Everything in Cassiel went rigid. All of his fears and doubts clashing with the knowledge glowing in the Druid’s gaze. They were gilded eyes touched by the God of Time. Their power crumpled him, stealing the air from his lungs, constricting around him like a snake.
A slow, roguish grin spread across Leoake’s face. “Yes, Dark Prince. What you feared istrue. The bond didn’t simply tie you together, it merged you mind, body, and soul. But you already knew that, didn’t you?”
Truth sliced through his tongue, bleeding denials down his throat. Cassiel’s nails dug into his shaking palms as his head whirled. He wanted to call the Druid a liar, to spit out insults for saying such absurd things, but he couldn’t. The revelation only cleared the thick fog of unawareness he had hidden behind for so long. He’d ignored how he could find Dyna no matter where she was, ignored that he could feel her pain. Ignored the insatiable, protective—possessive—need to keep her safe since he saw her in Hilos.
A deep part of him had always known.
And there was no breaking this type of bond, for it would surely destroy them both.
Leoake laughed as he tucked his prize away. “Your bond was awoken the moment she first touched you.”
“On the bridge...” Cassiel mumbled blankly. After he’d caught Dyna out of the sky, she touched his face.
“TheHyalus.”
“What?” Cassiel blinked, focusing on that. “You are wrong.”
Amusement danced across the Druid’s face. “I’m never wrong.”
In this instance, he was. They hadn’t touched by theHyalustree.
“Cassiel?” Dyna called behind him.
The sound of her voice jolted his pulse. He couldn’t face her. Not now. His wings snapped open, and he leaped into the sky, flying away from it all.
Chapter 54
Dynalya
Dyna watched Cassiel go, sensing he was avoiding her again. She thought after their conversation he would have stopped doing that. The blue fox in her arms yipped as he disappeared behind the veil of rain clouds.
She sighed. “What did you say to him?”
Leoake shrugged. “Only the truth.”
“And what is that?”
He gave her a sly leer, one that hid secrets, and truths, and knowledge of the world. “That is for him to share, should he so wish.”
She shook her head and handed him the enchanted jacket. “Here, this is yours. It took a great deal to return it to you. Though, I have a sense you intended that.”
“Ah, thank you.” Leoake slipped it into his pack.
“I’ve been told it’s enchanted to turn away any blade.”
He winked. “It came to good use, I imagine.”
“Why do you have an enchanted jacket?”
“One such as me who has too many enemies can’t be too careful.” Leoake shrugged. “It’s not a simple spell, but rather useful. I once enchanted armor to do the same and was paid a massive fortune for it, too.” He turned away. “Well, if that’s all.”
That was all she would get? She chased him across Azure for answers, but there were no right answers anymore. Only endless wrong ones.
“What game are you playing?”
He paused.
“Why lead me on this wild chase, hanging out of reach when you knew how desperately I needed your help? Do you enjoy playing with people’s lives?”
