Page 82 of Grave Situation

Through my head.

In my head.

I jerk my gaze up just as Leicht’s scream cuts off. He stares at me, giant golden eyes boring through me.

Oh no.

No.

It’s impossible.

“Impossible.”

Fuck.

PART TWO

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

Fuck.Fuck.

This can’t be happening. It’s notpossible.

“What did you do, Mage? I’ll rip you to?—”

“Shut up,” I snap. “Just… shut up. This has to be a mistake.” It’s not fucking possible, dammit!

I bend my head to Tia. Maybe that’s it—maybe she’s not dead. Maybe her body is so badly damaged that her mind has temporarily shut down, leaving me and Leicht, who are both bonded to her, somehow bonded to each other. All we have to do is heal her, and things will go back to normal.

“Talon?” Jaimin gasps, appearing at my side as if I summoned him. He drops to his knees and looks at Tia. “Oh, no. Oh, Talon, I’m?—”

“Heal her,” I demand. “You wanted to know what your purpose was—well, this is it. Heal her.”

He’s already shaking his head before he turns to me. “I’m so sorry, Talon, she’s gon—” His handsome face freezes, blood draining so fast, he sways. “What the…?” He looks at Leicht, then back at me, and takes a shuddering breath. “Say nothing,” he orders urgently. “Reach out to your masternowand tell him, butlet me do the talking to the priests.” He stands and spins to face away, and I’m confused. Tell Master, but let?—

“You will throw down your weapons and surrender yourselves to our custody,” the bishop demands pompously behind me, and rage surges. A low, threatening growl rumbles from Leicht as he turns his huge head toward them.

“How dare you?” Jaimin replies, and at this moment, he’s not the easygoing companion I know—he’s the plague slayer. The healer kings and queens rush to be of service to. He can handle the bishop.

I reach out to my master, my urgency slamming into his shields.

“Talon? What is it?”

“Tia’s dead.”I clutch her hand and let the tears fall as Master’s shock reverberates through me.

“What? The dragons are unsettled, but I didn’t?—”

“Leicht is bonded to me.”

His very silence echoes.“Where are you?”

“At the south end of the Queen’s Forest in Camblin. Priests of Wasianth tried to take the stone, then attacked and killed Tia. Tia’s dead.”I have to say it again, because it still doesn’t seem real. How can she be dead? We’ve never even been apart, not really. My head feels so wrong right now.

“I’m coming to you. The dragon riders will be sending someone to check on Leicht—I’ll come with them. Donotlet anyone else know about the bond.”

“I think Jaimin guessed.”

“Let’s hope he’s trustworthy. And Talon, I’m so, so sorry.”He cuts the connection before I can tell him I trust Jaimin.

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