Chapter 79 The Horror In His Mind

Chapter 79 The Horror In His Mind
INDIE
      "We're not letting the witches near him," I said, wiping the tears from my face with the back of my hand. "Not until we know what they intend to do."

Mason's jaw tightened. "Then what do you suggest? Because he's getting worse."

As if summoned by the words, Zade's body jerked violently beneath Lila.

She cried out and scrambled backward. I lunged towards the bed, but Leon caught Lila first, lifting her safely away while Giselle rushed to Zade's side.

His back arched, his teeth clenched. A strangled sound scraped from somewhere deep in his throat as another seizure tore him apart.

"Hold his shoulders!" Giselle shouted.

I pressed both hands against him, trying to keep his head from striking the bedframe. Leon handed Lila to Mason and joined me, pinning Zade's legs as gently as he could.

The seizure lasted only seconds. It felt like hours.
When it finally stopped, Zade collapsed into the mattress, blood slipping from his mouth. His chest rose and fell weakly now.

I gripped his hand, squeezing hard enough that his scarred fingers dug into mine. The bond was still there. But it was faint, buried beneath layers of darkness.

"I can find him," I whispered.

Giselle froze.

Leon slowly looked at me. "What?"

I stared at Zade's pale face.

"Through the bond." My pulse raced harder as the idea settled. "He spoke to me through it before. If Varak is trapping him inside his own mind, then maybe I can follow the connection and reach him."

"No," Giselle said immediately.

I turned towards her. Her face had gone white.

"Entering someone's mind through a damaged mating bond is extremely dangerous," she warned. "You won't simply see what he sees. You'll feel it. His memories, his pain, his fears. If Varak has control of the mental plane, he can trap you there too."

"I don't care."

"You should." Her voice sharpened. "Your fire is unstable. Your bond with Zade is already feeding the siphon. If you enter his mind carrying that power, Varak could seize it."

My stomach twisted.

"How?"

"He cannot fully manifest here without your flames," Giselle said. "We already know that. You entering the space where he has the most influence would be like carrying a torch into a room soaked with oil."

The rain struck the windows harder. I looked down at Zade.

His lashes rested against his cheeks. Blood stained his lips. The man who had terrified armies, survived the pit, and fought his way back from death looked painfully helpless.

Exactly how Varak wanted him.

"What happens if I don't go?" I asked.

Giselle's silence gave me the answer. I swallowed.

"It's our only shot."

"Indie—" Leon started.

"No." I turned towards him, my voice shaking. "I can't stay here and watch him disappear. I can feel him, Leon. He's still in there. He's fighting, but he's so tired."

Leon's expression crumpled. For once, there was no joke waiting behind his lips. Only naked fear.

He crossed the distance between us and pulled me into his arms. I clung to him immediately.

His body was warm and solid, but his hands shook as they pressed against my back. He buried his face against my neck and held me so tightly I could barely breathe.

"Come back to me," he whispered.

I tightened my arms around him. "I will."

"No." He pulled back and cupped my face between his hands, forcing me to meet his beautiful eyes. "Don't say it because you think it's what I need to hear."

Tears filled his eyes. "Promise me."

I covered one of his hands with mine.

"I promise," I whispered. "I'll find him. And I'll bring both of us back."

Leon kissed me desperately.

His mouth trembled against mine, his fingers tangling in my hair as though he could anchor me to him through touch alone. I kissed him back with everything I had, pouring my promise into it.

When we parted, he pressed his forehead to mine.

"I'll keep watch," he said hoarsely. "The second something feels wrong, I'm pulling you out."

"How?"

"I'll find a way."

That was such a Leon answer, it pulled a weak laugh out of me. His mouth twitched, but the smile never reached his eyes.

I turned towards Lila.

Mason had set her down near the foot of the bed. She stood clutching Mr. Wolf to her chest, her cheeks wet with tears. I knelt in front of her.

"Come here, baby."

She rushed into my arms. I held her tightly, rocking her while she cried into my shoulder.

"Is Daddy going to wake up?" she whispered.

My throat closed.

"Yes," I whispered. "I'm going to help him find his way back."

"Where did he go?"

"He's lost in a bad dream."

Lila pulled back enough to look at me. "Can you tell him I'm waiting?"

I kissed her forehead. "I'll tell him."

"And tell him he still has to see my drawing."

"I will."

She nodded solemnly, then reached up and wrapped Mr. Wolf's remaining ear around my finger.

"He can borrow him," she said. "So he won't be scared."

Another sob threatened to tear through me. I managed to smile.

"I think he'll like that."

Mason lifted Lila again and carried her towards the door. She looked over his shoulder until they disappeared into the hallway.

Giselle drew symbols around the bed with white powder, murmuring under her breath. The markings glowed faintly silver as she completed the circle.

"This may protect your body," she said. "It cannot protect your mind."

"Comforting."

Leon almost smiled. I climbed onto the mattress and lay beside Zade. His body was unnaturally still now.

I turned onto my side, facing him, and slipped my hand into his.

His skin was cold. I pressed our joined hands against my chest.

"I'm coming, Alpha," I whispered. "Don't you dare hide from me."

Leon sat on the other side of the bed. One hand settled over my ankle. The other wrapped around Zade's ankle, connecting all three of us.

"I've got you," he rasped.

I closed my eyes. At first, there was nothing.

Only the sound of the raging storm. The candles. The distant murmur of Giselle's spell.

Then I reached inwards, past my breathing and the terror tightening my chest.

Past the fire twitching beneath my skin.

I searched for the mating bond. It appeared as a single violet thread in endless darkness, thin as spider silk and pulsing weakly.

Zade.

I wrapped my mind around it. The pain hit me instantly.

I screamed. Or thought I did.

The infirmary vanished. Cold stone slammed beneath my knees.

The air was damp and rotten, filled with blood, sweat, and a suffocating stench of fear. Darkness stretched endlessly around me, broken only by torches burning sickly violet along the walls.

The pit.

I knew it without being told.

My palms scraped over stone as I pushed myself upright. I was still wearing the clothes I had worn in the infirmary, but my body felt distant. Unreal.

"Zade?" My voice echoed through the corridor. I got no answer.

So, I followed the violet thread deeper.

The first cell appeared around the bend. Zade was inside. He was younger and achingly emaciated.

Chains bound his wrists above his head, forcing him onto his knees. His ribs pressed visibly beneath bruised skin. Blood covered his back.

A shadow stood behind him. I couldn't see its face.
Only the weapon in its hand.

The crack of leather split the air. Zade's body jerked. I flinched as pain tore across my own back.

"Stop!" I cried out.

The figure struck him again. And again. Zade didn't scream.

That frightened me the most.

He simply stared at the wall, his violet eyes empty, his mind somewhere far away from his body.

"Zade!"