Yelena held out the glass prison. “When did you know this was here?”

I told her about the dreams. “I have a general idea where the others are, too.” I searched her expression. “Didn’t you know?”

“I knew as soon as we entered the cave.” She paused and chewed on her lower lip as if debating what she should tell me. “I’ve been hanging around Valek too long. I heard the Warper’s pleas, but wanted to see what you would do.”

“But…but I almost crushed the glass and released him.”

“You didn’t.”

“But what if I did? He has Master-level powers.”

“Then I would have another problem to deal with.”

“That was a big risk.”

“Actually, I wasn’t worried. I trusted you, Opal.”

If the Warper hadn’t said those two words, I would have freed him. “You shouldn’t. Because when you sent those evil souls to the glass, they traveled through me. I think a piece of them stayed with me. Sometimes I feel my thoughts and actions aren’t mine.”

Yelena placed her hand flat on my chest and closed her eyes. After a moment, she stepped back. “We all have thoughts we’re not proud of. I’ve done a couple things I wish I hadn’t. I can assure you there are no remnants of those souls within you.”

“But they call to me.”

“Your other glass animals call to you.”

“That’s different.”

Yelena said nothing.

“I sense emotions from my animals. I hear voices and feel pain with the prisons.”

“Have you been dealing with this for the past four years?” Yelena asked.

The answer surprised me. “No. I started having the vivid dreams…” After my trip to the Stormdance lands. After I had connected with Kade through the orb. “Around the middle of the cooling season. Around the time I discovered a few new…things I could do with my magic.” I explained about the spiders, but not about Kade.

“The new abilities could have set off a chain reaction. Your magic is linked to glass and perhaps in increasing your powers you expanded your connection to your other creations.”

I guessed it was possible.

“Or there could be another reason altogether. In this case, I would say dealing with the problem is more important right now than figuring it out. You must not tell anyone you know where the prisons are. This one will be hidden again. Stay away from the others lest you be tempted.” She smiled. “The next trapped soul might offer you warmth and dry clothes. Then we’d be in trouble.”

I released a shaky breath. “You’re right. I’d do anything for a warm fire.”

She cringed. “Not me. I tend to avoid fires.” She shivered. “I’m more tempted by a piece of apple cake.”

“You sound like Leif.” But my stomach rumbled in agreement. We didn’t waste any more time. The trip back through the chilly water wasn’t as bad, perhaps because I knew a dry cloak waited on the other side.

Kade helped me out of the pool. His hand pulsed hot against my icy skin. Soothing warmth spread from where he had touched me. My body felt bruised and battered, and the sudden desire to wrap myself in his arms coursed through me. I pushed the notion away, knowing he would reject me.

What a night. I couldn’t wait to leave the cave. Staying far away from the prisons was an excellent idea, but how do I avoid the nightmares? What if I encountered another stronger Warper? Would I be able to resist freeing him if Yelena wasn’t by my side?

Yelena and Leif crawled through the tunnel toward the cave’s exit. Kade and I waited for the all clear signal.

“Something’s wrong,” Kade said. He helped me wrap my cloak around my shoulders. “You hold yourself as if you’ve ingested Brittle Talc.”

I smiled, remembering our conversation on The Cliffs. “Now you’re using glassmaking analogies. If you hang around me too much, you’ll be spouting glassmaking lingo like a gaffer.”

He gasped dramatically, pressing a hand to his chest. “Then I’d better go.”

Kade joked, but the thought of him leaving felt as if I had dived into the cave’s pool again. Without thought, I stepped closer to him. He stiffened.

I moved away, letting my blood turn into ice.

“Did something happen in the cavern?” he asked.

“No. I’m just cold. You know what cold does to metal.”

“You’re not made of metal.”

Right now, I wished I was.

We returned to Fulgor an hour before dawn. Kade had rented a room in the Good Inn near the center of the town. In the Councillor’s guest quarters, Leif shared a room with Ulrick, and I had the other bedroom. A living area with a marble hearth separated the three rooms. Leif immediately roused the dying embers of the fire into a full blaze.

“Ahh…I’m sleeping here.” He pulled the couch closer.

“Get changed first,” I said. “Or you’ll soak the cushions.”

I entered my room. My still-damp shirt clung to my body and my hair had dried into a tangled knot. Clean, dry clothes felt like the finest silk against my skin. I wrestled with a comb, but put it down when a knock sounded.

Yelena stood at the door. “Do you have those samples from the cave? I want to show them to Irys.”

I stepped back, opening the door wider. “I put them in my pocket.”

As I dug for the crystals, Yelena wandered around my room.