She sat up and Vyns rose with her.
“Sure,” she said, wiping her eyes. Then she gave a harsh little laugh. “I guess I’ll sleep when I’m dead.”
All three of us men in the room stiffened at that comment. Izzy didn’t notice, still waking up. Death wasn’t something to joke about in this world.
All the shadow-stepping I’d been doing recently had improved my range and proficiency with the ability. I could jump much farther than I used to and with more people. Something good had come of all this chaos. I got everyone to the training compound in record time.
Once we were all assembled — except for Rook — I explained the situation.
Everyone agreed Saldrea was behind this, but we couldn’t agree what to do about it. The easiest option was for me to run and avoid it, but I’d be a fugitive… and Izzy and I couldn’t be that far apart.
“Can you remove the bond between them?” Safir asked Lhorine.
Izzy glared at him, jaw tight, but didn’t stop the line of questioning.
Lhorine blew out a long breath. “I’m decent with bindings, but I’ve never tried breaking a mating bond. I’ve heard of them being broken in the past, but I can’t recall details. It certainly hasn’t been done often. Can I… inspect the bond?”
Izzy and I stepped forward, and the elf put a hand on both of us. I went cold at how final this felt. If Lhorine could do this… my time with Izzy would end far sooner than I’d hoped. Still, I put on a brave face. I’d accept whatever happened.
Lhorine blew out a breath. “Your bond is deep, solid. There’s no way anyone but the strongest elf could break it.”
What?
Really?
“What if Izzy tried it?” Safir suggested. Izzy sent another furious look his way and he held up a hand. “We need to know all our options.”
“She probably has the raw power, but bonds are not something a novice can work with easily,” Lhorine said. “We’d need to train hard. Wemightbe able to get Izzy to a level where she could do this before Sulnari, but it would be tight.”
“Then let’s focus on other options,” Izzy said, giving me a reassuring smile.
My heart leaped with joy.
Did she not want to break the bond? Did she truly want to be with me?
I tempered my elation. Even if that’s what she wanted now… once she was queen… she’d not want someone like me weighing her down. Still, I couldn’t help but smile at her. And her smile in return warmed my heart.
“I’d fight off the world for you,” I said to her. “You worked hard to win your fight. I can do the same now.”
She nodded.
“Then it’s set,” she said. “Let’s find out what we can and help Myel train…” A twinkle came to her eye. “And I have an idea that might help him win.”
IZZY
I took Lhorine aside.
“Elves can enhance themselves, make themselves stronger and tougher, but… can they do it to others?”
She cocked her head, then nodded. “Yes, but not all elves. I can’t, but you probably could.”
That’s what I’d hoped to hear. “Then that’s what I want to train on tomorrow,” I told her. If I could enhance Myel, he’d have a better chance of winning his fight.
She nodded.
I probably should start training this evening, but I was still exhausted and could use a night’s sleep.
We ate a simple meal together at the compound, and once again, despite my win earlier today, the mood was somber. Grandma Oli said she’d not return with us to Rook’s room. She was no longer playing the role of Tala and probably shouldn’t be seen on campus.
