Page 18 of The Throne's Undoing

"If she is a danger--" Dani began, but Graeson interrupted.

"If she isindanger, we must be aware of it."

"Terin?" Ellie prompted.

Tugging on the ends of his hair, Terin said, "The worst-case scenario is that she falls into a coma and..."

"And?" Graeson prompted, his body tensing, his mind racing with endless possibilities of what could go wrong. His hand froze in Kalisandre's hair, unable to move until he knew what fate might await her.

A cold breeze swept into the cave as Terin met Graeson's stare.

Terin swallowed and dropped Graeson's stare to look at his sister. "And she doesn't wake up."

Dread coiled in his stomach. "But we're not going to let that happen," Graeson spat, swallowing down the thickness of his words.

"And what will you do to stop it, Gray?" Dani retorted. "Scare her mind back to normal?"

"We will figure it out," Graeson snapped in return. "Kalisandre is stronger than you give her credit for." Of that, he was certain.

Dani clicked her tongue. "You forget that she remains loyal to that man."

Graeson's jaw tightened briefly. "Only because of the hold he has on her."

"Why do you think Domitius just let her go then?" Dani asked, anger beginning to fill her voice. "He knows something that we do not. She is a danger to all of us."

"What do you suggest we do then, Dani?" Graeson challenged. "We cannot let the sacrifice of those who have died in the hopes of rescuing her be for naught."

Dani was standing now, and even from across the cave, Graeson could see the fire blazing in her hazel eyes. Sylvia tried to pull Dani back down, but Dani struggled against them. She spat on the floor before sitting down when Sylvia refused to let her go.

"I know all too well what has been sacrificed," she hissed, her lips curling into a sneer. "I am not willing to let more people die because of her or because of your carelessness."

"She will remain asleep until we are somewhere safe," Terin said. "I promise you that, Dani."

Graeson bit down but remained silent, aware he would be outnumbered if he argued. Nevertheless, it did not mean he had to agree with Terin's decision.

"And how long is that?" Ellie asked. "A day? A month? Terin, are you prepared for that?"

Terin grabbed his sword and whetstone and began sharpening his blade. "For my sister, I will do what I must." He shrugged, gaze determined.

Ellie arched a brow. "Even if that is true, we cannot keep her unconscious forever."

Nodding, Terin continued to work his blade. "You are right. At some point, we will have to do something."

"We cannot trust her," Dani argued, still seething.

"No one is disagreeing with you, Dani," Ellie said, crossing her arms over her chest.

"He is," Dani said with a disgusted grimace as she pointed at Graeson.

Graeson placed his hand atop Kalisandre's shoulder. "She is not to be harmed," he commanded.

"No harm will come to her, Gray," Ellie promised, expression guarded. "But we must proceed with caution."

"Ellie is right," Terin said, holding his blade up and inspecting his work. "Although, I am hopeful she will stop fighting me soon. Once she stops, I'll be able to let her mind rest while I sleep."

"But until then?" Dani asked, brow cocked.

Terin placed his sword beside him and settled against his bag, propping his head up slightly with his arm. "Until then, don't let me sleep for too long." Terin closed his eyes, attempting to get some rest.

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