Page 138 of Gift from the Nexus

This can’t be happening. They shouldn’t even be this close to the palace. Mom’s going to flip out.

My heart thunders in my ears when my gift doesn’t respond to me, and a cold sweat breaks out across my skin. I dig my heels into the ground, trying to stop them, but their grips only tighten on my arms and they pull me faster.

Core…he’s here. Where is he?

“CORENTIN,” I scream so loud it burns my throat.

Frantically, I look around, scanning the trees, hoping and praying he heard me. He’ll come. He’ll save me.

Kicking and screaming, I thrash my body whatever way I can to get them off me, get them to drop me, something, but nothing loosens their grips. Hope blooms in my chest as my favorite beacon of light comes charging through the trees and he skids to a stop.

My heart kicks up a notch and I stare at my brother, begging him to do something. He’s here.

“CORE,” I bellow and for a brief second, we stop moving.

Determination mixed with a little crazy spreads across my brother’s face and I let a small smile cross my lips.

He’s here.

He’ll get me.

Come on, Core, come on.

“Get ready for transport,” one of the rebels orders.

No, no, no.

He’s not going to make it.

“CASPIAN.”

I can’t get my voice to work as fear chokes me so completely. He’s so close, yet so far away. All I can do is send a thought to him I know he won’t hear.

It’s okay, brother. I love you.

Darkness swallows me whole and my stomach revolts as I’m whisked away from my brother’s outstretched arms. I never should’ve left him. I never should’ve moved that far away from him.

Faster than I can call forth my gift, I’m popped back out directly into the sun and strapped down. It’s so blindingly bright, my eyes won’t open, and the loud noises overwhelm my hearing. It’s not until the multiple hands stop tugging my body around that I force my mind to function, and I look around.

Four Star gems, a cot, and this chair. That’s all.

I try to thrash around in my seat and bust the stone encasing me, but it’s pointless, it doesn’t budge, and my panic takes hold.

Until the door opens wide.

“Silvia, you’re okay. What’s happening? Did they get you too?” I ask and my heartbeat slows upon seeing her.

“Silly boy.” She laughs as she strolls toward me from the doorway and the sound seems foreign. Her voice is different. It’s more high-pitched and it makes the hair on my arms stand up and my lip trembles.

She’s…different.

“Wh-What’s going on?” I ask slowly as she transforms with every step she takes toward me.

Why is her face changing? Why does she look like that?

The weight of her body presses into me as she straddles my lap, and she runs her hands over my shoulders. Her smile fades into a sneer just as my heart grows hopeful and she forcefully tilts my head back, prying my jaw open.

I snatch my head away, causing the glass to clank painfully against my front teeth, but she keeps her death grip in my hair, ripping me right back to where she wants me. I sputter and cough as the vilest things I’ve ever tasted burn their way down my throat.

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