The older angel shook his head, clearing his throat before meeting Kieran’s gaze. “I’ve never seen this affinity in action before. Intheorythe healing should work, but I don’t think even Bastian understands the complexities of what he’s doing right now.”
A snort of indignation came from the Caster, who offered Noah a dry look before muttering, “Who needs to understand complexities when it comes to magic? It’s a power that comes from our very core. It is me, and I am it. It responds to my needs.”
I wouldn’t pretend to understand an ounce of what having that power felt like, but what I did know was that it was perhaps one of the most profound and serious statements I’d ever heard from Bastian. He made the bond between a Caster and their magic seem so intimate and…beautiful.
“Who needs to understand complexities, my goodness,” Noah murmured softly, continuing to shake his head as if he couldn’t accept those words. “Spoken like a true Archimage.”
Those last five words were uttered so quietly they didn’t seem to draw anyone else’s attention, as they were all intently focused on Bastian and Niz. Tucking that phrase into the back of my head for later, I turned my attention to my wyvern. Well, notmywyvern anymore. The thought was so fucking odd, and I was still suppressing the thoughts about our dynamic change. Notknowing if this was working caused tension and anxiety to fill the room up to the brim, like a bubble ready to burst.
When Niz and I bonded as a beast and Tamer, there was a line that seemed to connect our souls to one another. It was incredibly intimate and created direct access to one another in ways that allowed a bonded pair to work together seamlessly. Even before I knew he was a human, I didn’t use that bond unless absolutely necessary.
There were times I couldn’t ignore our connection, like when he was fatally wounded in battle. It’d almost brought me to my damn knees as a spear flew at my head from an opposing angel, catching me off guard. His pain and suffering had felt like a blinding light spreading through my own side, letting me know where he was injured.
Closing my eyes, I inhaled deeply, letting the breath expand my chest to its fullest extent before blowing it out as I pictured the glimmering gold line I felt between myself and his beast. At this point, I was unsure if the connection was only to his beast and not the human side of him. Either way, reaching for the connection would hopefully provide us some clarity.
Pain—so much pain—crashed into me once again, but this time I was ready for it. My hands clenched as I focused on breathing through the assault.
I didn’t know if he was purposefully projecting to me, but I could suddenly feel his pain even more intensely than before—every ounce of it. I could also feel the soothing balm that Bastian’s magic seemed to be acting as.
What I felt more than anything, though? The stabilization of his heartbeat. The way his breathing suddenly deepened. Both were good signs that something was changing within him.
Ripping myself away from our connection, my eyes snapped open, revealing everyone staring at me. I nodded as I offered,“Yeah, it’s working—at least, it seems to be. I can tell his pain is lessening and his heartbeat is growing stronger.”
Kieran gripped Niz’s hand tightly, and I could see the relief in her face as she stared at Bastian and then me in gratitude—although considering how little I’d helped, I didn’t feel like I really deserved that. It took her drawing me out of my trance to even tell the healers anything of use.
In his greatest time of need, it couldn’t be denied that I’d failed Niz, focusing so much of my energy instead on the shock and betrayal I’d felt. Not to mention the utter blow to my ego it was to realize I’d probably never actually tamed the wyvern. He was part human, after all. My biggest accomplishment—a sham. None of that should have mattered until after I knew he was safe, though.
Gabe spoke up, “Once Niz is stable enough, I’d like to move him to the house—if it’s safe to do so. I feel like all of us, including him, would be more comfortable there, if the battle is coming to a close.”
“The enemy forces have been reduced to only those who we caught trying to flee,” Noah admitted. “I’ll have a security team outside to aid you in carrying his stretcher, so Bastian can continue to use his magic as you go. While I’m sure you could carry him, it is better to save that energy to heal yourself.”
“How are you feeling, Bastian?” Kieran asked, her words quiet but the heaviness in her demure tone showed her concern for the Caster.
“Good,” Bastian assured her, but I could see the tension held in his frame, his shoulders stiff and his jaw tight. I had a feeling that healing Niz exerted far more energy than he cared to admit. After all, he was essentially bringing the man back from the dead—or nearly dead.
Going to sit in a chair against the wall while we waited for the team to arrive, I put my elbows on my knees while leaningforward, my gaze moving to the floor. I found myself losing myself to a memory of a time that had meant so much to me.
“I can’t believe you did it, Ronan—that’s fucking insane.”
My smile grew as James walked over, clapping me on the shoulder in a congratulatory gesture. Nizuss moved off my other shoulder, flying around my head before landing on a branch nearby.
“It is pretty mind-blowing, man, I won’t lie,” I agreed with a smile, feeling a surge of pride as he looked toward Niz in awe.
I was glad that James felt this way, because while everyone had congratulated me on the surface, I had seen envy and anger in some of the Beast Tamers’ gazes when they looked at Niz. It made me protective over the little creature that had seemingly claimed me as his own.
“You’re an inspiration, taming a nearly extinct creature with that much power,” James admitted in a breathy rush of air. “There isn’t any evidence of any other tamed wyvern in our history. Now that he’s tamed, is he going to be transferred to the military, or will he be used for training?”
Anger swirled within my chest at the thought of him being taken from me. No doubt the higher-ups would try, though. Nizuss was formidable, and one thing was clear in Alfemir: powerful beings never belonged to themselves, only existing to be used as a tool in the plight.
“I won’t let him be taken from me,” I growled, causing James to take a step back. “It’s a different bond than any other creature I’ve managed to tame. I’m going to push to use him in training.”
Nizuss let out a chirp, as if he agreed with my words before circling through the air and letting out a roar that sounded a lot less threatening in his small form than his larger one. I covered my mouth with my hand, smothering the chuckle as the small wyvern shot me a glare.
I knew the bond we shared was special. I’d never let anyone separate us.
He was my responsibility now, and I didn’t take that lightly.
Now I was left questioning it all.Did we even have a bond?I mean, obviously we did, but it wasn’t the one I’d assumed.
