he stood.

Before he could even take a step, I dashed off up the hill, running against the wind, drying my eyes out, and getting hit by the long grass, leaving him hurrying behind. The door to the main house was wide open, and inside, the cabin was as ransacked as the others. The dining table had been tipped over, books littered the hallways, and dishes lay in smashed pieces all over the kitchen.

I loped up the stairs to the library and followed the ripped pages, hardback shells, and smeared ink into a room which was completely unrecognizable.

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