Page 49 of Fire in Stone

He’d said this “space bending” took a physical toll on a body, and he certainly looked like it did. His legs shook as he tried to gather them under him.

“Let me help you.”

I climbed to my feet, then threw his arm over my shoulders, helping him up. He groaned again, obviously struggling to stay upright. I paused, giving him some time to gather his strength.

There weren’t any people outside the motel, but a few cars on the road nearby slowed down, the drivers giving us curious stares through the windows.

“Listen,” I said. “We’ll just have to make it to that bench by the entrance to the motel office for now. I’ll let you rest there while I go inside and get us a room. Okay? I don’t want the management to see you in this state. We don’t need any questions.”

To my relief, he nodded, obviously being able to understand me. Whatever happened to him didn’t seem to affect his mental abilities.

I had barely positioned him on the bench when my phone pinged with a message.

“Where the fuck are you?”Chris demanded to know.

This was the last of the dozen or so increasingly angry messages he’d sent me in the past two days, not counting the attempted calls.

I heaved a breath. The man hated to be ignored. Sooner or later, I’d have to deal with him. I preferred “later,” but it would get worse if I didn’t give him something soon.

“I don’t have the statue. But I’ll return the advance in full. Give me a few days.”I hit “send,”then turned the phone off.

I would have to meet Chris again, at least once, to return the money. He’d be furious about the failed deal, but deals fell through occasionally. He’d have to get over it.

After getting a motel room, I helped Elex inside, then led him toward the bed.

“No,” he croaked when I tried to help him onto it. “You don’t want me here.” He sank to the floor beside the bed instead.

“Why not? You need to rest.”

He tipped his chin at the burgundy glow of the sunset in the window. “Sleeping next to a rock wouldn’t be comfortable for you.”

Somehow, I didn’t mind that. I would share the bed with him in any of his forms.

I sat on the floor in front of him. “Will you be okay?”

He gave me a small, reassuring smile. “It wasn’t too long of a distance to cover, thank gods. By morning, I’ll be fine.”

“Would you like some food? Water?”

He shook his head. “There’s no time. Tomorrow—”

The last ray of the setting sun slid over his face and died, draining every sign of life from him. His skin darkened and hardened into stone. But I no longer simply saw a statue. His eyes stared straight at me, and they didn’t appear unseeing. On the contrary, they saw right through me, into my very soul.

“Have a good night, Elex.” I stroked his cheek.

His stubble had grown a little longer, turning less prickly now. I wondered if he would shave it off when he got back to Nerifir or let it grow into a full beard. I tried to imagine what he would look like either clean-shaven or with a beard.

Where would he land back home? Would he be able to remain the prince he was? To become a king one day? And if not, what life would he end up building for himself out there, in that entirely different world?

My chest hollowed, my heart ached at the thought that I would never know any of that. Once Elex left tomorrow, I’d never see him or hear from him ever again.

Never.

The vast emptiness of that word was incomprehensible, like the size of the Universe. It felt cold and crushing.

Fourteen

AMBER

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