Chapter 4 — Chapter 4

Torin

It’s hard to tell the passage of time in this place. There are no windows—thank God—the last thing I need right now is a blast of sunlight. Time slips away in this limbo, but the gnawing ache of silver cuffs keeps me tethered to now. The air reeks of damp stone and a faint metallic tang from the wards etched into the walls, their hum a constant reminder of my confinement. The energies swirling around me make me feel like I’m hanging in some kind of void, neither here nor there.

I shift my weight, the sharp sting of silver blistering my wrists bloody. The restraints sap what little strength I have left. I’ve been struggling to find my footing since the Maker’s Bond struck me with the force of a sledgehammer. Althea. The thought of her fuels my resolve. I cling to the memory of her defiant glare, her voice steady despite the chains. She’s safe. She’s okay. That’s what matters.