Revealed (Unbound, Book 5)

Chapter Twenty-Two

The farther we got from the cabin, the clearer Carter seemed to get. We'd put him in the backseat of Calin's car with Onyx while I sat up front, and I didn't pull away when Calin reached for my hand. It had been hard to keep the shield around my emotions long enough to get Carter to Calin's car and, when we arrived, I was shamed to admit I didn't have enough energy to keep it up after traipsing through the trees to get Carter in. Thankfully, whatever intimidation Calin triggered had waned and Carter allowed him to take over.

"Here." Calin turned in the driver's seat and handed Carter a bottle of water. "Drink this. It's fresh, though I'm sorry it's a little warm."

Carter grimaced when he reached forward, already unscrewing the cap when he began leaning back against the seat. His eyes closed as he tilted it back, a heavy sigh that I took as relief rushed from his nostrils—whoever had used magic to lock Carter in the cabin obviously wanted to keep him weak by holding back necessities but had returned often enough to keep him drugged. Or had his captor wanted Carter to appreciate him all the more when he finally gave in and supplied food and water?

Every possibility I thought of could be wrong, and I doubted each scenario.

Maybe whoever took Carter, as well as his magic, used their own powers against him and spelled him to be disoriented instead of using drugs? It explained why I sensed it so strongly, even from the car. Then again, anything done magically there would have left a trace—the stronger the spell, the more left behind. But... if magic was used to spell Carter into compliance, it would have to be targeted, which is why we didn't react, and why Carter seemed to be getting better the farther we were.

Still, why hadn't Carter been let go after his magic was gone?

Aside from the obvious ill intent, my stomach remained in knots thinking of what else could have been planned for him.

It was all so Stockholm-ish. I supposed whatever it was that kept Carter so disoriented was the reason the trauma Carter endured hadn't warped him into connecting to his captor. In the end, I had to admit that was a good thing. If it was magic, hopefully the ill effects of actual drugs abused over time—liver damage, addiction, withdrawal—would be avoided. If he'd wanted to stay... If Carter had rationalized in favour of his captor, I wouldn't be calm. In fact, like I'd somehow bonded with him, I'd be like a mother bear after something threatened the safety of her cub. Look out.

I glanced at Calin, who watched Carter drink half the bottle in a couple of gulps. As if realizing that it was impolite to treat Carter like an attraction at the zoo, Calin turned forward and started the car, quickly pulling back onto the roadway. He let go of my hand in the process, and I immediately felt how tired and confused Carter was, but thankfully there was no pain.

Unlike Calin, I felt obligated to make sure Carter was on the mend, and I kept my torso twisted to the side so that I could see both Calin and Carter at the same time. I watched, silent until the bottle of water was near empty, then asked, "So, do you remember anything yet?"

Carter pulled the bottle away from his lips, his eyes—much clearer now—met my gaze. "Not really."

"Do you remember your birthday?"

His brow furrowed and then he shook his head. "No, I recall... I lived in Wickenton, I think."

"Did you go to Grimas?" I asked, wondering why we hadn't met if that was the case.

"I think so? I'm pretty sure I'm in college now, or just finishing college." Carter looked down and capped the bottle before idly passing it back and forth between his hands hovering over his lap. "I remember graduating high school."

"So, you remember your parents?"

"Yes." He nodded.

"Do you... recall what happened?"