Page 184 of A Touch of Stars and Stones
“I have no right to ask, but?—”
“You’re gonna do it anyway. Go ahead.” He shrugs.
“Get her out, Calix. Help her. Please.”
For a moment, I stand, staring at my best friend, hoping that he understands and sees how important this is to me, willing him to see how importantsheis to me.
He nods. “Stay out of sight between the watch tower and the first camp. We’ll find you.” He holds out his arm, and I swing mine around his shoulders in an awkward hug. They risked everything to come for me, perhaps still hoping that what we wished for Aslendrix to grant as children might still materialise, and I’ve offered nothing back.
And helping Ever will be something I can never repay.
forty-five
. . .
Ever
Something feels…
My mind is groggy, my limbs heavy and tired even without moving. A haze of fog clouds my sleep, and my eyes struggle to see through the dark. The candle burned to the quick before I found my restless slumber.
As I wake further, something feels off—that hum under my skin, familiar for the last month, gone.
My heart aches as memories of excitement and joy bloom in my mind: the waterfall, our first real kiss with no repercussions. I hold on to the memory, now, reliant on the simple recall, having no additional power or magic to relive or revisit.
If this feeling means it’s a new moon, it’s been over a week since I’ve been in here, and nobody’s come.
I miss my friends. I miss my home. And above all, I miss being able to speak with Ten.
I miss Kyra and Micah. Not even Orion or Kamari have returned.
Only the officers and their measly deliveries, my sole interruption, the only highlight to break up the monotonous boredom of being alone. Alone is a dangerous place for my mind. There were times back home when food was a little short, but nothing like this, where my every mouthful or sip is now measured and controlled.
They were clever, not sending anyone with significant power for me to pull from—no strength or other magic that would help me find a way out.
Right on cue, the usual morning footsteps sound, and I can’t even muster the energy to turn and watch the guard slide the food under the bottom bar.
“Hey! Ever!” a familiar voice whispers, jolting me from my lethargy.
“Micah? Micah! Oh, thank you, Aslendrix. I was starting to think I’d be here forever.”
“Oh, don’t worry. It was just a matter of time.” He smiles, I think. It’s quite dark, with only the lights on the wall.
“Is Ten okay? Kyra? The others?” I ask, rattling off questions as I stand and approach him.
“Kyra’s fine. But it depends on your definition of the others.”
“Micah?” Ice chills my veins and settles in the pit of my stomach. “What’s going on?”
“I’m getting you out of here.” His voice rises as he opens the door and steps inside the cell.
I rush forward and throw my arms around him. “Thank you. Thank you, thank you.” Relief washes over me, and hope sparks to life and fills the gap inside my chest.
“Don’t thank me yet,” he murmurs, pulling my arms from his neck.
“Okay, let’s go. That’s the plan, right?” I step forward, eager to leave.
“Not just yet.”
