I stood up and searched the boat. I found a small bathroom beneath deck. I looked in the mirror. I barely recognized myself. Every inch of my skin was covered in swollen sores and blisters. I trusted that the blood would speed up my recovery.

I sat back down, allowing myself a few more minutes’ rest as my body worked on healing itself. But then I got up. I had no idea how much time had passed since we’d been kidnapped by the hunters on the beach, but now that I was alone, I had to try to complete my mission no matter how doubtful I was about it being too late.

I hurried to the control room. My eyes rested on the electronic navigation device. I studied the map. I wasn’t as far away from The Shade as I’d feared I might be.

I examined the boat’s controls. It was a small vessel. I didn’t know how much fuel was left in it, but I had no choice but to attempt this now.

Chapter 14: Caleb

The vessel did end up running out of fuel, but thankfully I’d found a spare jerrycan below deck.

It was close to the early hours of the morning by the time I arrived outside the boundary of The Shade. The boat shuddered as I brushed against the boundary, sending papers and equipment flying everywhere.

I reached for the conch in my belt. Taking a deep breath, I blew into it. I wasn’t able to make out the sound, but if Mona was still on the island, she would hear it.

I waited. And waited. I blew the conch again.

After an hour of waiting, I thought she wasn’t going to turn up. Perhaps the spell had worn off the shell after all these years. Or she had come to the edge of the boundary, seen it was me, and returned, not being willing to give me the time of day. The possibilities were endless.

But then she appeared out of thin air on the deck a few feet away from me, a dressing gown wrapped around her body, her long blonde hair tied up in a bun. I realized how strange I looked wearing nothing but my underwear. At least my wounds had mostly healed by now.

“You?” Her eyes narrowed on me. “What are you doing here?”

“I’m here to make a trade with you. I have a piece of information that you need to know. In return you must answer a question.”

Her lips parted, her brows furrowing.

“You realize that I could blast you and this boat out of the water with a flick of my finger?”

I nodded, trying to keep my expression calm, even as urgency coursed through me.

“I don’t think you’ll want to do that until you’ve heard what I have to say.”

“What?”

“Once I’ve told you, you won’t be able to keep yourself from running off. I need you to answer my question first.”

She crossed her arms over her chest, her eyes darkening.

“Look, vampire. You’ve just woken me up, drawn me away from my bed—”

“As you did when you came to fetch me for Rose.”

“You’re in no position to be calling the shots. Tell me your information first, then we’ll see what question you have.”

I stood my ground.

“No. You answer first, or I’ll not tell you the information I came here with.”

She closed the distance between us, gripping my jaw.

“I could torture the information out of you,” she hissed. “You do realize that?”

I chuckled dryly. “I’m quite beyond responding to torture, believe me.”

She glared into my eyes for several more minutes. I returned her gaze steadily. Then, breathing out in frustration, she said, “Well, spit it out.”

“I believe you were inducted to become a Channeler. Correct?”

“Yes.”

“How did you… become one, without losing yourself in the process?”

“That’s what you came all this way to ask me? Why, are you thinking to become a Channeler?”

“Just answer the question.”

Her brows furrowed, and she paused. “What makes you think I didn’t lose myself?”

I stared at her, examining her heart-shaped face.

“You just strike me as… different from any Channeler I’ve come across before.”

She sighed and leaned against the wall of my boat.

“You’re right. I am different. Though I did lose myself. I was just lucky enough to have someone to remind me of who I was. To save me.”

“What do you mean?”

“I had someone who was able to help remind me of who I was before I lost myself.”

“Who?”

“Someone I was—am—in love with.”

“How?”

She frowned. “I thought you said one question.”

“Just answer me, will you?” I said irritably.

“I… I honestly don’t know how he did it. I just somehow… saw myself in him. And then all the memories came flooding back in waves.”

“Perhaps if I tell you the purpose of my question, you will better be able to help me,” I said after a pause. Although I hated the thought of baring myself before this stranger, I had to if I wanted a useful answer from Mona. “It’s about Annora. She’s lost herself completely. We were lovers and I’d do anything to get her back to how she was.”

Mona looked intrigued.

“You were in love with Annora, huh? Hm. Were you there with her during her induction?”

I shook my head. “What goes on in the induction? What is it?”

Mona’s eyes darkened. She shuddered, wrapping her night gown more tightly around her.