Estelle hovered near Wynter, unable to hide her concern. He hadn't moved once since appearing in the cavern. The blood that clung to his skin was now dry. His eyes were open, staring blankly towards the stairwell. He seemed to be waiting for someone. Melantha, most likely.

Evren took a scrap of fabric from Cresseida. The female's once long gown now hung just above her knees, the ends of it tattered and filthy. Elain pushed the water bucket towards Evren. She wet the fabric and tossed it to Estelle, since she was the closest to Wynter.

Estelle leaned towards him. "Don't touch me," Wynter grunted.

"Are you going to clean yourself up?" Wynter didn't reply. Estelle lowered her head as a wave of nausea overtook her. It passed shortly. "My skin won't touch yours. I promise."

Wynter still didn't move or speak, but he blinked once. Estelle's chains rattled as she shifted closer to him. The chains went taut and she could go no further. Estelle gingerly wiped the blood from his throat, making sure only the wet fabric touched his skin.

"What happened?" She murmured. "Where did all of this come from?"

"She slit my throat." Estelle's hand stilled. Wynter moved his own, revealing four ridged scars across his neck. "And then she healed me. I wish she'd let me die. I want to fucking die." Tears beaded in the corners of his eyes. "I want it all to be over."

    "Why would she do that?" Evren asked. Estelle glanced over her shoulder. There was raw pain in the High Lady's sea green gaze.

    "She told me she was going to give me a gift. She shapeshifted. Made herself look like someone special to me. I..." Wynter swallowed, closing his eyes as Estelle kept wiping his blood away. She lightened her touch until his breathing eased. "I almost killed her. A few moments longer and she would have died." Shudders wracked his body. "But she said something and I faltered. She slit my throat, then healed me and..."

    Estelle gulped, the weight of Wynter's words sinking in. He had almost killed Melantha. They might have been freed. "Melantha is going to kill her. I know she is," Wynter rasped. "She said as much herself. I can't let her die but I can't do anything from here. She's going to die because of me. Because I was stupid and my actions revealed what she means to me."

    "How did you manage to almost kill Melantha?" Cresseida asked in surprise.

    "I tried to strangle her," Wynter admitted. "But I failed." He sat up and twisted out of Estelle's reach. She could feel the shadows aching to reach out to him, but they didn't have the strength to move. "And now Ellie is going to die."

    Ellie? Estelle wondered.

    "She isn't going to die," Elain replied firmly. "I have an idea. It requires all of us to play a part."

    "What are you thinking?" Wynter looked back at them.

    "I felt Lucien across the Bond. I haven't since we were brought here. I think that must've happened when you attacked Melantha. Her wards are tied to her. When she almost died, the wards weakened and the Bond became strong enough for me to feel him."

    Evren furrowed her brows. "Which means?"

    "If we can do that again, one of us might be able to alert our mates about Melantha's plan to find...Ellie?"

    Estelle gasped, an idea popping up. "Wynter, are there windows in Melantha's room?"

    "Yes?" He replied hesitantly.

    "Have you ever gotten a good look at the land beyond this place?"

    "I...yes. But, I don't have a Mating Bond to pass images across." His eyes flickered down, then back up again.

    "That doesn't matter. If we weaken Melantha enough that my shadows' powers are restored, they'll be able to see what you're thinking of and can show me. I can show Mikael."

    Estelle's heart leaped at the thought of being able to feel him again, even if it was only across the Bond. Briefly, she recalled the faebane that had once soaked her ashwood collar. Its scent was faded now. With any luck, it wouldn't affect her when they attempted this. Hopefully the ashwood wouldn't either.

    "Do you think it will work?" Wynter asked.

    Evren gave a firm nod, and Elain and Cresseida mimicked it. "It has to. Wyn, the next time she comes down here, make her come to you. She'll have to walk past us if we're going to be able to reach her."

    Wynter dipped his chin, the numbness in his eyes shifting to resolution. Estelle tipped her head back against the stone wall, resting her hands atop her barely rounding stomach. She closed her eyes as tears blurred her vision. She might be able to hear the shadows. She might be able to hear Mikael's voice, just for a second. This had to work. For all of them. For Wynter's Ellie.

    It would work. They would make it work. Estelle swallowed, resolve settling like a stone in the pit of her stomach. Wynter had sacrificed everything for them. They would do their best to make sure he did not lose this one last precious thing.

◦═══✦═══◦

    Mikael jerked awake, unsure of when he'd fallen asleep. He blinked drowsily as a warm, familiar scent wafted past him. His mind snapped to awareness and he sat up. Estelle wasn't there. He'd fallen asleep with one of her shirts near his face.

    Mikael dropped his forehead into his palm, fighting back a disappointed sob. Three more days. Three more days and he would either be reunited with Estelle, or dead alongside her. His heart clenched. He might not have the chance to meet his baby.

    There was a soft knock at the door. "Come in," Mikael called, hoping his voice wasn't noticeably trembling.

    The door creaked as Seren stepped inside. "Nyx was asking for you. Mavis left for the night but Venelia is still coughing up blood. He wondered if there was something you would be able to do?"

    Mikael shook his head with a sigh. "I know how to heal physical injuries, not illnesses. I haven't gotten that far yet. I can find Father though. There might be something he can do."

    "Azriel is already looking for him." Seren crossed the room and sat down beside Mikael. "Are you all right?"

    Mikael squeezed his eyes shut. "No." His hand found Estelle's shirt and he clutched it tightly, lifting it to his nose. "I thought she was here when I woke up, but she wasn't. I've been trying to do what Azriel said and let my fears strengthen my instincts, but..."

    "It's not as easy as it sounds," Seren finished for him. "I know." She touched his shoulder gently. "And it's all right."

    "It's not. Sitting here sulking doesn't help anyone, but I don't know what I can do. I feel so useless." Mikael's shoulders shook and he blinked back tears. "I'm so afraid. What if she dies? It won't just be her that I lose. I want her home and safe. I want us both to meet our baby." He leaned forward, bracing his elbows on his knees. "Mother above, I wish I didn't know."

    "But you do, and that can't be changed. Azriel is right. Let your fears strengthen your instincts, but don't ignore them. It's all right to be afraid. You just can't let your fears overwhelm you."

    "How? They feel like a dark tide, sweeping me out into the middle of a raging sea."

    Seren turned his face towards hers. Mikael held her gaze. "There are calm waters in the Eye of the storm. Making your way into the Eye is difficult and dangerous, but once you're there, the storm can no longer batter you. Find the Eye, Mikael." She pulled him into a tight embrace. Mikael swallowed another dry sob and held onto her tightly.

◦═══✦═══◦

    A dull pain spiked through her foot as someone kicked it. Estelle blinked her eyes open. Evren jerked her head towards the stairwell. Estelle sat up and the shadows coiled atop her shoulders, more energetic than usual.

    Estelle's heart raced as Melantha descended the staircase. Their plan had to work. It had to. Please let this work, she prayed. Please.

    Melantha appeared at the foot of the steps. Her gaze fell to the bloodstained fabric Estelle had used on Wynter. "A pity," she scoffed. "I should've drank that while he was still in my room. I suppose it slipped my mind. Oh well. I can make up for that now. Come along, Pet!" She snapped her fingers and a set of faebane chains appeared in her hand. Wynter lay in his dark corner, unmoving.

    "He lost a lot of blood," Evren spat. "Your healing job was sloppy. He was still bleeding when he arrived down here. We did what we could, but he dragged himself back there and hasn't moved or spoken since."

    Melantha narrowed her eyes. "Nothing I do is sloppy."

    "Maybe. Or maybe you're just too proud to admit that you made a mistake and killed your pet," Estelle snarled.

    "Careful, Shadowsinger. A good kick to the stomach wouldn't serve you well at all right now." Estelle stiffened, curling an arm around her abdomen. "As for my pet, I highly doubt he's dead. Unlike his precious Ellie."

    Estelle prayed Wynter would ignore the taunt and stick to their plan. Maybe Melantha was lying. Ellie wasn't dead yet. Wynter had to try to believe that, for now at least. Melantha rolled her eyes and started towards Wynter.

    Elain lunged, grabbing the chains that dangled from Melantha's hand. Melantha gasped as Cresseida's foot collided with the back of her knee. She went down and Elain wrapped the chains around her throat. Melantha began to struggle, clawing at their faces. Cresseida clasped the manacles around Melantha's wrists, restricting her movements.

    Wynter was on his feet the next minute and joined Estelle. The shadows drifted onto him. Evren was too far away from Elain and Cresseida to help them, but she remained ready in case Melantha escaped and made a move on Wynter and Estelle.

    Estelle reached for the Bond as Melantha continued to struggle. It was still faint. The shadows could hardly move. Elain tightened the chains around Melantha's throat, sweat dotting her forehead. By the Cauldron, what if they killed the Witch now? Hope sparked in Estelle's chest.

    No, not hope. The Mating Bond. She could feel the Bond! Estelle reached for it and pulled sharply. Mikael! She cried. Mikael! The shadows flocked to Wynter and she gave him a curt nod. Almost at once, a scene appeared in her mind. She threw it across the Bond. Mikael, find us! And find Ellie. Wynter knew her. She's in danger! Mikael, please tell me you hear me!

    She jerked the Bond vigorously as Melantha gave a breathless scream. Estelle? Mikael's voice came across the Bond. Mother above, Batsy! Show me again. Show me again, Love! Are you still there? She let the image cross over once more.

    "Show me Ellie," Estelle ordered Wynter. "Hurry." The metal door shrieked open. An image of a female passed into her mind. Estelle sent it down the Bond as several undead soldiers entered the chamber.

    We're coming, Estelle. I promise. We're coming, Love, Mikael's voice was frantic. Venelia is going to be all right. She's safe. We're coming for you. Tell Wynter that I'll find Ellie.

    I love you, Mikael, Estelle sobbed.

    The warriors grabbed Elain and Cresseida, ripping their chains free of the wall and flinging the two of them across the chamber. They hit the ground and did not rise. Melantha twisted onto her hands and knees, retching as she gasped for breath.

    Another warrior landed a solid punch to Evren's temple, rendering her unconscious. Wynter ducked in front of Estelle as the rest of the corpses approached them. One soldier grabbed him by the throat and slammed him onto the ground. Wynter wheezed as breath was forced from his lungs.

    "No," Melantha called as the soldier prepared to knock him out. "No, leave that one awake. I want him to see what comes next."

    Wynter struggled to rise. Melantha stormed towards him, having somehow removed the faebane chains from her wrists. She clamped a thick collar, one attached to the chains, around his neck and jerked him towards her.

    "Leave him alone!" Estelle cried. A corpse hoisted her off the ground and socked her in the gut. Estelle vomited, pain spasming through her.

    "No!" Wynter screamed. "NO!" Melantha kicked him and blood spurted from his nose. "Leave them alone!" He pleaded. "I beg you, please! I beg you!" Estelle heard no more as a fist collided with her jaw and darkness claimed her.