“Quilla?”
I jumped and whirled around, popping to my feet as my heart leaped into my throat for not noticing I wasn’t alone. But the sight of Melaina approaching—her hand wrapped around the reins of my horse as it loped obediently along behind her—caused my knees to buckle again.
“Me-Melaina,” I croaked in relief, tripping forward on jelly legs to reach her.
“What the hell is going on?” she demanded irritably, storming forward to meet me, her voice abrasively loud in the forest. “You were supposed to meet me—”
“Shh.” I rushed into her, slamming my hands over her mouth and causing her to stumble backward with the force of my tackle. “They’ll hear you,” I hissed, vaguely realizing that my distress probably came off as senseless and crazed, but I was too frantic to care. “Listen to me…”
Except Melaina had never been good at listening to anyone. Ripping my hand off her mouth with a growl of annoyance, she immediately started lecturing, “You do not tell me what to do, little girl. I am the elder here, and I’m in charge of this—”
Cutting herself off short this time, she paused suspiciously and scowled around the forest, searching for something. “Where the hell is that damn mate of yours? He was supposed to be watching over you while Mommy had a spot of fun. And better yet, where is my horse?”
“He took the horse,” I started in a rush. “Now listen—”
Arching stiff eyebrows, she seethed, “You let that worthless High Clifter take my horse?”
I slapped her. Hard. “It was always his horse, dammit,” I snarled. “Now shut the fuck up and listen to me.”
She blinked, startled mute, and her gaze widened, tracking a tear that was running down my cheek as if it was the most bizarre thing she’d ever seen. But at least I had her full attention now. I think the slap helped clear my head as well. I was finally able to think straight as I gripped her shoulders.
“They got him. I think they got Indigo.”
“What?” Her brow furrowed with confusion. “Who?”
“The—the—the hunters!” I screeched as if that should be obvious. Holding up my arm to show her my mark that looked absolutely the same as it always did, I added, “With the perimeter magic trap. They found me again. And they chased us. But then Indigo—” My voice cracked, not ready to speak aloud what Indigo had done. For me. “Here,” I muttered. “Take this.” I shoved one of the amulets at her.
She fumbled to catch it, her eyes going as big as saucers when she did. “How in the…?” She held it up, blinking rapidly. “Where did you…?” Looking at me in dumbfounded distress, she shook her head. “What the hell is going on?”
“It was the one Qualmer had,” I explained, distracted as I rubbed the center of my forehead and tried to think of the best way to sneak back and reach Indigo. “Indigo took it from him during the tenth reaping when they fought.” Dropping my fingers, I suddenly scowled at Melaina. “You never told me you’d had an amulet for Qualmer.”
“I had one for all my children,” she announced, as if that always should’ve been obvious. “Taiki was the one who needed to find three more for her kids before we could leave. But then the reaping happened, and all our plans went to hell. I searched Qualmer’s bedroom for years after we returned from Earth that first time, looking for this damn thing. But how did…?” She shook her head, confused.
“I can’t explain more. I need to go back for Indigo. Just know that he got the amulet from Qualmer. And now I must go back and help him. They might’ve already caught him. We were surrounded and hiding in some brush. It was only a matter of minutes before they found us, so he—” I choked on my own words, more tears filling my eyes.
“Indigo took off, riding away from me as a decoy so they would follow him instead, and I could get away. But I have to go back. I can’t just let them…” Swallowing at the painful knot in my throat, I shook my head. “Indy had the amulet. He gave it to me to go to Earth and save myself, but you take it. Go to Taiki, and I’ll—we’ll follow whenever I get Indy back. Okay?”
I don’t know why I didn’t tell her I had a second amulet. Maybe because I knew she’d try to talk me into coming with her now.
Which is exactly what she did anyway.
She grabbed my shoulders, gripping hard. “No, I’m not leaving you here like this. If the hunters can find you this easily, then come with me. You can hide out on Earth for a few moon cycles until you’re sucked back here after everything’s calmed down. And then you can—”
“No,” I told her. “I’m staying now. Indigo could be dead in a few moon cycles if I went to Earth and just left him like this. I can’t risk that.”
Melaina straightened, brutally calm. “If they caught him, dearest, he’s already dead.”
The mere possibility made my entire frame shudder. I shook my head, denying it.
“Yes.” She nodded. “The moment he realized a Graykey was his mate, he turned traitor to his people.” Her voice lacked all emotion. “You know it, I know it, he knew it. He’s already killed one of his own for you. His countrymen will not reward him with life for that.” She sounded almost kind—sympathetic—as she continued. “They will treat him as if he is a Graykey himself. So face the facts; he’s already gone.”
My shoulders heaved as I tried to breathe properly, but everything seemed to be caving in around my lungs. I think my heart must be bursting, and fragmented pieces were blocking my airways, blurring my vision, ringing in my ears…
“But he sacrificed himself for me,” I rasped, my voice going hoarse.
Melaina merely nodded. “As he was supposed to. That’s why we kept him, is it not? Because we knew he would always protect you.”
“No.” I shook my head savagely. “No. I kept him because he was mine.”
Clutching my face gently, she looked me straight in the eyes, revealing tears of blood on her cheeks. “And so he is yours. Now let him do his duty, sweetness. Let him die for you as you come to safety with me.”
“No!” I jerked my chin free of her hold and backed away slowly. “No. I’m not leaving this world without him.”
“Quilla.” She stomped her foot, and her voice hardened with authority. “Dammit. I will not be disobeyed.”
No longer the eight-year-old child she could order around, I shook my head, and wiped my eyes, knowing this was most likely the last time I’d ever see her. “He’s my true love, Melaina.”
“He is a stranger to you,” she argued. “So what if he’s supposed to end up as your soulmate? You can defy that destiny. You can come away with me right now and be safe. Chasing after him would be a death sentence. You don’t have to accept him as your mate.”
I edged another step back. “Except I already have.”
She shook her head, eyes filling with panic. “Quilla.” She started toward me, lifting her hand. “Baby. Please don’t leave me. You’ll die. You’ll die.” More blood dripped down her cheeks.
I lifted my own palms, warding her off as I backed away. “Maybe I won’t. Maybe I’ll save him, and we can join you again. Tell Taiki I love her, and I hope to see you guys soon.”