Elowen stepped in, escorted by Hendry, who was a whole foot and a half taller than her. Her cuffs had been removed entirely. I exhaled, and my shoulders sagged in relief.
“El,” Merrick murmured, standing and hugging her tightly. She squeezed him back just as hard.
I looked at Hendry, his mismatched eyes catching mine.
“He will be here soon,” he said quietly. “He left Elowen uncuffed so she could finish healing you.”
To that I nodded, and he left, the lock clanking.
‘How are you feeling, Elowen?“ Viola asked, rubbing her eyes as she stood, and pulled her into an embrace once Merrick let go. “They’ve been working you like a dog.”
She squeezed and pulled back. “I’m okay,” she said in her soft, cute voice. “I have been with Edmund, as you know.” She looked to Merrick before her eyes hit the ground. “He’s made sure I get as good of treatment as I can.”
Merrick tensed, but I quickly spoke. “Have they told you anything?”
“Yes,” she whispered. “Edmund tries to insist he shouldn’t come—”
“He is coming with us.” I placed a hand on her shoulder. “Don’t worry.”
Merrick just stared at her. “I don’t know what’s gotten into you, Elowen. Why do you care so much for this stranger?”
She blinked a few times. “I…I don’t know,” she said. “I just know that I do. That he does, too.”
Viola shifted on her feet. “You don’t think…” she started.
Merrick whirled his head towards her. “Don’t even suggest it.”
Elowen was staring at him with confidence when he met her eyes again.
“My Gods,” I exhaled. “Elowen, do you think…”
“Yes…” she sighed. “Yes.”
It would be the only thing to make sense. Why else would a soldier, trained to kill and view our kind as monsters, be so sympathetic and kind? Why would Elowen, after witnessing what he contributed to, after seeing her parents’ bodies, insist so greatly on saving him, on healing him—holding him?
There could only be one answer. Edmund was Elowen’s Soul-Tie.
“I don’t accept it,” Merrick snapped.
“That’s not how it works,” Elowen growled. My eyes widened at her tone, as did all of ours. I had never seen her worked up like this. “I know you don’t like him, Merrick. But don’t you think your default hatred of him is just like how the soldiers view all of us?”
Merrick clenched his jaw, offering no response.
“It is,” she continued. “I never planned on caring for an Otacian man. I didn’t plan on any of this,” her voice cracked. “But he means something to me, and I promise you, I mean something to him, too.”
Merrick tensed, and at the sight of Elowen’s eyes welling up with tears, he pulled her into an embrace once more.
Another hour went by. It had to be past midnight now, which meant I would be creating the distraction soon. Elowen was asleep beside me, exhausted after healing me completely, and Merrick and Vi were on the other bed. My eyes were beginning to flutter shut when our door opened, and Silas emerged.
I sat up, squinting at the light peering through, then quickly stood. My friends awoke.
“Stay quiet,” Silas whispered. I walked over to him, his golden eyes flickering over me, then back at my friends. “Hendry and I will be here shortly to release everyone.”
They nodded, and Silas shut and locked the door behind us.
We walked down the hallway until he gripped my arms and pulled me into a dark corner.
“Hey—”
