Chapter 280 The Wrapping

Chapter 280: Chapter 280 The Wrapping

Talia’s POV

We walked deeper into the dungeon, and the silver pressed in on us from all sides.

The cells stretched out before us, row after row. Some were empty, some held bones, while some held nothing at all. The torchlight on the wall flickered, casting long shadows across the floor.

Kaelen’s breathing was shallow beside me. I could feel his weight pressing against my shoulder, and I could see the sweat on his forehead. The silver was taking its toll on him, and I did not know how much longer he could keep going.

"Kaelen," I said. "We need to stop for a moment."

He shook his head. "No, Talia. We keep moving."

"Kaelen, look at your hands," I said.

He looked down, and I saw his jaw tighten. The cloth I had wrapped around his hands was almost gone, eaten away by the silver. His skin was red and raw beneath it.

"It is fine," he said.

"It is not fine," I said. "Your hands are burning."

I stopped walking, and I pulled him to a stop beside me. He tried to resist, but he was too weak.

"Talia, we do not have time for this," he said.

"We have time for this," I said. "If your hands get any worse, you will not be able to fight. You will not be able to hold a weapon, and you will not be able to do anything."

He looked at me, and I saw the frustration in his eyes. "Talia..."

I did not wait for him to argue. I tore a strip of cloth from the hem of my shirt and began wrapping his hands.

"Keep still," I said.

Kaelen watched me work. His eyes were already watering from the silver, and I could see the pain behind them.

"Talia," he said, his voice soft. "You do not have to do this."

"Yes, I do," I said. "You are my mate, and I will not let you suffer."

I wrapped the cloth around his fingers, then his palms, then his wrists. I made sure every inch of skin was covered. It would not last long, but it would buy us time.

"Talia," he said again.

I looked up at him. "What?"

"Thank you," he said.

I shook my head. "You do not have to thank me, Kaelen. Just stay alive."

He almost smiled. "I will try."

I finished wrapping his hands, and I looked at his neck. The cloth there was also wearing thin.

"Your neck," I said. "Let me fix it."

He shook his head. "It is fine."

"Kaelen..." I stared at him, trying to pretend to be angry.

"It is fine," he said again. "Save the cloth for later. We will need it."

I looked at him, and I knew he was right. But I did not like it.

"Fine," I said. "But if it gets worse, you tell me."

He nodded. "I will."

I looked at him, and I knew he was lying. He would not tell me, he would just suffer in silence until he collapsed.

But I did not have time to argue. My mother was somewhere in this dungeon, and I had to find her.

"Stay close to me," I said. "Do not touch anything. The silver is everywhere."

Kaelen nodded. "I will."

We walked forward, and I kept my eyes on the cells around us. The silver bars on the walls glittered in the torchlight. The smell of rust and decay was thick in the air.

I looked at Kaelen, and I saw his eyes watering. The silver was burning his eyes, and he was trying to hide it.

"Kaelen," I said. "Your eyes."

He blinked rapidly. "It is nothing."

"It is not nothing," I said. "The silver is getting into your eyes."

He shook his head. "I can still see, Talia. That is all that matters."

I looked at him, and I wanted to argue. But there was no point, because I knew that he would not listen.

"Do not touch anything," I said again. "Not the walls, and not the bars. Not anything at all."

He nodded. "I will not touch anything."

We walked deeper into the dungeon, and the cells grew darker. The torches were farther apart, and the shadows were thicker.

I looked at the cells as we passed, and I felt the fear rise in my chest, because there was no sign of life.

I stopped walking and stared at the bones in one of the cells. They were scattered across the stone floor, with some still attached to rusted chains. The sight made my stomach turn.

"Kaelen," I said, with my voice low. "Look at them."

He followed my gaze, and I saw his jaw tighten. "I see them, Talia."

"Who were they?" I asked. "What do you think happened to them?"

He was quiet for a moment. "It is obvious that they were prisoners, Talia. Like your mother. But they did not survive."

I felt the cold settle into my bones. "How long do you think they were here before they..."

I could not finish the sentence.

Kaelen squeezed my hand. "I do not know, Talia. But they were definitely here for a long time."

I looked at the bones again, and I felt the tears prick at my eyes. "Some of them were Silvertongues. I can feel it."

Kaelen looked at me. "How do you know?"

I touched my chest. "I can feel the magic. It is faint, but it is there. They were like me."

He pulled me closer. "Talia, do not think about them. Think about your mother."

I shook my head. "I cannot help it, Kaelen. I keep thinking... what if she ended up like them? What if we are too late?"

"Talia," Kaelen said. "Look at me."

I looked at him.

"Your mother is alive," he said. "We know that. The whispers told you. The symbols told you. The pendant told you. She is still waiting."

"But what if the silver..." I started.

"The silver is strong," he said. "But your mother is stronger. She is a Silvertongue, and she survived this long for a reason."

I looked at the bones one last time, and I felt the fear settle in my chest. But I also felt the hope.

"You are right," I said. "But I can’t help but fear..."

He squeezed my hand. "Let us just keep moving, Talia."

"But Kaelen," I said. "What if my mother is..."

He squeezed my hand. "She is alive, Talia. I know she is."

"How do you know?" I asked.

He looked at me. "Because we have come this far. And she is still waiting for you."

I nodded, and I forced myself to keep moving.

The dungeon stretched out before us, dark and endless. But I did not stop.

We could not stop, because my mother was somewhere in this darkness.

And I would find her.