Rian POV
There was nothing I could do. I had been swimming in this filthy pond all night, but there was nothing I could do. When the sun came up, Mom and Dad were waiting for me on the bank of the water. Dad was sitting on the ground, his hands pressed to his head as he rubbed his temples. His mutters told me he was pissed at himself.
Mom had Taegan and Phoebe on the other side of the fence. Taegan looked terrified. He was worse than I had ever seen him before. Even after Parisa forced herself on him.
“We need my brother’s help, Taegan. If you and Phoebe are here when the knights arrive, it will be no small matter. You could be punished severely.”
“No,” Taegan shook his head fervently at my mom. “No. I can’t leave. Not until we find her.”
“Taegan,” Phoebe pulled his arm. “I was sen
