“I’ve been trying everything I can think of.I’ve modified the ingredients and the spell.I’ve tried with and without you there.I’ve even tried with Pippa, but nothing’s working.”
“I know,” Dallin reassured him.“I don’t expect you to work miracles.Everyone has been doing everything they can to get Sol back.It’s not your fault that we haven’t been able to yet.”
Ansley’s expression crumbled.“Why does it feel like it is, then?”
A tear rolled down Ansley’s cheek.Parker was on him instantly, wrapping an arm around his shoulders and pulling him close to whisper something in his ear.Dallin stared at them for a moment, but it was too much.
He pushed his chair away from the table as he dropped his fork.The sound of metal on ceramic was loud, but Dallin didn’t apologize.He turned and walked away, ignoring the people calling for him to wait.
He couldn’t wait.If he did, he was going to break down and start sobbing at the dinner table, and no one wanted to see that.Dallin certainly didn’t.He loved his brothers and trusted them with his life, but he didn’t need them to comfort him.He didn’t need them to tell him that everything would be okay.
They didn’t know that everything would be okay.Hell, if Dallin had to guess, everythingwouldn’tbe okay.There was no way Carlyle wasn’t hurting Sol.He didn’t want to think about what Carlyle might be doing to Sol, but he couldn’t stop himself from doing just that.He could think of a dozen spells that would hurt Sol without killing him.Carlyle probably wanted revenge for what Dallin and the others had done to him, and Sol was the one who was paying for it.He was the only dragon Carlyle had managed to get his hands on, and Dallin had no doubt that Carlyle was making the most out of that.
He bit his lower lip hard so he wouldn’t start wailing in the middle of the hallway.He didn’t run, but it was a close thing.He had no idea where he was going, but he didn’t need to know.The castle was big enough that he could hide somewhere.
He’d see them tomorrow.Tomorrow, he would give them the opportunity to fuss over him and make sure he was okay.Tonight, he’d do what he always did.
He’d cry as he thought about Sol and about what both of them stood to lose.
* * * *
AGLASS CONTAINER CRASHEDagainst the wall.Sol winced, grateful that hadn’t been his head.He wouldn’t be surprised if Carlyle decided to aim his anger at him, though.
Things had been headed that way the past few times Carlyle had pitched a fit.He was getting more frustrated every time his spell or whatever he was doing didn’t work, and while, for now, he’d taken it out on objects and on Graham, that wouldn’t last forever.Sol was pretty sure that he was the reason the spell wasn’t working.It was the only thing that made sense, and once Carlyle had exhausted every other option, he’d turn his focus on him.
“Why isn’t it working?”Carlyle asked.
He didn’t expect an answer, and Sol made sure to keep his mouth shut.He didn’t need to attract that kind of attention.
Unfortunately for him, he got it anyway.Carlyle swiped everything off the table.It crashed on the stone floor, pieces scattering everywhere.Carlyle was panting.His cheeks were red, and his hair wasmessy.He looked around as if searching for something else to break, and his gaze stopped on Sol.
That couldn’t be good.
“It’s you,” Carlyle said.
Sol had no idea what to do.Should he ignore Carlyle?Should he answer him?Should he try to placate him?Sol didn’t want to make things worse, but just standing there staring back wouldn’t help.
Carlyle stalked toward the bars.Sol was bigger than him, both in height and in muscles, but Carlyle was a mage.Even if Sol shifted into his dragon form, he was pretty sure that Carlyle could kick his ass.
He’d tried shifting a few times when he’d first been locked in the cell.It had been a tight fit, and even as a dragon, he hadn’t been able to do much.There was no way out of the cell, no matter what form he was in.
But there was a way in for Carlyle.
Sol watched as Carlyle opened the door.He pushed it so hard that it slammed, the sound loud and grating.Sol eyed the door, wondering if maybe he could somehow get around Carlyle and escape.The only way to do that would be to knock Carlyle out, and he wasn’t sure how to do that.
Carlyle snapped something that sounded like it was in a different language, and Sol’s body locked up.It was as if his feet were rooted to the floor, and no matter how hard he tried moving, he couldn’t.Maybe Carlyle had realized that Sol had been thinking about escaping, or maybe he just wanted Sol to stay still for what he was planning.Whatever the reason, Sol wasn’t going anywhere.The only thing he could do was watch as Carlyle stalked toward him.
Carlyle stopped in front of Sol and looked him up and down.“I’ve never understood why the bond was so important to them.The only thing shields are good for is to protect and power us.Why would I want to be tied down to one of you?”
Sol had no idea what Carlyle was talking about.He still didn’t know anything beyond the fact that he could turn into a dragon while Carlyle had magic.He didn’t know what bond Carlyle was talking about, but the way he was speaking didn’t sound good.
“But I need that bond now,” Carlyle continued.“It’s the only way for me to get your magic.”
He leaned so close that Sol thought their noses would brush together.He didn’t want to touch Carlyle, so he attempted to rear back, but he couldn’t move.
“I need to break the bond that’s already in you.Nothing I’ve tried works, but I only used magic until now.Maybe I need a different approach.Maybe I need to be more physical.”
Sol saw it coming.Carlyle cocked his fist back, but Sol couldn’t even close his eyes as the punch came toward him.He was frozen, but his body moved anyway.He couldn’t control it as he fell back.He hit the floor, wheezing out a breath, but Carlyle was already on him.
