Revealed (Unbound, Book 5)

Chapter Thirty-Four

Back at the bed and breakfast, I forced myself to go through the motions of eating supper. Nothing had taste and felt like how I imagined chewing rubber would be. I doubted I managed to eat a quarter of what I'd ordered even though they'd made my Greek salad with grilled chicken exactly as I'd asked.

"Are you sure you are okay?" Islene asked for the twentieth time as we headed back to our room. She'd been casting glances of concern at me since we'd left the house, and my answer never changed.

"I'm fine. Just tired."

"You barely ate."

"That's not new."

"I've eaten supper with you often enough to know it's the one meal you do eat, so what's wrong?"

"Don't you think I'd be preoccupied thinking about everything?" I asked instead of answering as we paused so Islene could open the door to our room. "I'd be more concerned if I was unfazed."

Islene watched me from the doorway as I went to my bag to get a change of clothes and toiletries to prepare for bed. When I started across the room to the bathroom, she finally said, "You know, since you're tired, I'll take Onyx for a bedtime bathroom break."

I paused just outside the washroom and finally met her watchful gaze. "Are you sure? I can take her once I'm dressed."

Islene waved her hand through the air. "I don't mind. It'll give me a chance to burn off the dessert I indulged in."

"Thank you." I nodded and disappeared into the bathroom.

I leaned my back against the counter, holding my breath. When the door shut to signal Islene left, I exhaled. I turned, setting the things I held in my arms on the counter. The mirror showed me the reason for Islene's concern. I was pale and the dark circles under my eyes proved my exhaustion. Even more, the eyes that reflected back weren't bright or shiny; they were haunted, like someone who'd seen—or, in my case, lost—too much.

Stifling a sob, I took out my phone and checked the display, but it had no notifications.

I set it down and turned the shower on. I had to pause as I undressed to wipe at tears and, finally getting under the spray of water, I let the noise mask the sound as I let my emotions free. Everything that had happened rushed through my mind and tore at my heart. No matter what I did, I couldn't fix it all.

My mother was dead, and my father was terrible.

I pushed Calin away.

Maible hated me and Nancy was too far.

After all I'd endured and still had to face, I couldn't lose magic or the connection I had to my mother and her family. It was the one thing I couldn't accept. It wasn't even possible. Logically, I knew this, but that didn't make it any less confusing. My blood was the key, not my abilities, so why didn't I see the door?

My tears dried up when the water turned cold. I stepped out of the shower and dressed quickly, braiding my wet hair so it wouldn't dry in a tangle as I slept. Then on legs that felt like rubber, I went out and put my things away before crawling into my bed. As soon as I closed my eyes, I was dreaming.

"Do I have visions?" I asked the moment Zach appeared.

All around us was fog. Though I could see him, Zach never fully solidified. I looked for Opal, but she wasn't with Zach. Instinctually, I knew this—whatever this in-between place was—wouldn't last. Given how much stronger he'd been getting, I was surprised at the seemingly weak connection.

"Is there a door at my grandparents' house?" I asked instead, getting to what I wanted to know most of all. "Why couldn't I see it?"

Zach grew fainter, his response a whisper. "Fear clouds sight, Nora. Don't let it have power."