Father… There was a dull ache in Vi’s chest. She had gone out and risked her friend’s lives to get a vision of him. While she’d failed in that, she had seen the end of another man’s life.
“I realize you likely only think of me as a cleric who mends bones and cuts,” Ginger continued. “But, princess, some of the most important—and difficult—healing work is done on the mind. Please reach out if you need. There are many around you who care.”
“Thank you, Ginger,” Vi said softly. “I’m very lucky to have your support.”
“Any time, princess. I’ve looked after you your whole life and have no intention of stopping now.” Ginger finished up her work and tiredly packed her box. “I’m going to tell Jax that you need some rest before he storms in here scolding. Try and close your eyes for a bit, princess. If you have trouble sleeping, let me know and I can give you a tipple for deep sleep.”
“I’ll be fine, thank you.” Vi gave the woman a nod and watched her leave.
Letting out a sigh, Vi sank back into her pillows. Her whole body ached and felt exhausted. Could she even manage to spin the light right now?
She looked down at her hand. It wasn’t as if she had a choice. She needed Taavin right now. She needed to tell him what she’d seen, and about her father… More than anything, she needed Taavin’s ear, his support.
“Narro hath hoolo,” Vi uttered.
Light blossomed above her chest. A magic circle more complete than she’d ever seen before hovered at her watch, expanding outward. It floated before her, spinning parallel to the floor. Slowly, the magic lowered, unfurling like the spool on a spinner’s wheel. The strands that hovered in the air took a new shape, a new outline.
Just like every time previously, Taavin came into sight. Color filled in and the light settled around him before disappearing entirely. There was no glyph swirling around his feet, no tendrils of light wafting off of him. It was just a man, standing at the side of her bed, looking around in wonder. He looked even sharper, more solid, almost like she could…
Vi’s hand moved, drawn on instinct. It rose, reaching out to what had been thin air moments before. But her fingers landed on him, feather-light. She pressed further, her fingers stretching up his forearm. They spread across the fabric of his coat, feeling every bump and groove of the intricate embroidery.
He was there. It was not pulsing magic, or warmth, or light. It was a man she could see and touch.
Taavin said nothing. He looked down at her through half-lidded eyes with an inscrutable expression. His attention alternated between her face and her rogue hand, staring at the place where it rested on him.
In his expression was knowing. Sorrow. Determination. Everything she’d seen of him from the start and then some. Neither of them said anything, and she would’ve been content to let the peaceful silence of simply being in his presence for the first time drag on for eternity.
Were it anyone else and any other situation, Vi may have felt embarrassment at her actions. But all she could feel was him. All she knew was the outline of his form—knew she was even now committing it to memory.
“I can touch you,” she whispered up at him.
“I can feel you,” he said in reply. “It must be the word Yargen gave you. This was why she bestowed it on me.” Taavin sat on her bedside. The feather mattress didn’t sink or sigh.So he was real to her, but to nothing else. He wasn’t actually with her, it only seemed to her he was. “You’re all right?”
Vi gave a small nod. “Bruises and scrapes mostly… But Jayme, she—” Something caught in Vi’s throat and the words stuck. She swallowed, once, twice, but couldn’t dislodge it. Her eyes burned, and Vi knew if she dared speak again, emotion would spill from them.
“Is she alive?”
“Yes.” Vi forced out the word, closing her eyes. When she felt more stable, she said, “Thank the Mother, yes.”
“Yargen’s blessings.” Even though he’d never met Jayme, Taavin breathed a sigh of relief. His other hand closed over hers. Vi hadn’t even realized she’d still been clutching his sleeve. “I saw you and the elfin’ra. Did he…”
“I killed him. He didn’t get my blood.”
“Youkilled him?”
“Don’t act so shocked,” Vi gave a small laugh. “Isn’t that what you were teaching me? To protect myself?”
“Yes but…” He squeezed her fingers. “It’s a relief to know you can.”
“The word you gave me helped, if I’m honest.”
Taavin gave her a small smile, one that quickly vanished. “What were you out there for anyway? I thought I told you not to be so reckless.”
“What are you, my keeper?” Vi gave a small grin.
“This is the second time you’ve scared me.” Taavin leaned forward slightly. She wondered if he realized he’d tensed his grip on her hand. “I don’t know what I would do if something happened to you.”
The world stilled. Everything hung on her shallow breaths. Vi searched his shimmering emerald eyes and the sentiment in them suddenly sparked fear.
