Page 80 of Bound By Darkness

Tying the white note to the leg of the owl, it flew off North to where I knew she’d be waiting.

“It’s nice to see you again.”

Turning around, Chiron leaned against his staff, his body hunched over from years of toiling in the castle. Salt peppered his beard and hair, coating him in regal elegance.

Chiron cleared his throat. “I wish it were under better circumstances, but thank you for coming. I know howdangerous it is for you to be here, but my people will keep quiet about your arrival.”

“Thank you.”

Clicking his staff against the ground, his eyes bore into mine. “I have news. The King and Queen of Laias are dead, leaving me to deal with the city. King Hywell has successfully knocked down another pillar standing in his way.”

“They’re dead?” I breathed, my eyes flicking to shards of glass.

Chiron nodded. “Yes.”

Anger and sadness boiled inside as my hands clenched at my sides. My friends were dead, but maybe— “Wait, what about Asa? Is she?—”

“Missing,” he answered. “We are still looking for her in the wreckage, but no body has been found.” His eyes grew dark as he attempted to straighten, his back continually hunched from shouldering too much responsibility. “There’s one more thing. The rebels foundit.”

My body froze. “Did they take it?”

Chiron’s head dipped in a low nod, a growl leaving his lips. “Yes.”

Chapter 23

Metal Springs

THALIA

I sprung awake,the cot rumbling with force as my hands gripped the white sheet rigorously. Pure adrenaline raced through me, coating my heart in tight compressions.

“I told you this was a terrible idea!”

“Shut up. She’s fine,” a familiar voice rumbled back.

“Does she look fine to you?” the voice whispered faintly. Her voice trembled slightly as she responded.

“She’ll be okay,” Ivan said, brushing off her alarm.

Cold hands peeled my fingers from the sheets, squeezing them lightly. “It’ll subside in a minute.”

My breathing heightened, and my eyes squinted to block the excess light. My heart pumped at twice its speed, threatening to sputter at the drop of a pin.

As if a door slammed shut, the adrenaline ceased. Long gulps of air filled my lungs, caressing my heart to its normal tempo.

I focused on the coldhands, their compression squeezes blocking the ringing in my ears as they dulled to a low hum. I drank in the chaotic environment. Cots littered the large tent as medics floated between them with various vials and herbs. It was surprisingly quiet, except for the occasional cough or moan.

My eyes floated to the woman in front, her delicately twisted twin braids resting above her chest. Her nose sharpened to a point that matched the angles of her face. Her cheeks were flushed pink, adding to her youthful, rounded face.

Everything was neat and kept in place despite the chaos. Her pink lips lifted at the corners, her eyes assessing and reassessing for anything alarming—the eyes of a skilled healer.

Yanking my hands from her grip, I wrapped them around my arms, rubbing the remaining chill away. “I?—”

The woman shook her head. “You need to reserve your strength, which includes not talking for a few hours until the tonic wears off.”

I opened my mouth to respond, but she lifted a hand. Her eyebrow rose in challenge. Biting my lip, I gave a curt nod as I shifted slightly on the firm cot.

My eyes caught a glimpse of black, quelling my movements as my eyes raked over the still figure. I moved faster than the woman as I jumped, my shaky legs threatening to collapse.

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