She let go of me and took a step back, her eyes fixed on me. “You never told me I’d be able to feel your physical pain.”
My brows furrowed. “What do you mean?”
“I felt it when you were shot. I felt your pain,” she insisted.
“Gods, Grace. Are you okay?” I examined her, pushing aside the tunic to see her shoulder. She laughed. “I’m fine. It was a shock, though.”
“I didn’t know our connection was that strong or that we would experience such a thing. But it makes sense. An Alaran’s connection with our K’sha is the strongest bond there is.” I rubbed her shoulders and leaned my forehead against hers.
“I searched for you in my mind, but when I couldn’t find you I feared the worst.” Her eyes glassed over with unshed tears.
Stroking the side of her head, I gave her a small smile. “It was only because I was unconscious. Don’t worry, I have no intention of leaving you, ever.” I kissed her forehead then took her face in my hands and pressed my lips against hers.
“ARE YOU SURE YOU AREup to this?” Krin asked me when I approached him about interrogating the prisoner.
“The sooner the better. Maybe he knows who poisoned my father.”
We entered the prisoner section and walked to the cell where the monk sat with his eyes closed as if in silent prayer.
When I looked in at him, he opened his eyes and stared at me. “I see you survived,” he stated matter-of-factly.
I held my lips together and kept my focus on him. He was one of the monks who proposed that their cult govern Alara.
He blinked once, then again before standing.
“I did not kill the King if that is what you are going to ask me.” His lips curled in the corners.
I reached out my mind to tap into his thoughts and found he was not able to sense me. Testing my theory, I spoke into his mind. Again, no response. He watched me with a look of confusion.
‘Krin, see if you are picking up the same thing as me from his mind.’
It took a moment before Krin responded. “He is not an Alaran.”
I glared at the prisoner. “Who are you?”
The monk was taken aback. “Wh-what do you mean?” he stuttered.
“I know you aren’t from Alara.Whoorwhatare you?” He wasn’t so cocky now that we’d figured out his ruse.
He looked like an Alaran right down to our skin and eye color yet he was not one of us.
The monk undid his robe while ripping at the lining of it.
Sensing trouble, I opened the cell and hurried inside. He reached toward his mouth with something in his hand, but I managed to knock it to the floor.
Krin bent to pick up a small vial of green liquid.
I gripped the monk by the throat and immediately his body changed form in my hands. No longer was he seven foot tall. His skin was now a shade of beige.
His face was emaciated and his bones protruded at awkward angles. The being was not a species I recognized.
He put up his hands, and I saw panic on his face. The creature had meant to kill himself with whatever was in the vial.
“Who are you working with?” I shook him with my hand still around his throat.
He gagged and now his skin was turning even more pale.
Krin’s outer voice reached my ears with a hint of amusement. “I don’t think he can breathe let alone talk.”
