I recall the moments when I would play with my sister, splashing in the moat and playing tag around the trees in the distance. It's eerie to have it be this quiet, but it still offers a level of comfort I don't receive anywhere else.
As always, I take my time perusing my surroundings, absorbing every ounce of my homeland before my attention turns to my home. It sits tall and proud, despite the derelict surroundings, protected by the moat. I snap my fingers, uncertainty warring inside of me that the bindings restraining me in real life may affect the magic in my dreams, but a second later, the drawbridge falls down on command.
I take a step onto the wooden planks as my gaze travels higher up the building, latching on to my favorite spot.
The balcony.
Only, when I look, somebody is already there.
My chest tightens, fear pounding through my veins as I blink at the figure.
They're hidden from view in the oversized hoodie draped over their head, wearing black pants and sneakers, legs dangling over the side, in the same position I always take.
Only one other person has ever seen me in that position.
I race toward the exterior steps that lead to the balcony in question, my feet pounding the ground until I reach the top. My breaths are harsh as I blink at the unmoved figure. Clearing my throat, I open my mouth to speak, when they jolt so high they almost fall forward, teetering on the edge of the balcony, but they manage to curl their fingers around the ledge, rearing back as they turn to face me.
“Thorne!” she yells, jumping to her feet, and the hoodie falls down as she races toward me.
I don't have time to brace for impact before she throws herself at me, but I catch her, stumbling back as I breathe her name. “Elodie.”
Her arms tighten around my neck and she clings to me as my pulse quickens in my ears, my mind still in disbelief. I breathe her in, never wanting to let go, but after a few moments, when she leans back to stare deep into my eyes, her soft gaze caresses my face.
“Kael insisted that we give this a try. I can't believe it worked,” she explains, and I gape at her at a total loss.
“What are you doing here?” I rasp, and she smiles. It hits me straight in my soul.
“Waiting for you, of course. We need to come and help you, but we have no idea where you are.”
“I don't need helping,” I reply, holding her against me with one arm as I use the other to stroke my thumb across her cheek.
“Thorne,” she warns, cocking her brow at me, and my eyebrows gather.
Taking stock of her, I finally breathe in my surroundings as I blink at her.
“How did you get here before me?” I asked, and she shrugs, bewildered.
“I don't know. I just fell asleep praying to come here and find you, and here I am,” she explains.
Slowly, I lower her to the ground, hating the distance between us the moment I step back, but I have to understand. The situation is paramount.
Planting my hands on my hips, I circle her like a predator does their prey. I don't know how she came here the first time, but I was here then, in control of the situation. For her to be here before me can’t mean anything but…
Taking a deep breath, I offer her a tight smile. “Close your eyes,” I breathe, and she frowns.
“What?”
“Close them,” I repeat, my voice harsher than intended, but she follows the order nonetheless. Tension radiates through her, and I know it's because of me, but I have to understand. “Let your hands fall loose at your sides,” I murmur as she takes a deep breath, rolling her shoulders out as she shakes her arms, letting them relax.
“Have you connected with the magic inside of you?”
Her eyebrows furrow. “I don't know what you mean.”
“When someone in this world has any form of magic, it resonates inside of them. Vampires have it, wolves, witches, shadow fae, scythes, and whatever other creatures we are yet to experience. Regardless, it lives inside of them. So, have you connected with yours?”
She rakes her teeth over her bottom lip as she bounces on the soles of her feet nervously before she offers me one sharp nod, and I have my answer.
“Good,” I praise, keeping my voice as soft as I can. “How long have you felt your connection to it?” I ask, and she clears her throat.
