I sucked in a breath, watching her for multiple heartbeats while she continued to stare forward.
I cast the spell again. Another time. I kept sending my power at her, hoping some would sink into her skin, that I could refill her well or give her enough to bring back the friend I adored.
Finally, when my body was limp and the level of my well had dropped down so far, I couldn’t reach to scoop up any more power, I stopped.
“I’m not giving up,” I whispered, turning her face toward mine gently. “You’re in there, and I’m going to fix this. I miss you so much. I miss talking with you, hugging you. I miss how you used to cheer me up when I felt sad, how you’d tease me about guys. I miss sharing everything with you. I’m greedy. I have Vexxion, and I love him, but I want you, too, Reyla. I’m going to make it happen.”
She said nothing.
But her left hand twitched.
When she stood, the book dropped to the floor with a thud, opening to reveal the pages. She stepped over it and drifted across the room.
I scrambled off the sofa and caught up with her at the door, taking her hand and squeezing it. “Come back to me, Reyla. Please.”
She wrenched away, opened the door, and stepped out into the hall, slamming the panel in my face.
“She’s there,” I whispered, my eyes smarting with tears. “She has to be there.”
Drask cawed in what I swore was agreement.
Returning to the sofa, I lifted the book and tossed it onto the cushions beside me. Drask flew over and landed on the book, his claws raking the cover.
“Don’t damage it,” I said softly, lifting him off and placing him on my shoulder. “Reyla’s coming back to us, and she’ll want to finish it. You know she’ll complain if you’ve torn it.”
I tsked at the marks, rubbing them, but they’d marred the leather.
“I should go to the stables,” I told Drask. “Brenna won’t need me for hours.”
He watched me, tilting his head this way and that.
“I’m sure there’s more dragon poop in need of shoveling,” I added. I’d grab something to eat in the kitchen as I passed. I’d heard the cooks kept bread, meat, and cheese available for staff.
I tossed the book onto the table, and it opened again, revealing the pages. My gaze was snagged, and I leaned forward to read.
“Fuck,” I cried out, straightening and lifting the book to clutch it against my chest. “Fuck!”
Drask squawked and fluttered his wings.
“Why didn’t you tell me?” I asked him.
He cawed and looked quite disgruntled.
“Yeah, alright, you tried to, but I scolded you instead.”
This wasn’t a romance novel about a Nullen and a fae lord broken apart by tragic fate.
The book had fallen open to Chapter Twenty, entitled,Bonding with Dragons.
I flipped to the table of contents, running my finger down the various subjects discussed in the book.
Most, likeDeadly Plants of the Plains and How to Avoid Them, I ignored. A few others caught my eye.
Liege Bone Coins.I needed to read that one soon.
Fae Mate Bonds.Since I wasn’t fae, I’d hold that one for last.
The Power of Nullens.Intriguing. Would I learn more about our abilities with magic and the initial treaty?
