“I second that,” Viv said, nodding along with Ivara. “Okay, first things first, use your magic to create a sword.”
Sybil’s smile had waned, and my heart twisted at the sight. I could feel her dread from the memories drifting down the bond. I curled my hands into fists on my thighs to stop myself from touching her, from telling her she didn’t have to continue.But for her sake, for the sake of everyone here, I refrained. As much as I wanted to protect her, I knew she had to get past her traumas; she had to confront her demons.
Sybil let out a quietokayand stood on shaky legs. Wringing out her hands, she brought them in front of her, focusing on her palms. Her brows furrowed, and the light of her magic glowed once more, molding into sharpened edges. Her light abruptly speared out, its sharpened edges ramming against the tree behind her. Hissing, Sybil cursed and rolled her shoulders, focusing back on the palms of her hands. Sweat beaded along her brow, her concentration unwavering until her magic formed, molding into the shape of an elven sword.
The golden sword shone bright in Sybil’s hand, her fingers carefully wrapping around the hilt. Looking up, panic flashed in her eyes as she met three surprised stares. The blade was curved along the edges, while light whirled along the middle.
“Has she ever seen an elven blade?” Viv asked, though to whom, I wasn’t sure.
“Not from me,” I confessed slowly, surprise still taking hold of me.
“I saw something similar in different movies in Mide,” Sybil pouted, staring down at the sword. “Did I do it wrong?”
“No,” Viv quickly breathed out. “It’s a beautiful blade. I was just surprised that you knew what an elven blade looked like. From what I’ve heard of Mide, I didn’t know they made swords like that.” Viv walked up to Sybil, her hand running across the middle of the blade. “It’s an excellent sword. You did amazing. Now, let's put it to good use!” Viv patted her shoulder as she walked past Sybil, heading toward Kieran and the others. Ivara followed, leaving me alone with Sybil.
Sybil’s throat bobbed, her grip tightening on the hilt of the sword. I walked up to her, pinching her chin between my fingers,forcing her to look up at me. “You don’t have to be afraid of your magic around us. You won’t hurt us.”
“Not on purpose, anyway.” Sybil let out a weak laugh, her face twisting into a grimace. Her head moved to look down at the sword again, but I refused to let her move.
“No.”
“No?” Sybil stared up at me, confusion and sadness filling her eyes, making my heart twist further.
“No, as in you won’t hurt us at all—end of story. We know how to protect ourselves, especially around uncontrolled magic. We know the signs, and we know how and when to stop it from striking us. You will not harm me or anyone here. I know you’re remembering your time with Arbus and the training with Arianna and Ezra, but don’t let those times get in the way of your learning to use this gift. I told you this when you first came to Nemos, and I meant it then just as much as I mean it now. Your magic is beautiful; it’s warm and completely and wonderfullyyou. You have nothing to fear.”
Sybil shuddered, her eyes glistening. “Okay,” she sighed. “Okay, let’s do this. You better keep your word, though,” she smiled weakly. “Don’t let me hurt anyone.”
I nodded, pressing my lips to hers in a light kiss. Letting her go, I grabbed her free hand, leading her back to the others.
The rest of the night pretty much went as I expected it to—chaotic and eventful. Every time Kieran touched Sybil, her magic sword either flickered or combusted, throwing everyone on their asses. Exhaustion lined every feature of her face by the time Ezra called it quits, pointing out themanytree limbs that were now broken and barely hanging on or had fallen to the forest floor. Ivara only laughed, Daelan and Orin snorting as Ezra snarled in their direction. But for Kieran, there was a wild look in his eye, a mix of excitement, thrill, and determination, knowing he was about to brave a storm over our plans for the execution.
Kieran led Sybil to a rock, gently guiding her fatigued body down to the hard surface. “You did a good job tonight,” he told her softly. His eyes glanced toward mine momentarily before returning to Sybil’s. My jaw clenched, readying for Sybil’s ire that was sure to come with Kieran’s following words. “I promised that after your training, I would tell you the plan for the execution and your role in it. After discussing with the others, when you go into the arena, you will leave the door open for me and a few others to enter.”
Sybil blinked at Kieran, waiting for him to continue with the plan, but when she realized Kieran was done speaking, her eyes narrowed. “That’s it? That’s all I’m getting? All I’m allowed to do?”
Kieran straightened to his full height, his mouth dipping, his face morphing into the hardened leader of the rebellion. “Whether you like it or not, Ambrose is connected to you. If he thinks that you’re involved, he will force you to tell him what you know.” Sybil opened her mouth to argue, but Kieran lifted his hand, stopping her from speaking. “He will torture you and then command it of you. I know that you were able to break his command once, but Samian said that it took you a few hours. Not only that, but you were in a safe place that allowed you to concentrate on breaking that command. Ambrose won’t give you that option next time. He will have you bleed out before you even have the chance to try. This is the only way I know how to keep you involvedandsafe, as well as keeping my soldiers protected.”
Sybil’s body shook, her neck and cheeks reddening with anger as she glared up at him. Shoving herself up from the rock, she stood toe to toe with Kieran. “Fine.”
Chapter 30
Sybil
Sitting on the bed, I impatiently waited for Samian to finish washing up after our training. I stared mindlessly into the bathroom, at the clawed porcelain tub that sat in the middle of the room. Forcing Samian to clean up in his own chambers, I washed my hair at the sink and used a rag to clean myself as best I could. I felt like a coward for not using the tub, for letting my time with Ambrose and Arianna affect me to the point where I avoided submerging myself into the watery depths. But no matter how much I tried, my breath would seize up in my throat, and my heart would hammer away painfully behind my chest until I gave up. Flashes of the frigid water and the feeling of not being able to breathe would take over my mind, panic stealing my breath, even if the water was hot enough to scald.
Salem lay beside me, sleeping away after randomly popping up when he felt the trickle of anxiety sparking in my chest. Exhaustion weighed heavily on me, and all I wanted was to curl up against him and sleep through the rest of the night. But before Samian and I separated, he asked if I wanted to go with him to visit Aster to discuss how we could get me out of the palace long enough to go to the Seelie Court. My heart leapt athis invitation. Guilt had been weighing on me for not visiting Aster sooner—especially since I’d essentially fled her office after my first conversation with Queen Cassia. Though I tried to hide it, she noticed my blanched face and stunned expression as I left; her inquisitive eyes missed nothing.
So now I waited on my bed, my knee bouncing restlessly as I played with the hem of my shirt, trying hard not to think about Kieran and his frustrating need to protect me. He promised he would keep me involved, and while I am, it wasn’t how I thought it would be.
I understood Kieran’s point about Ambrose and what would happen if he found out about my being involved inanyplan against him, whether it was with the rebellion or otherwise. But I broke his command twice. Samian only knew about the second time. The first time, I kept to myself because I wasn’t sure if it really happened. I had heard Ambrose’s command to stay in my room, felt that invisible chain tighten while I gazed at my door, unseeing and sick with what I had just done. I felt the command urging me to open the door to my room and wait until Ambrose came for me again. However, it broke when Arbus’s necklace pinched my skin and snapped me out of my stupor.
I knew I could do it again, if given the chance, though I still wasn’t surehowI broke his command—whether it was the pain or if it was something else entirely. Groaning, I fell back onto the bed. I could do more; I knew I could. I just needed the opportunity to show them.
Iwoulddo more, whether Kieran liked it or not. I refused to sit back, safe and sound, letting all of this happen while others put themselves in harm’s way.
The door to the hidden room opened, and I sat up, watching the doorway for Samian to appear. My lips rose with a slight grin when he sauntered in, not stopping until he stood in front of me, and I had to tip my head back to see his face.
“You ready?” Samian asked, offering me his hand. Nodding, I slipped mine in his, relishing the way his soft fingers curled around me. “Daelan is already waiting for us in Aster’s office. With Ambrose becoming more unbalanced, we will take the passageway not to stir up any suspicion.”
