The Faltered Bond

Chapter 19 | Family migraine

JACE W.

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White-hot pain stabs into my skull, a jagged spike that I can't escape. I want to scream, but all that escapes is a low hiss through clenched teeth. Every inch of my body aches, like someone's taken a hammer to my bones. My mind feels like it's drowning in a thick fog, each thought slipping away as quickly as it comes. The floor beneath me seems unsteady, as if it might disappear altogether if I don't cling to reality. Then, a bitter taste floods my mouth, rancid and sharp. I fight the urge to gag, knowing that even the smallest movement might send everything spiraling into unbearable agony. So I stay still, frozen in this misery, feeling weak, helpless, and unbearably fragile.

Minutes-maybe longer-drag by. And then, slowly, my mind begins to clear, the haze lifting just enough for memories to return. I remember the village, the smoke, the collapse in the woods, and then Kyra's vile mixture being shoved into my mouth. A wave of nausea hits me again, but I swallow it back, knowing that vomiting would only worsen my already relentless pain.

Had I been poisoned? Had something gone wrong? The idea sends a fresh wave of panic through me, worry beginning to gnaw at the edges of my mind. Maybe I should see Kyra... ask her what the hell she gave me.

With great effort, I push myself into a sitting position, my muscles protesting like they've been torn from their very roots. I exhale heavily, the action sending ripples of discomfort through my entire body. The room around me comes into focus, and I realize I've been settled into a cramped, tiny tent. There's barely enough room to breathe, let alone move, and the thin mattress beneath me sags under my weight, leaving little room between me and the cold floor beneath.

That explains the pain in my back.

Reluctantly, I crawl out of the tent, my limbs trembling with the effort. As soon as I pull the thin fabric aside, I'm hit by a wave of bright light that makes my eyes burn. I stagger, disoriented, struggling to keep my balance as the light floods in. Seconds tick by as my eyes adjust, and just as I think I might regain some semblance of control, a body crashes into me.

I barely have time to react before I'm thrown off balance, my legs buckling beneath me as I stumble, almost toppling to the ground.

"Shit-!" My eyes snap to Zedekiah's frosty mane as he scrambles to gather the supplies he'd carelessly scattered across the floor. "Watch it, Scout," I snarl, frustration bubbling in my chest.

"Apologies, Jace," Zakary chimes in, stepping in beside his twin. "My brother seems to be quite forgetful of his manners as of late."

I scoff under my breath. These two have never had any manners, to begin with. The reason my father ever took them into the pack still baffles me, like some unexplainable decision he made in the past. Maybe he saw something in them-some potential-but it's beyond me. Or perhaps, he was just in need of a few extra hands to do his bidding. Regardless, they've yet to prove anything worthy of my respect.

I glance over the scattered supplies, the suspicion in my chest growing. "Where are you two headed?" I demand, voice cold.

Zedekiah stills, and his eyes flicker to mine, uncertainty flashing in them. "There was a storm last night. Most of our supplies got soaked."

I narrow my eyes at him, the anger inside me rising steadily. "Didn't I assign you to watch over them?"

Zakary steps in before Zedekiah can respond, his voice cutting through the tension. "Cade needed our aid. When we returned, we assumed someone else had secured the goods. We salvaged what we could." He pauses, clearly not bothered by the situation as he continues, "A large portion of our food was lost to the rains, however. We must gather a hunting party if we are to avoid starvation."