Page 28 of Bound By Roses

Jade’s mouth opens again, but this time it’s a scream forcing its way through it as if he’s in very real pain—yet I don’t feel any of it. For the first time, I’m certain our bond really has broken. I reach for it anyway, even just in the hopes that it will help me calm him down, but there’s nothing.

“Jade.” His name sounds wrong on my tongue. “Look at me.”

He already is, but there’s nothing but anger in those eyes that are the only part of him I recognize.

“Control him!” The healer yells from somewhere behind me.

I’m trying. The Gods know I’m trying, but he isn’t responding. I send up a silent prayer to Terranous, but either he can’t help me here or he’s not listening because any second now Jade is going to break free and then who knows what will happen.

“It’s not working!” I shout back, desperate for this to end. We shouldn’t have done this. It was too soon. Jade wasn’t ready.

Merrick grabs hold of Jade again, this time from behind, but as a dragon, he’s far stronger. Merrick shifts and the room gets even smaller. He climbs on top of Jade, forcing him under the water.

“What are you doing?” I screech. He’s going to drown him!

“Get the tea!” Merrick shouts through a mouthful of water.

Rhett takes it from the healer and all I can do is pray that it doesn’t spill. Merrick pulls Jade up from under the water and Jade coughs, gaping for the air that was stolen from his lungs. Merrick holds his mouth open as Rhett pours the liquid down his throat with significantly less grace this time, before clasping a hand over his lips to keep Jade from spitting it out.

Jade’s eyes are still open wide, though they’re bloodshot now, as if the vessels in them have burst in his determination to get to me. His clawed hands ball into fists as he kicks fiercely with his legs.

Quinn is in the water now. When did he get there? He throws himself onto Jade’s legs, using his weight to still the dragon. I don’t know how long the men stay like this, but it’s far too long.

And then, just as suddenly as the thrashing started, Jade stills. Asleep once more.

CHAPTER TEN

QUINN

My clothes are sopping wet, but at least, for once, it’s not blood I’m dripping on this floor. To make matters worse, this is the only carpeted room I’ve seen in this entire underwater city. After the chaos that was Jade’s awakening, Aurelia ushered us to the only quarter of Marein I’d yet to have seen—and being here now is more than uncomfortable.

We’ve gathered in what was once a throne room, evident by the ornate throne consisting of various pieces of coral in a range of colours. Whites, pinks, purples, and even a bit of soft orange. I don’t know how they’ve maintained their vibrancy being out of the water, but it’ll likely have something to do with Tideus’ hold on this place. Despite its disuse, that chair appears to be the only part of this place that is still in perfect condition.

This place had mesmerized me when we first arrived, but now that I’ve had time to really look at it, it’s impossible to miss the cracks. As Tideus’ power wanes, the ocean is dying—and so too is this city. Only the throne seems to have maintained its former glory, and despite its beauty, I can’t bring myself to look upon it.

Although I can’t be certain, I doubt the room has always looked like this. The glass walls are probably just as they were before Lunae’s attack twenty years ago, but the massive round table at the base of the dais must be a recent addition. Laid atop it are maps unlike any I have seen, even within the books and journals in Rosewood’s library. I’d love to get my hands on them, but now is most definitely not the time.

The chaos with Jade may have ended, but as soon as we arrived in what Aurelia called the council room, a new chaos began.

There wasn’t even time for each of us to claim one of the fifteen chairs that encircle the table before the arguments began and they show no sign of stopping. The only people, aside from myself, who aren’t currently yelling are Aurelia—who looks too angry to speak—and Abby, who’s shaking like a leaf at my side.

I mentally brush up against our bond again, but her walls are still up. She doesn’t want me to feel what she’s feeling, but I can read it clear enough on her face. She’s already admitted to feeling weak and useless beneath the waves, and being unable to keep Jade in his human form only strengthened those feelings. I want to tell her it’s not her fault. I want to scoop her up in my arms and rush her out of this room, up those damned stairs, and back to our tower.

But I can’t.

We’re here for a reason and we’re not any closer to figuring out what to do about Jade than we were when we came to this room todiscuss.

“Enough,” I say, before even realizing my mouth is moving. Either no one heard me over their mindless arguing, or I’m being outright ignored. A flash of anger flares inside me and I slam a fist down on the table. “I said stop talking!”

Silence fills the room at last as all heads swivel in my direction. Each face seems to display a different emotion,ranging from surprise, annoyance, and outright anger that might even match mine. This is not how a room full of adults should act.

“Did you have something to say?” my aunt asks. Her face is still hard, but her words come out with a controlled softness. If I had to guess, I’d say she’s trying to hide her true emotions just as much as Abby, and failing just as miserably.

“All this fighting is getting us nowhere, and it sure as fuck isn’t doing Jade any good.”

“So, what do you suggest?” The voice came from Ocena, the blonde healer who stitched up my leg.

I slide my gaze around the room, stopping on each person for just a moment before moving on. Abby, Merrick, Rhett, Petra, the other dragons whose names I still keep mixing up, Aurelia, Erwyn, Ocena, and finally the older healer who sometimes reminds me of Tess. “We all clearly have strong opinions,” I say, trying to keep my tone reasonable. The last thing we need is another shouting match to break out and I doubt I’ll get another chance at a silent room. “Let’s voice them.Respectfully. One at a time.”

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