Kael nods tightly, as if he was expecting this, and steps forward. He hesitates for a moment, holding his breath. He looks unsettled. “My truth is that I will keep Elyssara safe and protected, no matter who tries to stop me, or how many people get in my way. My blade is her blade,” he directs his words at the compass, but his eyes never stray from mine, as if he is making an oath.
For a long moment, nothing happens. The air between us holds still, heavy with expectation. And then—click. Click. Click. A sound so soft, yet final.
I know I can’t trust him. I know he will always keep secrets. But the compass recognizing his words as a truth worthy of unlocking it, does something to me. It makes me want to reach for him, to bury my face in his neck, to let him wrap his arms around me. But I slip on my own mask, and go for indifference instead.
I reach for the compass again and the metal is cool in my palm, soothing the burn on my index finger.
“We have it,” I breathe, wonder coating my words.
“We did it—” but before he can continue, my magic surges, searing through me like lightning through a storm cloud. Shimmering white-gold light sprays from my fingers, reaching to the Stars themselves, as if it recognizes its kin. My Lightborne marking illuminates with phosphorescence, etching another portion of the marking permanently into my skin. As if an unseen hand is branding me, the lines of my skin marking continue in from the edges. Stars etched with permanency, the mark encroaching on the center of my chest, beginning to form The Eye of Lireal. The constellation of the Lightborne.
My magic explodes out of my hands once again, coursing through me with such ferocity that I can do nothing but let myself burn. My skin is on fire, or at least, it feels like it. It surges, seeking, devouring, searching for something to burn. It twists through my veins like a storm with no anchor—until I feel it. A ripple of something cool, something steady, curling up my spine like a tether to the world. Not a command, not a restraint, but a question. Asking if I will let it in.
I acquiesce, allowing the coolness to balance my heat, and free fall into the whim of whatever is taking over me.
It feels like cool silk rippling up my body—rapturous. I tip my head back and lift my face to the Stars, reveling in the crisp ripples. For a moment I think it is the winds of Skaedor’s Crest, but I can feelhim. This sensation of soothing, comforting, unwavering presence is Kael. I bring my eyes back down, and see him through the chaos, shadowed mist seeping out, controlled, from his hands. He pins me in place, and I see him direct his shadows around my magic, as if our magic is dancing, tangled in each other, playing. He is not trying to drown me out, or suppress my magic, he is...complimenting it. Shaping it from wildfire into a weapon of both destruction and healing.
I can’t hear him over the roar of our magic moving together, but I make out the words he mouths to me, “Breathe, Duskae.” I breathe a deep inhale and let it fall gently from my mouth. “Find one thing to focus on.”
Stars save me, but he’s the only thing I want to focus on.
I stare at him, then. His ocean eyes, his unruly hair that falls into his eyes when he’s concentrating, his sharp jaw, his sun-warmed skin, the mouth that speaks words that threaten to be both my ruin and salvation.
Kael makes his way towards me, “I love seeing you become more unbound. More powerful. You’re beautiful when you let go.”
I look around to the calm, peaceful plateau—no trace of the turquoise channel, no trace of our magic. Just us. I almost don’t say anything, wanting to hold on to my anger over his secrets and omissions, but there is something about this man that draws me in, makes me want to give him everything.
“You’re beautiful, too.”
It’s the first real compliment I’ve given him, and somehow, it doesn’t even begin to convey how I feel.
CHAPTER FORTY-EIGHT
KAEL
The Velmara risethe moment they see us. Their ears twitch, bodies poised, waiting—suspicious. For a breath, they don’t move. Then, as we step through the gap in the rocky outcropping, they relax. We’re in one piece.
“Well?” Ronyn asks eagerly, Therion and Seren flanking him with urgent expressions. “What in the Stars happened up there?”
“You couldn’t see?” Elyssara asked, intrigued.
“We couldn’t hear or see anything other than complete silence,” Seren’s voice is stern, as if concern has woven its way through her very being.
“We got the compass,” I answer simply, pointing to the iridescent compass hanging weightily from Elyssara’s neck.
“Fucking obviously, Kael. I meanwhat elsehappened?” Ronyn scoffs and waves a hand in my direction, immediately fixing his eyes on Elyssara and staring at her impatiently. I can’t help but fight a smile at his obvious comfort around me now, seeing as he shot an arrow at my head only ten days ago.
“The heavens spoke, and we... definitely heard some interestingtruths,” Elyssara says the last word as if those truths are still in question. As if they’re not absolute in the eyes of the compass.
“For fuck’s sake, you two, just spit it out,” Therion’s tone is impatient and clipped.Typical.
“I have magic of the gods in my veins. Apparently they left it within me as a last attempt to keep their magic here in the realms, because King Thalmyr and a sorceress have somehow... banished them? I think,” her words are a little uncertain.
“Ahhhh... okay? So you’re basically a god then. Do we bow?” Ronyn quips.
Elyssara shoves him in the chest with a giggle and I fucking relish the sound, “Oh my Stars! No, you idiot,” she chides. “I’m avesselfor their magic... or at least, that’s how the voice described it.”
“And you?” Ronyn’s eyes land on me. “Are you a god or a king or something too?”
