Chapter 22
Twenty-Two
KARL
ELLNESARI, PRESENT DAY
S elor is beyond pissed that I made a deal with King Ruel.
He calls me names the entire trip to the Valley of Lost Souls, and to drive his point in further, he shoves me away from him as soon as we arrive.
I would have fallen on my ass if I wasn’t expecting that from him.
My boots glide on the gravel, and I have to spread my arms and legs to remain upright.
“I curse the day I stumbled upon you, wolf boy,” he barks.
“You know very well I didn’t have a choice. Besides, I saved your life. He would have turned you into mush otherwise.”
He grunts and kicks a rock that disappears into the mist.
“So, this is the Valley of Lost Souls, huh?”
“No, you idiot. The valley lies below, over the cliff.” He points with his head.
I follow his line of sight, but I see nothing but white fog, and my nose doesn’t pick up any scent that would help me get the lay of the land. Nor do I sense Manu. According to King Ruel, I missed her by a day, so I should be able to smell her if she came here. “Are we still in Aquila?”
“No, this forsaken land isn’t claimed by any kingdom.”
“Why is that?”
“Because no one dares to come here. It’s akin to what humans call purgatory.”
“Great.” I move closer to the edge of the cliff, but carefully, because I can’t see where the ground gives way to nothing. “I don’t sense Manu. You don’t think your king lied, do you?”
“Nightingales don’t lie.”
I open my mouth to protest, but Selor cuts me off. “We manipulate, bend the truth, omit details, but never straight-out lie. If King Ruel says Manu came here, he believes she did. Whether she arrived is another story.”
The knot of worry in my chest tightens. “Do you think something could have happened to her on the way?”
He shrugs. “Anything is possible.”
I push my hair back. “That doesn’t help me at all.”
He gives me a droll look. “I’m sorry. Were you under the impression that I have any fucks to give about your problems, wolf boy?”
“What the hell am I supposed to do? Just sit here and wait for… what? A signal?”
“Why are you asking me? I know as much as you do. Those are questions you should have asked King Ruel.”
“I tried, but it seems you lot can only speak in riddles.”
Selor lies down, links his hands behind his head, and closes his eyes.
“What are you doing?” I ask.
“I’m taking a nap. I have a feeling we’ll be here a while. Don’t bother me unless I’m about to die a horrible death.”
“You might,” I snarl.
“If that was a threat, you gotta work on it, wolf boy. Now shut up.”
I curl my hands into fists and turn away from the jackass.
I’m too restless to sit down, so I keep pacing, practically digging a hole in the ground.
Frustrated, I grab a pebble and toss it into the void.
I wait to hear the noise of it landing below, but it never comes.
Shit. Either the drop goes on forever, or the magic surrounding this place prevents any noise from reaching the top of this cliff.
If that’s the case, even if Manu calls for me, I won’t be able to hear her.
I close my eyes and focus on the bond magic that links me to her. The connection is still there, but there’s no tug pulling me in a specific direction. It’s like the thread is slack. Hell. I hate feeling this useless. Dejected, I sit down and hug my knees.
Please, Manu. Send me a sign. Anything.
A sharp pain in my back robs me of air. It’s like the muscle has been slashed open, and it burns. I fall on my side, crying out in agony.
“What fresh hell is this?” Selor asks.
I’d answer him if I could speak. The pain is unbearable.
He crouches next to me. “What’s wrong with you? Are you hurt?”
“I… I don’t know. My back… it feels like it’s been ripped to shreds.”
Selor lifts my shirt, then a moment later says, “I see nothing. Are you sure you’re not losing your mind?”
“If I’m going insane… it must be this place.”
He moves away from me. “Perhaps. But since it’s all in your head, please suffer in silence.”
“Asshole,” I grit out.
“Eh, I’ve been called worse.”
Eventually, the pain lessens, becoming dull. Then I hear her voice, like a whisper: “Karl… I wish I could see your face one last time.”
The bond flares in my core, burning so bright that I can actually see Manu. She’s perched on a tree branch, hurt and alone.
In an instant, the wolf takes over. Before Selor can stop me, I’m in midair, plunging into the unknown.