Dragons' Might

By Melody Jackson

Finding yourself right back at square one is never easy.

For Lena Maye, it’s downright devastating.

Even with the one person who could lead her to her father presumed dead, and a power-hungry empress holding half of her teammates captive, her only wish has been to return to a normal life one day and see her father again.

However, with the Bane once again free and tension building not only between their two countries, but amongst her own teammates, it’s becoming clear that no one else is willing to sit around and wait for a leader who might never show.

Instead, with a risky plan in place and secret threats made, they plot to travel to her home country, both to rescue their friends and to search out the one thing that may possibly stop the Bane.

But they’re not the only ones who are after these ancient powers. And the Empress is closer to her goals than even she realizes.

The race for the world is on.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Melody Jackson
• Release date: Jul 6, 2017
• ISBN: 9781370470808

Melody Jackson

Melody Jackson is a young “crazy dragon lady” and a lover of all things geek. She resides in the rainy state of Oregon with too many books and not enough time to write (or read) them all. When she’s not spinning the tales in her head into stories, she can be found working undercover at a grocery store or gathering intel for her next stories, and food for the dragons.Dragons need pizza too, you know?

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This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

Copyright © 2016 by Melody Jackson All rights reserved. This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be resold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

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I

Lena

The number of fights I’d broken up in the last two weeks was exhausting. Since Kaiden’s disappearance, it’d taken everything in me to try to keep the ‘team’ together, or what was left of it. Talon still hadn’t come back either, though that didn’t surprise me in the slightest. He was probably off gloating with the Empress.

Kaiden, though... he seemed to have just vanished. There were plenty of reports from the townspeople about what he’d done – and the nervousness in their eyes didn’t bode well for us, in my mind – but no one seemed to know where he’d gone after the dragons had left. We searched the entire town and even the surrounding ones, but he was nowhere to be seen.

I saw the idea briefly cross the others’ eyes – maybe he had betrayed them, especially since he’d taken the Bane – but I knew the truth was probably much grimmer than that. If Kaiden had truly taken out all those dragons... he must have done it with the Bane’s help. And I knew the others wouldn’t believe it, but they knew what happened when someone did that.

In the meantime, I had to keep my teammates from blindly rushing off to rescue their friends. I hated to be the one with all the bad news, but if the Empress had them, well, the chances of them still being alive were about as good as Kaiden’s.

That didn’t stop them from trying, though. Olive was unstable since the captures, screaming at everyone she could, and even getting a good swing at Chan eventually, before Sari suggested we confine and watch her for the time being. Chan had his own grief to deal with, but he kept it tightly locked up, only visible by the constant burden of tension across his shoulders and the firm set of his mouth. He looked less like the delighted explorer and more like the imposing warrior I’d first seen him as.

Dailen, of course, tried to be the optimistic one. He also took to consoling the dragons, who were either mopey or grumpy that their riders were captured. Though he did his best to be cheery, I could still see the sadness in his eyes, too. They all missed their friends.

So, why didn’t I?

I brushed the thought aside with a frown. That wasn’t important. The only thing that was important was keeping them alive and from getting us kicked out of the camp before my father arrived.

But even I was growing impatient, and I could see the strings of tension stretched a bit too tight even amongst the calmer ones. Chan had agreed to wait until the General arrived to form a plan, but even he was close to snapping.

And that, of course, was when Kaiden decided to show up.

<><><>

Damien

Pleasure. It rippled through Damien like a wave, not only from the otherworldly delight being in the presence of the Empress impressed upon him, but because his plans were working out even more beautifully than he’d ever dreamed. They didn’t have the Bane yet, but Damien had made sure that other boy – the one who hung on the Empress’ every word like a love-smitten fool – had taken the entire fall for that.

He didn’t bother to recall the youth’s name; he’d never been the focus of Damien’s interest anyway.

The doors to the Empress’ throne room closed behind him with a quiet, steady click. Running a hand through smooth blond hair, he allowed a smile to touch his face as he strode down the scrolled hallway, heading for his next appointment. The Empress had seemed quite pleased with his progress with the prisoners, even if they hadn’t learned much. Two of his former protégés had proved to be more resilient than he’d first thought possible. As for the redhead…well, it was a pity, to be sure, but he’d known she was weak from the moment he’d first met her that fateful night and watched her cower behind her older brother.

At least she’d made excellent leverage against him. Perhaps the others would prove useful in the same way.

His thoughts drifted back to the Bane, and the boy who had it in his possession. He had chosen a fake name long ago, to escape his past, and over the years, Damien had painstakingly taken and shaped him in hopes that one day, he would be the key. The same key the Empress had been longing for, it seemed.

How amusing that the ruler of Galdania shared the same humble goal as he did.

He doubted, however, that she knew the boy’s true purpose, or how vital it was to get him back. The Bane’s power was far too much for most minds to handle, but if anyone could, it would be Kaiden Dyran. He had been through more trauma in his young lifetime than any other Damien had encountered, yet still had somehow remained whole.

It had puzzled Damien, until he’d watched the boy in action, that night when his sister hid behind him. He’d stood straight and unafraid in the face of danger when any other child would have disappeared into the corner. Every glance, every past interaction had made sense, finally, where before it had only mystified Damien.

The key to his strength was in those he defended.

Even still, Damien knew there was something special about the boy, to have that strong of a resolve with that deep of scars. It was the kind of strength that could carry a world without flinching. And if he could tap into that, somehow, Damien could be unstoppable.

He hadn’t told the Empress about his previous experience with the Bane, though he did wonder if the youth who’d failed her might have, as a precaution. It would have been interesting to watch the Empress of Galdania slowly go mad, perhaps more so than the other girl he’d studied before. Maybe through her failure, he could discover the loophole that would allow him to wield the power himself, without the unpleasant consequences.

He had dreamed of one day having a gift of his own flooding through his veins, but it had always been a distant fantasy. Now, with the Empress on his side, and new knowledge about the Bane filling his dreams with hope, he knew it was far more than just a fantasy. It was a possibility.

They just had to get the Bane back.

Damien had considered himself the most well-versed in the legends surrounding the Bane until he’d come to Galdania. He had been more than intrigued to find some of these legends reflected in Galdanian culture – a common myth, it seemed. Except in Galdania, that myth was connected to a god, the very god their people worshipped.

The one who had the power to grant gifts... or take them away.

It was even more intriguing, though, given the very nature of Galdania’s religion. Rulers were not supposed to have gifts –indeed, only the high priests or mahalla were endowed with the ability, blessed by Shedim himself.

Yet there were many more that still had gifts, and the Empress kept them around like prized stallions. It made Damien’s excitement grow, that surely there must be a way to bring out such gifts in others, other than by divine endowment.

He surveyed his hands, wondering what it would be like to feel it pulsing through his veins. Some otherworldly, awe-inspiring power that would give him a chance to reshape the world with his bare hands. He could convince kings, level towers.

But Damien wanted more. He’d read plenty on the Bane to know that it was beyond even what a mere gift could grant him. If he could learn to harness that... he would be like a god, and could bend anyone to his will that he chose, or crush them if they refused.

He would be unstoppable.

II

Lena

At Olive’s scream, I flung the covers off my bed so fast they enveloped poor Dez in the faded fabric. Holding back a scowl, I swung my legs down toward the floor. What was this, the fifth time in the past week?

My little white dragon made unhappy noises at me for waking him, flapping his wing arms weakly. I shoved my feet into my boots, lacing them up with practiced speed. I’d done this far too many times in the past weeks for the motions to be anything but instinctual now.

At this point, Chan should have been leaving his tent, if he wasn’t already trying to restrain Olive from leaving the camp to rescue the others. But my gift was the only thing that could actually subdue her enough that she would go back to sleep, so I had to go help him. I hated doing it, but it was better than being given even greater looks of disgust by the General’s men for waking them. Most of them seemed to hold me responsible for Kaiden’s disappearance, even though I had told them what had happened.

They probably just wanted someone to blame, like everyone else.

The cool night air stirred my skin as I pushed open the flap of my tent, surveying the field. Olive stood near the entrance of the camp, as I expected, her arms wrapped tight around a tall, lone figure. She didn’t seem to be fighting him, which sparked surprise amidst the twisting annoyance. Maybe Chan had gotten better at calming her down, or at least restraining her.

But then the flap of a nearby tent flew open, and Chan stepped out. Concern etched across his face as he strode towards Olive as he usually would.

I took a second look just to make sure I wasn’t imagining things. If it wasn’t Chan with Olive near the entrance, who was it?

Even in the moonlight, it was hard to make out much about the figure until I got close enough. Chan reached them before I did, despite my head start.

He froze. I hurried to catch up, wondering what could have made him stop like that, until I realized who the figure was.

But it couldn’t be.

Oh, hey guys. Kaiden’s brow furrowed as he looked carefully down at Olive – who was still holding him as if he might disappear otherwise – and back up at us. What’s going on?

My mind whirled as I looked him up and down, attempting to fit together a puzzle with not nearly enough pieces to make sense. With brow creased even farther, Kaiden shifted and patted Olive’s back uncertainly.

You’re all...looking at me like I came back from the dead or something.

A snort escaped Chan’s nose. Kaiden blinked over at him, then peeled Olive’s arms away, though she fought to wrap them back around him. You’re not serious.

I don’t think Chan couldn’t have looked more serious – or intimidating – as he stepped forward to keep Olive from screaming and capturing Kaiden in her arms again. Gratitude flashed in the other boy’s eyes, though confusion mingled with it. Ignoring the look, Chan pulled Olive against him, muffling her protests against his chest. His granite eyes met mine, an unspoken understanding passing between us.

A short laugh escaped Kaiden’s throat as he ran a hand through his hair, fixing his gaze on the camp beyond us. Guys, I was only gone for a few hours. I’m perfectly fine.

The disbelief was nearly palpable in the air, though none of us seemed eager to correct him. Clearing my throat to get his attention, I studied the look in his eyes for a moment, then jerked my chin away from the camp. C’mon, fire boy. There’s a lot we need to discuss.

Chan didn’t move, other than the slight shift of his arms as Olive tried to push him away, unsuccessfully. With a swallow, Kaiden – no doubt putting on appearances for the guards at the front of the camp – nodded once, though his gaze slid uneasily back to Olive, and the way her shoulders trembled as if she was crying.

Rolling my eyes, I grabbed his arm, suppressing the tension I felt at the contact of his skin under mine. He didn’t offer much resistance, bewilderment and confusion interchanging on his face as I dragged him out of the camp and over to a copse of trees. We’d conversed there once before, what seemed like so long ago. If not for his blank look and slightly disheveled appearance, it might’ve seemed like we’d gone back in time.

When I stopped, he pulled his arm away – much lighter than I expected. I spun to face him, a scowl already primed on my lips.

Talk.

In a blink, his brow creased. What?

My eyes narrowed as I leaned back against a tree. "There’s no need to pretend anymore, Kaiden. No one else is around, and I already know you hate my guts, so talk. Where have you been the past two weeks? And why are you not dead?"

His brow furrowed as he mouthed the last word to himself. Stunned, he took a step back, his gaze flying to mine. "Weeks?"

I let the scowl loose. Yes, weeks. What, did you just happen to forget everything that happened since then?

Though his brow remained creased, his eyes now trained on the trees instead of me. Why would I be…dead?

It took effort not to roll my eyes. Because you used the Bane, idiot. Or at least that’s what we all assumed when you left with it two weeks ago and didn’t come back. Unless you were just taking it to the Empress. A bitter smirk touched my lips.

He frowned, then, lifting his dark gaze to meet mine. I’m not working with the Empress, Priss.

I know. The smile still painted my lips like a vile poison. "I just thought it’d be nice to direct an accusation at you for a change."

Some of the familiar, calculating look returned to his eyes as he folded his arms over his chest. I’m surprised you haven’t run off to join her already, if it’s really been two weeks.

I resisted the urge to smirk at his change in demeanor, shifting against a tree to get more comfortable. Welcome back, Blaze Montego. I can’t say I’ve missed you either.

"It has. And I already told you, I’m not working with her. Not that you would ever believe that. I added a bite to my last words. But that doesn’t answer my question. Where have you been?"

As if my question was of no consequence, he glanced at the trees again. I don’t remember being gone for more than a few hours.

A laugh burned my throat. Well, obviously your memory is faulty then, Beanhead, because it’s been much longer than that. And where is the Bane, if you don’t have it with you?

Scrubbing a hand against his forehead messed up the end of his hair, though he didn’t seem to care. I don’t know. I woke up in the town, and it wasn’t with me.

Wow. Great going, hot stuff. You take a two-week long nap and manage to lose the most dangerous power in the world while your team is falling to pieces without you. Bravo.

He dropped his hand, coolly. Says the Galdanian that created this whole mess in the first place.

"I’m not working with the Empress! My voice rose with my hands as I flung them up above my head. A moment later, I dropped them, frustration escaping in a hard breath. Whatever. Just go back to your friends and come up with some genius plan to rescue the others."

His brow filled with creases. Rescue?

"Goodness, are you deaf as well as stupid now? Do you not remember anything that happened?"

His gaze faded to the grass for a moment as he rubbed his head slower, more deliberately. I remember the Mountain, and the dragons…

I waited. His eyes widened, coming back to meet mine. Kinny.

I dipped my chin, his murmur confirming what I had suspected before. Elle wasn’t his sister’s real name, any more than Blaze was his. And Fern and Basil.

He settled a hand to his head, lowering it as his eyes darkened. Remembrance sparked in them, his shoulders growing stiff as boards. You didn’t get them out.

It wasn’t a question, though I could tell with bitterness the rest of the words that followed that thought. My eventual response, in retaliation, edged itself in sharp condescension, like a knife pressed to a whetstone. "You must really be an idiot if you think your team has been in any shape to attempt a rescue mission, let alone that I was going to send them on one to the most heavily fortified fortress in all of Galdania. It would have been suicide."

Both his eyes and tone shadowed, filled with hidden threats and twisting accusations. "Yes, but you know that country. You could have gotten them out easily."

Harshness rang through my laugh, and I didn’t bother to leash it. I’m glad you think I’m capable of such a thing, Kaiden, but I’m not a criminal mastermind. A frown settled on my lips. And even if I was, I probably couldn’t have gotten them out. The Empress’ fortress is nearly impenetrable.

So you say, came his low growl, the words grumbled as if not for my ears, but not low enough to be masked.

Indignation stiffened my spine. I fought it by assuming the cool indifference that had so often been my shield, raising my chin to the air.

This isn’t about my skill, is it? You think I wouldn’t have gotten them out because I’m Galdanian, and nothing I can say will change that.

A snort confirmed my words. Though I was tempted to grind my teeth, I refrained, flashing him a smile worse than a knife instead. Tell me, then, why I wouldn’t have just sold out Chan and Olive, too, if I’m allied with the Empress. Why wouldn’t I have just told her she missed a few and given her a chance to wipe out a secret force building against her, too? Why, Kaiden?

His gaze remained like stone, frost creeping into it as if it’d been kissed by ice. I don’t know, he finally ground out. I’m not a traitor.

Lashing out seemed a good response now. But I held back the distaste whispering in my throat, giving him the slightest benefit of the doubt. Maybe he didn’t know, or didn’t ‘remember’. "You know who did run once the others were captured? Talon. Who hasn’t shown back up now that his mission is over, and is probably searching for the Bane? Talon. Are you really so thick-headed that you still think I’m the one who betrayed you?"

His eyes flashed at my rising tone, hatred backlighting them like dark flames. It doesn’t matter whether you did or not. You’re still Galdanian.

Jaw clenching, I sought the soft material of my pant leg and squeezed, letting the flashfire that would have been my response drain out with the motion. Why haven’t you told the others about me, if you’re so convinced I’m evil? Why would you keep that from them?

His eyes took on a harsh, accusing angle. They don’t need another blow like that right now.

A frosted laugh escaped my lungs. With the ice now inhabiting them, I kept my voice calm. "You’re afraid of me, aren’t you? You know I’m right and yet you’re still too beanheaded to see the truth that’s right in front of your face. Waiting a moment, I added, And even if I had tried to rescue them, we’d have had to have proof that the Empress does have them, and hadn’t already…"

The hard look in his eyes made me stop. Frowning, I dropped my gaze, lifting it back up after a moment. Look, the Empress doesn’t take very kindly to traitors, alright? And that’s basically what Gifted are, in her book. Forcing the next words out – or keeping myself calm in the face of his reaction – didn’t come easily. She probably had them executed already. I wasn’t going to give her Olive and Chan, too.

You don’t know that, he ground out, though I could see flashes of something else behind his eyes. His hands curled into fists as he seared his gaze into mine. "You could have at least tried."

And risked losing the others, too? Is that what you really wanted, Kaiden, to lose your entire team again?

I’d gone too far, but there was no taking it back. Something like agony flashed through his eyes before he shut them, his hands trembling at his sides. When he finally spoke, his voice was far too low. We’re getting them back. One way or another.

Not knowing what else to say, I remained silent. His eyes still flickered when he opened them again, pinning me with a solid stare even as his voice betrayed the slightest of trembles.

"You may not care about another dagged person you meet, Lena, but I do. I won’t just leave them there when they might still be alive. Something dark and murky washed through his eyes. And you’re going to help me get them back."

I let out a humorless laugh. What, going to threaten me again, ‘Blaze’? But I didn’t say it, opting instead to voice the other question he wasn’t considering. And if you find out that they really are dead?

His gaze darkened like coals after an extinguished fire. Then I’ll make the Empress pay for their lives.

I blew out a breath, fighting the urge to roll my eyes. "Yeah, that’s all very heroic and noble of you, but that still gets us no closer to figuring out how to actually get them out. A frown tugged at my lips. So what’s your brilliant rescue plan, Beanhead?"

He smiled, though it resembled a smirk more than anything. Use your knowledge of Galdania to find a way into the Empress’ fortress and rescue them.

The irony was almost laughable. "And what makes you think I’m going to help you? According to you, I’m nothing but a filthy, cruel traitor who doesn’t care about anyone else. Why would you trust my word on anything?"

This time, he really did smirk, leaning in to murmur in a way that sent a chill up my spine. Because, Princess, you’ve forgotten that no one in this camp other than you or I know your secret, for now. I fought the emotion tugging at my lips as he lowered his voice. But that all can change very quickly, if you don’t tell me what I need to know.

Once I’d regained my composure, I considered spitting in his face. But he drew back before I could, the smirk spread back into a too pleasant ‘smile’. I can’t imagine your new friends would take very well to finding out your heritage.

Just stop, I finally spat out, the words burning my lips like acid. A few choice words for him rolled around on my tongue, but I held them back, straightening my shoulders. Do you know what you’re even asking of me? Breaking into a heavily fortified fortress, in a country that utterly despises Calestans and won’t even admit outsiders into their hallowed Cities? I ticked each item off on my fingers, dropping my hands to my hips at the end. Wow. That really does sound like a piece of cake to manage, doesn’t it?

Tell me everything you know about Galdania. I’ll figure it out.

I forced a laugh. "You don’t think I’ve tried to find a way in? Condescension curled through my voice. And how exactly would you plan to explain your sudden surge of Galdanian knowledge, anyway?"

The smile he gave me leached the blood from my face. You’re not the only Galdanian in the camp, Lena.

Katya. A surge of cold ran down my back. I bit my tongue to keep from snapping at him. He wouldn’t dare.

Eying me coolly, he beat me to my own question. "Of course, she’s far too fragile to actually be helpful, but they don’t have to know that. I’ll just tell them I was…persuasive. A smile curved up his lips, every line of it mocking. I can use her word to know if you’re lying, too."

Another laugh escaped, though this one just felt empty. You’d trust the word of a mentally broken girl as your reference point?

The smirk took over his eyes. It’s easy enough to make up things. But for both to line up...well, we’ll see just how helpful you can be, Lena.

Scowling, I dared to take a step toward him. You’d better not actually touch her.

His eyebrow raised, cold amusement filling his eyes. Like you would care about that.

The words I’d stored up finally slipped out, snapping like the crackle of flames in the chill air. You know, you act like I’m the cold and distant one, but you’re not exactly a cheery fireside blaze, either.

His lips lifted in a smile. Chan and Olive don’t need cheery right now. They need confident. They need a leader if this plan is going to work at all.

I scowled. His look in response was infuriating – and disgustingly smug, because we both knew he’d already won this argument. As much as I hated it, I couldn’t let the people here know of my heritage. It wouldn’t only ruin me; but my father as well, if he ever returned.

When he returned.

Shoving my hair away from my face, I lifted my chin and looked him square in the eye. Do what you want, Kaiden Dyran. But don’t blame me when the rest of your team ends up dead because of your ‘plan.’

A dangerous sort of light reflected in his smile as I turned away. His fingers caught hold of my arm, tight and unyielding as they dug into my skin. "I believe you mean your plan, Lena. You’re coming along with us, so this had better work."

I swore under my breath, but refused to give him the satisfaction of fighting back. I already told you, it’s suicide.

And I already told you my threat. So what will it be, Priss? Suicide mission or a traitor’s death?

Yanking my arm away, I scowled, ignoring the flashes of memory that accompanied it. I’ll write down what I know, but it’s up to you to come up with some…’plan’ from it. I already went over everything top to bottom.

His smile was unsettling. Good. I’d suggest you get to work, then. I’ll drop by your tent tomorrow to pick it up. Turning to walk away, he added over his shoulder, Sleep well, Priss.

Anger bloomed in my chest like a red-hot flower, its petals searing at the slightest touch. Despite its energy, I was unable to form a coherent retort, my eyes focusing on the faint scar still marring my arm, a mark from what seemed like so long ago. Once he was well out of sight, I stormed away from the camp, stewing in a garden of flowers that only grew brighter in my chest with each passing moment. "Who does he think he is?"

It took a while of pacing and brushing aside Dez’ attempts to find out what was wrong before the tension finally subsided. I’d worn a path in the grass by that point, treading the field a ways from the tents. Kaiden was just trying to get a reaction out of me, and I couldn’t allow that.

I forced myself to think of anything and everything to get my mind off of it, pulling mindless trivia from my head and reciting passages I’d once been told would be essential to memorize. I was halfway through recalling my favorite and least favorite dresses in Galdania when the harshly spoken words stopped stinging my tongue. They became just that again – words, though I continued my path for a while in order to ensure my mind was fully clear.

Once I was sure I wouldn’t be met with Kaiden’s smirking face when I returned, I headed back to my tent. Even just the sight of spot where we’d argued sparked annoyance in me again, though no one was around to see it. Chan must have calmed Olive down enough for her to sleep – unless Kaiden had gone to see her again.

Dez continued to chat at me with both dismayed and cheerful chirps as I entered my tent. Curling up next to me on the bed, he thrummed and pressed his little body against mine as if he could take the storms from my eyes.

I was too wound up to sleep, so I yanked some parchment and a quill from the desk and shifted so I could write on it from the comfort of my bed. Dez peered over my shoulder as I worked, chirping with a mixture of curiosity and inquiry. Anything I could remember of Galdania, I scratched down the details of, even sketching a crude map of the City’s layout. I’d spent most of my time in Aurillea – my hometown – but the three Cities were similarly laid out, so it should’ve at least given them an idea of what to expect.

Once I finished, I laid back on the bed with a heavy sigh. I didn’t have the courage to admit to anyone that I felt as nervous about this mission as the thought of my father not returning. They had said there was a slight possibility that he had been captured, but hadn’t been able to get many details.

Which, of course, was why Sari was currently in Rodan and not here, handling this mess. According to the elders, my father had gone to see if the smaller country would rally with ours against the Empress, and he’d never returned. I didn’t want to be gone by the time Sari got back, especially if she had information about him.

Now, I wasn’t sure I’d have a choice.

My fingers brushed along the bottom of my earring, almost instinctively. An ache bloomed among the wilted flowers in my chest as I thought about my father. It’d been so long since I’d seen him. I hoped he was alright.

At least one of us had to be.

<><><>

Katya

Katya watched the young man pace in front of her bed, his steps careful and counted. It wasn't unusual for him to do this, but today, she knew, was different. His feet clipped the floor with short, even strokes, each step calculated as if he knew where his foot would end up moments before he reached it.

Usually, his agitation put her on edge. Today, it just kept him confined to his endless walk, his stormy eyes fixed on the wall ahead rather than on her. He was not lightning now, but a rainstorm, and he would not lash out at her. It almost gave her enough courage to ask what was wrong.

Almost.

It doesn't make sense.

His voice broke the silence – and the pattern – as he stopped in front of her bed. Scrubbing a hand over his face, he knocked his glasses askew with his rough movements. She didn't dare meet his gaze, even as she felt it burning on her while she examined the edge of the blanket she sat upon. Her fingers itched to curl around it and throw it over herself in a semblance of protection.

But that would have been silly. A blanket wouldn't protect her from him, if he wanted to hurt her.

On instinct, her gaze snapped to him as she registered her name leaving his lips. His eyes were heavy on her, weighted with expectation. Giving partway into her urge to hide, she swallowed, meeting his shadowed gaze with only a slight tremble.

I don't...remember.

Annoyance crossed his face. She shrank down further against the wall, unable to tear her eyes from his stormy face.

Very funny, was his flat reply. Then he continued pacing. Her fingers wound tighter around the blanket, every part of her tense as a spring as she watched him cross the floor, frowning at the wall. Just before his turn, he stopped.

"He said he doesn't remember any of what happened in the past weeks. Which means either he's lying, and he does have the Bane, or... Roughly, he scrubbed his face again, sighing. I don't know, Katya. I don't know about any of it anymore. He's acting like this whole 'Kaiden' thing isn't just another…facade. He's obviously got the entire camp fooled, but..." A frown crossed his face, and she could see the flicker of distrust in it. She couldn't blame him, either, after what her brother had done.

His sigh as he sank onto the edge of the bed nearly made her jump. But some of the tension left his shoulders, shifting him from a stormcloud back to a boy. It made her fingers ease their grip, just a little bit.

She wanted to reach out and take his hand, though she was still wary. It took a reserve of her courage to touch his mind, brushing it with her thoughts. It's okay.

He flinched when she entered his mind, but deflated soon after. She seemed to have that effect on people, as if they weren't aware she was there until she announced herself.

Maybe that's why her brother had been so afraid of her.

Skin brushed against hers, her dark hand a stark contrast to the pale one slipping around hers with an almost protective grip, night and day on the speckled blanket. She reminded herself to breathe in, unable to tear her gaze away from the sight and the memories flashing across her vision as he squeezed it so tight she could have–

Katya?

Urgency laced his tone, snapping her back to the present. He'd drawn his hand away, and hers was not red and searing with pain like her mind tried to convince her it was.

I'm sorry.

Guilt made her shrink back, drawing her hand against her chest to rub it and assure her fooled eyes that it was still okay. He hadn't hurt her; he wouldn't do that.

Would he?

He was talking again, and she was missing all the words. Despite the pain it still caused, she swallowed, reaching her trembling hand out to touch his and assure him she was okay. But that dark look had entered his eyes again, and she knew it well. Rubbing her thumb in shaky circles over his hand, she forced herself not to draw back as he watched the wall.

I'm not going to hurt you, Katya.

His words fell like stones before they could ever sink into her heart. She forced the tremble from her hand as she slipped into his mind again, soothing the agitation as best she could. Assuring him she was alright.

Out of the side of his mouth, he smiled. With a breath of quiet relief, she withdrew her hand to the safety of her chest, resting it against her heartbeat. It took all her courage to summon a smile in return, but the way it relaxed him was worth it. She searched his eyes for any leftover signs of trouble as he breathed down at his hands.

I just...don't know what to do. Fern and the others are still captured, Olive has hardly talked to me, none of my plans have even come close to working, and now Kaiden's back, without the Bane...

Silence draped over her as he hung his head, a quiet breath escaping his lips. The same words as always echoed through her mind, her only comfort in times like these.

It'll be okay.

He looked up at her, a crack in the shadows of his eyes. How?

Silence shattered, fraying into tiny little pieces by those words her mind so often whispered to her. How? How? How?

Don't ask that, came her mind’s frantic reply. Don’t ever ask that.

She didn't know how. She only knew it was her anchor to reality, a foothold to keep her from slipping into the deep, dark abyss that word led her to. It would tear her mind apart if she let it.

It had already done it once before.

The boy who was not a stormcloud was looking at her in concern now. She reigned in the