Empowered (Unbound, Book 6)

Chapter Fifty-Three

The Kingdom was too bright, even with my sunglasses on.

Calin stepped out of the gazebo and faced me. "Do you want to see Zach or should I tell him you're resting so you can talk later?"

I looked down and started counting blades of grass. For whatever reason, the connection to the community dulled per usual, but I felt exactly as I had before leaving the Fallamhain home. The Kingdom wasn't making me whole, my emotions apparently the one thing it couldn't mend.

"Nora?"

"Yeah. No." I shook my head. "I should talk to Zach."

"You are exhausted."

"He still deserves to hear it from me before he does one of his check in's and discovers it for himself."

"But—"

"Secrets are lies, Calin. I won't do to him what they did to me and keep the truth from him. She's his friend."

"It's not the same. You aren't keeping it a secret just because you want to rest a little before starting a different conversation."

"That excuse is no different than my mom saying she didn't want to tell me the truth until I'd experienced enough normalcy."

"Not even a close comparison?"

"Yes, it is."

"We are talking about waiting hours, not years, and what you have to say has nothing to do with Zach as a person," Calin said. "Sure, he'll be hurt, but his whole life won't be changed."

"It's the principle, Calin."

"Then I'll go to Zach while you sleep."

I rubbed my temples and exhaled. "No."

"Nora. Think of what's best for you. I found you two hours ago bent over the table in the library, bawling. You never cry."

"Then it's good I did. I hear it is cathartic sometimes."

"You couldn't move or talk. I carried you to bed two hours ago. You need more time to rest."

I squeezed my eyes shut. After crying them dry, I needed to shut them to avoid the sting of the air. My head felt heavy, filled with pressure. All of my tears had washed away my emotions, and I no longer cared about anything enough to take action. Not for my family's murders or the missing people or Luna and Mr. Corbin. Not even to discover who truly was responsible for everything else and the corruption within the High Council—maybe even the entirety of the magical community.

I didn't care if I went back to Briarville, and it no longer mattered if Maible hated me.

All I wanted to do was find Zach and explain Luna's betrayal while I was emotionless enough for his reaction not to affect me.

"Come on, Nora. I'll distract him so she doesn't find out from someone else. Just rest a couple more hours."

I looked up and held Calin's gaze, though he probably couldn't see mine through my shades. I peered past his shoulder, waiting for the joy the landscaping usually induced, but it didn't come. Looking back at Calin, I studied him a few seconds longer, then nodded.

"Fine."

Calin's eyebrows rose. "Yeah?"

I nodded and started forward, stepping out of the gazebo and started the trek to the house. "Yes. I'll take a nap if you promise to keep Zach distracted."

"I will! Thank you!" Calin called out, his tone a mix of relief and happiness. Or perhaps just gratitude because I heard him since I didn't understand how he could be happy in this moment.