Page 35 of Bound By Roses

“Yeah,” I answer gruffly, even though I know Evan was. I see his face in my dreams every night, just as I do the wraiths. His lips move silently, but whatever message he has for me gets lost in their screams.

A wave of panic slams into me and I double over, clutching my stomach as if someone just landed a punch to my gut. I struggle to suck in a breath as ripples of terror course through me, originating from somewhere a hundred feet below me.

Tess’s hands are on me, easing me upright, and there’s nothing but concern in her eyes. “What is it? Are you hurt?”

I’m already moving away from her when I call back in answer. “Something’s wrong. Stay here!”

I weave through my people, dodging them and the stones they carry as best I can as I sprint for the bridge that leads to the center island. ‘Abby, talk to me. What’s happening?’

Her voice is laced with fear as it flits through my mind.‘It’s Jade! He’s… I don’t know!’Her words are muffled and broken, as if there’s some kind of interference messing with our ability to speak to one another. That alone has me moving faster.

I spot Merrick on one of the other bridges that cross to another island. There’s at least fifty feet of water between us, but I call to him, anyway. “Merrick!” His head snaps in my direction—thank the Gods for dragon hearing—and he shifts, launching himself into the air and closing the space between us in little more than three flaps of his massive wings. “Something’s wrong with Jade!” I shout up to him when he’s above me, and, without a word, he flips backwards and flies straight for the whirlpool. For the first time in my life, I wish I had wings.

‘I’m coming. Merrick will be there in a second.’He’ll get there first, and hopefully that’ll be enough to handle whatever’s happening down there.

I’m on the stairs now, but Abby’s silence has gone on far too long.‘If you don’t talk to me, I’m jumping down this hole.’I might just break every bone in my legs, but at least it would get me there quicker.

Her answer comes swiftly.‘Merrick’s here.’

My lungs burn with exertion, but I blow out a sigh, anyway.‘What’s happening?’

I’m almost there. Just another minute.

‘Jade isn’t Jade.’

What the fuck does that mean?‘I need more than that.’I have no idea what I’m about to run into, and that goes against everything I am as a strategist. I was trained for war. Taught to know my enemy before facing them head on. Going in blind has never been part of my plan.

I burst into the room before she can answer. Abby’s eyes fly to me, and there’s nothing but absolute horror in them. Jade’s head slowly turns my way, and bright red eyes that should be green settle on me. I skid to a stop under the weight of that stare. There’s something…Godlikein it. Something that must be obeyed. I hadn’t even realized I’d drawn my sword, but now it shakes in my hand.

I force my eyes from Jade and scan the room. Merrick and Nuri stand together, while my sister and Rhett cling toeach other—though Rhett looks more fearful than Kaylee. She’s probably already seen this.

“Who are you?” I ask, because everyone else is silent.

Jade laughs and it’s all wrong. The laugh is definitely female. “I don’t waste my time with humans.” Jade turns his head to Abby. I feel the urge to move to her, but my feet are locked in place by whatever power the creature possessing Jade has. “Soyouare Terranous’ Chosen.” Not-Jade looks her up and down.

In true Abby fashion, she takes a step forward and squares her shoulders. “I am. And what are you? An echo?”

The ghostly laugh fills the small room again. The red lines on Jade’s skin glow as if his skin is now a map of Dragoria itself.

“I have no need for such trivial magic.”

“What. Are. You?” Abby says every word slowly and forcefully.

Merrick’s voice rings clear, though there’s fear in his words. “Not what.Who.” He drops to one knee and lowers his head in a sign of respect. “Inferna.”

Nuri follows suit, but Rhett hesitates. I can tell he wants to kneel too, but Kaylee seems to urge him to stay upright.

“Regent. I’m pleased someone recognized me.”

“Forgive our arrogance,” he says, not risking eye contact with the Goddess of Destruction again. “We believed you dead.”

“Of course you did. But you will not make such a mistake again.”

Merrick’s whole body trembles as if Jade—Inferna—is doing something to him. The dragons have a connection, and Inferna is their Goddess, so it makes sense that she might share in that connection. Is she syphoning his power? If she drains him, surely it will kill him.

Abby gasps and I realize I wasn’t just thinking the words to myself, I was sharing them with her.

“What do you want with Jade?” Abby says, almost angry now.

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