“Celesine!” Jade pushed herself up and ran to her friend. The ferocity her mentor had shown was gone, replaced with weariness. Her violet eyes dimmed to light lavender, and her olive-toned face was pale and sickly.
“I must go back. I have used too much power.” Her breath was ragged. “Perhaps I’ve bought you some time.”
“You were amazing! You almost had me running away,” Jade laughed softly. “How did you do it?”
“He’s very strong, but my mind is stronger.” Celestine tapped her temple with a sharp nail. “If he gets a hold of all of you, or even two of you, he could wreak havoc on this world. You must stop him, Jade. Find that dagger.” She cupped Jade’s cheek with her hand as a glowing purple smoke enveloped her hole.
In the blink of an eye, the Aether was gone.
Chapter Thirty-Four
Isla
Rynndidnotcomeback that evening.
Isla, Kai, and Aidan headed straight for her cave after their talk with Celesine, hoping to find the brooding menace cooling off and prepared to talk like a civilized adult. But that had been too much to hope for.
Isla was so angry, she could barely keep from snapping at every little thing Kai and Aidan did. Rynn’s actions felt like betrayal and abandonment, something she hadn’t expected to feel so potently from a man she’d met three weeks ago. Not after they’d been slowly building…something. She still wasn’t sure what it was yet.
The worst part was that heknewhow she felt about being independent and making decisions for herself. Heknewshe would always fight to have her voice heard and wouldn’t tolerate being coddled or spoken for. And heabsolutely knewhow important it was to her to keep others safe and secure. His actions during the conversation with Celesine made her feel like he didn’t understand any of that—didn’t understandher.
She had never been able to stop loved ones from leaving her, from slipping through her grasp. Her mother, Waylan, and now her father, whom she still had no word from—she could do nothing to save any of them. For the past two years, she’d been dealt blow after blow, caught in the grip of her own uncertainty, panicking to find purchase in a world that continued totake.
Now, she could do something. She had the ability to be courageous and powerful for those who needed her. To protect them. There hadn’t been an ounce of fear in her when Jade suggested she could be an important part of their mission. She felt like she had a purpose.
And then Rynn had ruined it.
Now, all she felt was indignation. For silencing her request, for trying to overrule her—even if it was out of protection. But mostly for leaving her.
She stewed in silence all throughout the evening in Kai and Aidan’s cave, about a five minute walk from her and Rynn’s. This one was triangular in shape and a bit more spacious, with a large fire pit in the center that was always lit and never needed tending—the perks of being the fire elemental, Isla supposed. Kai and Aidan didn’t have any possessions from Iona like Rynn did, but they had acquired plenty of modern clothes and weapons from their time in town with Rynn’s gold. Cloaks and shoes were strewn across the floor. A spear, an empty wine barrel, and a basket of medical supplies leaned against a wall.
Aidan fiddled with his violin while Kai perched on a pile of soft blankets, brushing through her blonde hair. The water elemental had been more distant than usual since their conversation with Celesine. Isla would catch her with her brow furrowed, chewing anxiously on her bottom lip. She supposed all that had been revealed to them today was taking a toll. Isla knew she was acting rather distant, as well, sitting in a corner in the deepest part of the cave, her own thoughts swirling through the void of her mind. There were too many to focus on, a different worry or question shooting to the forefront before she could get a grasp on the previous one. The dagger, the prophecy, going to Iona, Rynn abandoning her, fighting the dark god…it was too much. She wanted to slink back and burrow deeper into herself to shut off the barrage.
Night approached, and the three of them were getting restless waiting for Rynn and Jade. They hadn’t expected the latter to be out this late, since she’d said she would follow them shortly. That had been almost two hours ago.
Right as Aidan said he was going to look for her, the earth elemental burst through the cave entrance, looking worn and frazzled.
Kai jumped off the ground. “What happened to you?” she asked, rushing to Jade.
Jade blew a strand of hair away from her face and crossed her arms. “Celesine and I met our littlefriendtoday.”
Kai’s eyes grew wide, and Isla tensed. The cave heated by a few degrees as Aidan crossed to the entrance.
“What did that piece of filth do? Is Celesine okay?” Aidan asked.
Jade rolled her eyes. “I’mfine, thank you for your concern.”
Aidan huffed. “I can see that, or you wouldn’t be standing here. What about Celesine?”
“She’ll be alright, I hope. She used a lot of power, and you know how much it already takes for her to be here. She looked worse for wear when she disappeared back to the spirit realm to recover.”
Jade told them what had happened with the dark god. Isla finally had something to focus on besides anger and self-pity. She’d been waiting for the mysterious man to strike again; things had been too quiet.
Something about Jade’s account of the attack gave Isla pause. “Wait, what exactly did he say about visiting you? After you speared him in the foot?” Isla asked.
Aidan snorted. “Nice one, by the way.”
Jade ignored him. “He said, ‘I’ve visited all of you, and you have been the only one to get a shot in.’”
