That was one of the words he’d used when he’d mentioned his own heartstone magic. That he could “change”…and “twist.”
I remembered our first meeting. The slither of his magic within me, getting into my head. His voice, deep and velvety smooth, almost like he’d enjoyed making me fear him.
Shall I turn your mind inside out and see all your secrets spill?
I thought of Samryn. The deep aching pain. I thought of the hatchling just born. I thought of Ryak, my new fear that there was much more going on here than Kiron had led me to believe.
Secrets. I had a lot of them these days. And if Alaryk uncovered them…
Even still, I wouldn’t turn my back on Samryn, on a creature that I thought was within my power to help and heal.
“I know what I want from you,” I told him quickly. “I know what my price is.”
“I’m listening,” he said quietly, stepping forward.
“I want you to promise to never use your heartstone magic on me.Everagain.”
His expression was watchful, carefully cataloging my reply in his mind, as if he was already looking for loopholes.
My eyes narrowed into a glare. “I mean it,” I bit out. “If you use it on me, if I feel it even once…I’m done. And Samryn will battle his curse alone.”
Now his expression looked thunderous. Perhaps my words had been a touch too rough…but after my encounter with Ryak, Iwasshaken. And until I knew exactly my purpose here, I couldn’t let Alaryk get inside my head again.
“I agree to your single term,” he finally said. “An easy enough thing.”
I almost snorted. I knew it was a lie.
“For a moment, I thought you might ask for riches. For jewels. Perhaps even to become my wife.”
I jerked. Shock spun in my veins. Nowmyexpression was thunderous. “How could you think that?”
He said nothing at first. Finally, he said, “A relief that you ask for so little. Because I would’ve done any and all of that.”
I swallowed hard. “You’re out of your mind if you thought I’d want that.”
His sardonic brow raise told me he noticed the way my cheeks were flushed. He ignored the slightly barbed words. “Have you recovered?”
“Yes,” I sniffed.
“Good,” he bit out. “Let’s go.”
Chapter 14
ALARYK
“You’ll need to learn how to better control your ability,” I told her as we made our way to the landing field. “I can help you with that.”
“Who knew aKarathcould be so generous?” Amaia muttered back. I barely suppressed an amused smirk. She was a cantankerous little Dakkari. Then, after a long moment of quiet, the only sound the crunch of our boots as we walked the gravel pathway, she asked, “How would you help me if you’ve promised not to use your magic?”
“I promised not to use it onyou, not that I wouldn’t use it at all. There’s a difference between using it and bonding it,” I informed her. “I used it that night. To take some of the pain from you and Samryn.”
She absorbed the words. Grymia had been quiet, most people asleep at this hour, except for the night watch, who were posted at the towers. Once the Karag and their bonded Elthika could travel and live in the Arsadia safely. But over the last few decades, with the heartstone magic depleting from the land, the wild Elthika had grown more…restless.
Villages had been attacked, livestock slaughtered. It was rare,but it still happened. And so every night, the watch continued. A necessary precaution.
“I remember,” Amaia said. “I think I do, at least. I remember the pain lessening. I felt like I could breathe again.”
Samryn was waiting on the landing field, having felt my tug on our bond.
