I scrambled out of bed, almost collapsing as soon as my feet hit the floor. Driscoll and Leoni caught me as I stumbled.
“What are you doing? You’re not in any condition to get out of bed,” Leoni said.
I pushed out of their arms, grabbing onto one of the wooden posters and using it to steady myself. Then I leaned against it, catching my breath, my ankle pulsing. I forgot I’d injured it.
“You need to get back in bed.” Leoni patted it, wariness replacing the concern on her face.
“You don’t understand. My brothers. They made a decision. They’re going to end it.”
“End what?” Driscoll asked slowly.
“Their lives.”
Leoni sat on the edge of the bed, staring at me in disbelief.
Driscoll stroked his chin. “How do you even know that was real? You were really sick. It was probably a fever dream or something.”
He was right. It could’ve been just a dream, but I had a feeling it was more than that. I had a feeling I’d somehow found my brothers, gotten into their heads, brought us all together in a dream. It was impossible. No star elemental had that kind of power. I’d always been different. I’d always been able to enter multiple dreams at once, but I’d never merged dreams before, never brought multiple subconsciouses into the same space. It was impossible, and yet...
“It was all your brothers? In one dream with you?” Leoni asked.
I nodded.
She bit her lip. “That’s powerful magic. Impossible magic. What did they say, exactly?”
I thought back to the dream, how worried all my brothers were. They were upset. Angry.“They don’t want me to try to save them anymore.”Tears gathered in the corners of my eyes.“They don’t want me risking my life for them, and they’re afraid if they don’t do something, then I won’t stop. So they want to sacrifice themselves. And then I won’t have any reason to knit these sweaters.”
Leoni’s eyes shone with tears, and Driscoll frowned.
“You two are right. It might not have been real, but I can’t take that risk. I have to find them. I have to make sure they don’t do anything stupid.”
“There’s no way you can venture back out into the jungle.” Driscoll started pacing. “Not in your condition. Plus, there’s no way Kairoth would allow it.” His eyes brightened. “Wait aminute. You don’t have to go to them. Not with your body, at least.”
Leoni snapped her fingers. “He’s right. If you could bring them all together while you were sick, then maybe you can do it now.”
That wasn’t a bad idea. Even if I had no idea how I’d done it.
I sank down onto the edge of the bed.
“Oh, thank the spirits.” Driscoll let out a long breath. “I think Spirit Shadow would have our heads if we let you go back into that jungle.”
“Where is he?”I signed.
“Gone,” Leoni said. “He visited you a few times, but we saw him leave at dusk yesterday. He flew off. No idea where he went or when he’ll be back.”
Driscoll wrinkled his nose. “Which is confusing since we were under the impression that he can’t leave.”
“Well, that’s good for us.”I ignored the sinking feeling in my stomach and gestured to the wardrobe against the wall.“Grab my boots. I’m not going to the jungle, but I do need to be outside.”
Chapter Forty-Five
BELLAMY
We stood outside the castle, the clear night sky spread out above us, not a cloud in sight. The stars twinkled, their presence filling me with peace.
Leoni and Driscoll stood on either side of me.
“So what do you do now?” Driscoll asked, glancing around. “Should we really be out in the open like this?”
