Whisper (Whisper #1)(94)
“Let me see if I have this right,” I say, my words sounding as choked as I feel. “For over two and a half years I’ve believed myself responsible for the murder of my parents, but it’s actually possible that they’re alive and — what? That they wanted me to believe I killed them?”
Kael’s shoulders rise and fall. “Honestly, I don’t know. But I promise you, we’ll find out.”
I slump down into the bed, exhausted beyond belief.
“I hate this,” I whisper, closing my eyes. “I hate not knowing about Vanik and my parents. I hate not understanding anything. I hate that I’m out here but that the other Exodus recruits — my friends — are stuck back at Lengard with that psycho.”
Enzo, Sneak, even Crew — they’re all still there.
And then there’s Ward. It’s impossible to forget him. Impossible not to wonder what he’s going through right now.
Needing to not feel so useless, so helpless, I draw back my blankets and drag my legs over the side of the bed. My movement rouses Schr?dinger, who raises his head long enough to give me a dirty look for jostling him, then he drops his chin to his paws and closes his eyes again.
“Whoa, whoa, what do you think you’re doing?” Kael demands, leaping from his seat.
Cami stirs at his raised voice, and we both glance over at her, but she doesn’t awaken.
“What does it look like?” I reply, and with a heaving push, I stand, only to wobble precariously enough for Kael to swoop in and steady me.
“I don’t think you’re ready to be up just yet,” he says.
“I have to get my strength back somehow.” I attempt to push him away, my efforts making me feel even more drained. I could easily fall asleep in his arms. But I still say, “I can’t just lie in bed all day while Vanik’s trying to take over the world, while my parents may or may not be alive and while Ward is a prisoner in his own home. I can’t just lie around and do nothing, Kael.”
“And yet, right now you also can’t do anything, Lyss,” Kael tells me, leaning back enough to look into my face. “Vanik can wait. Your parents can wait. And as for Ward, he’s way too important for Vanik to risk causing him any permanent damage — especially since Falon will be breathing down everyone’s necks to find out where you lot have all disappeared to. So he’s got time, Lyss. Which means you do, too.”
Kael’s words help soothe my turmoil. But still I say, “We need to save him, Kael. We need to save them all.”
“And we will,” he says. “Just as soon as you can stand on your own again.”
“I’m fine.” Seeing his skeptical look, I add, “Really.”
Kael tightens his grip on my waist and says, “Piggybacking you around Lengard on a rescue mission doesn’t seem like the wisest decision we could make right now.”
Seeing his point, and vaguely realizing that the room is spinning around me, I capitulate. “Perhaps we can wait a day or two.”
Spinning room or no, I still see his lips curl into a smile as he responds, “Only if you insist.”
With no impending rescue mission on the cards just yet, he helps — or, rather, forces — me back into bed. Only when he’s tucked me in and is moving toward the door do I whisper, “What’s going to happen to them?”
His midnight eyes hold mine for a long moment, as if he’s sharing his strength — and lending his comfort. “Nothing that hasn’t been happening for a while,” he answers quietly, truthfully. “So, rest up, Lyss. There’ll still be time to save the world after you wake again.”
Finally submitting to my exhaustion, my eyelids flutter shut of their own accord, but I still slur, “I’m going to hold you to that.”
“I don’t doubt it,” he replies with a quiet chuckle. “Now, go to sleep, princess. You’re safe here.”
It’s a whisper of promise, and it fills me with warmth all over again as I begin to drift off. But just before I succumb, one last thought crosses my mind, and I open my eyes again as I mumble, “Kael?”
“Yeah?” he answers quietly from across the room.
“You haven’t been destroying my words, have you?”
A beat of silence passes before he says, “No, Lyss. I haven’t needed to.”
I exhale deeply at the confirmation of what that means.
“From what I hear, you’ve had a good grip of your control for a while now.” Kael sends me a sly glance and adds, “Or so Ward told me the last time I spoke with him. He mentioned something about … glitter paint?”
I suck in a breath, startled by his admission.
When Kael sees my shock, his lips hitch up at the side. “He was still playing the role he was forced into, princess. He had to act like a hard-ass to stay close enough to watch over you without suspicion. But if there’s one thing I know about Ward, he more than anyone always believed in you, right from the very beginning. Trust me on that.”
My sinuses tingle, and I blink fiercely to combat my suddenly burning eyes.
Sensing my need for him to not say anything more about Ward, Kael clears his throat and continues, “You’re as normal as any other Speaker now — which means, when you want to use your ability, you have to actively draw power and intent into your words if you want them to have any supernatural effect. The rest of the time, like now, nothing will happen.”