𝙺𝙾𝚃𝙻𝙲: 𝙰𝚋𝚒𝚕𝚒𝚝𝚢 𝚂𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚌𝚑 [DISCONTINUED]

Chapter 16 || Cognates (Tam's POV)

Tam's POV (Present Tense)

I walk through the doors of King Dimitar's dungeon with Biana. We followed very specific instructions to get down here. It took a lot longer than expected. There were so many twists and turns. But we had stayed quiet the whole time. Not because we didn't want to talk, but because we were terrified—and still are. What will King Dimitar make us do? I guess we're about to find out.

"Good. You're on time," King Dimitar says to us.

I take a peek at where he's standing, but my eyes get distracted by the assortment of weapons lining the walls. Biana keeps her head down, probably too frightened to look up. I reach for her hand, but hesitate. What if she's too scared and rejects my hand? I shove my worries away and entwine my fingers with hers. She looks up at me, wide-eyed, but doesn't let go. We put our heads back down and keep walking.

And let me be honest. We're only friends. I have no feelings toward her. Honestly. And I know you might be thinking that I'm just hiding my emotions, but I'm telling the truth. I feel like I might be gay. Or maybe bi. But either way, I definitely do not like Biana. And she doesn't like me anyway. I'm sure she likes a certain annoying someone.

Keefe.

Loved and adored by all girls. Liked and appreciated by all boys. But not by me. He's just annoying.

"Tam," Biana whispers. "Dimitar's talking to you."

"Oh." I look up. "I'm sorry, what did you say... sir?"

"I would like you to tell Bo why your abilities are mixed up," Dimitar explains.

"Oh. Right," I mutter.

I remember what King Dimitar told me and Biana before we came here. He claimed that Bo messed with our abilities. Apparently Bo is working with the Neverseen and helped them switch things up.

Keeping that in mind, I tell Bo, "I have Sophie's abilities and I'm not sure what to do with them. Biana has Fitz's Telepathy and isn't sure how to use it. We think the Neverseen jumbled up our abilities so that we would be less powerful. Since we're now weak, the Neverseen can strike whenever they'd like. (A/N: tHaT rHyMeS :O) And we have reasons to believe that you are working with the Neverseen."

"Thank you, Tam," Dimitar says. Then he turns back to Bo and continues talking. I try to listen but they're mostly glaring at each other now. Then I feel a tap on my shoulder. I look down at Biana. She stands on her tippy-toes and puts her mouth up to my ear.

"Tam," she whispers, gripping my shoulder to stay on her toes, "since you have Sophie's Telepathy, and I have Fitz's, does that make us Cognates?"

My breath catches in my throat.

"I guess so," I manage to murmur back.

She releases her hold on my shoulder and lets her heels drop back to the ground.

So, we really are Cognates? I thought about it on the journey down here but now that I know Biana thought about it too....

I bend down a little and whisper to Biana, "What if that's what Dimitar's gonna make us do?! What if he wants us to search Bo's head together as Cognates?!" 

"You're right!" she whisper-shouts back.

"Wait, shh—he's talking."

"Tam and Biana," Dimitar addresses us, "would you be so kind to search Bo's mind as Cognates?"

We glance wide-eyed at each other.

"Of course, sir," we reply in unison, both of us blushing slightly after realizing that we spoke together.