Excitement at her new abilities rolled off Sarai in waves as she beamed at Celina and Morgan in turn. It bounced off Rodric in stark contrast to the grimness curling through him.
Celina was going to heal someone, here, now, just a few feet from him. His insides began to claw as his worries multiplied. The moment of pure innocent joy for the others seemed like the quiet before a thunderstorm started. What if something went wrong? They could easily give too much, put their lives at risk. The lurking danger hung in the air for only him to see.
Rodricwasn’tsurehowmuch longer he could stand by and watch Celina grow continually paler by the hour as the boy’s health improved.
He’d only known Celina but a day and was already drawn to her. The hunter in him prowled the room in worry, clawing at his chest with fear, wanting to protect her from the invisible threat.
“How do you do this?” The words sprang from his mouth without conscious thought. “Deal with the magic, the risk?”The fear and worrying?
Across the room, Morgan was sprawled in a chair, head resting on his hand as he watched Sarai with significantly less worry than Rodric felt. Was it just exposure to this that made him less anxious? Did knowing more, understanding all this, help ease the burden?
“Depends.” Morgan sighed as he rubbed his face. “Out in the field, working with teammates who have magic abilities? Just a different skill. It’s more dangerous by nature, sure, but the same rules still apply—knowledge, training, practice. Constant vigilance. You don’t go into battle with a dull weapon, or a partner you’re not completely sure of. Magic is both of those things.”
Morgan nodded toward the healing session taking place a few feet away. “But this? It never really gets easier. That phrasebleeding heartexists for a reason. Compassion, stubbornness, and ability to make a difference? It’s a miracle we don’t have healers burning out every year, every month.” He shook his head, his gaze moving to Sarai again. “I’m getting a binder here as soon as I can to seal our bond. At least then I’ll know if she’s in trouble.”
“You mentioned that before. Does that bond change anything, influence their magic?”
“No. You can’t change what they are.” Morgan gave him an empathetic, knowing look. “A bond creates a permanent link, a connection between two people. It’s not enough to track unless you have that particular magic, but depending on the individuals, strong bonds can transmit emotion—distress, for instance.”
Morgan filled the silence with the history of bonds, describing the ancient practice that bound relationships—mated couples, active warrior partners, children and guardians. Magic only seemed to make a difference in how one could use the bond, not its existence.
A tendril of relief wound through him. At least he hadn’t failed Brenna in that regard, too. Even bound magically with such a bond, he wouldn’t be able to track her.
“I could still have that, even without magic?”
“Even without it,” Morgan confirmed. “I don’t have a drop of magic myself.”
Determination filled Rodric. He’d never be comfortable with magic, but he’d do whatever he could to protect Brenna, including this full guardian bond.
She brought so much light to his life. Coming home had been difficult, living in a house full of too many hard memories. He still couldn’t be there for long stretches of time, preferring the peace of the forest when his soul hurt. It was why he’d handed over the rule of their family to Veron when his father died. But Brenna, her laugh, her mischievous playfulness, brought light and joy to his dark world, reviving part of his heart.
He could do this for her. Do better for her, as her soul-guardian.
Rodric absorbed everything. Twilight glowed outside, streaming faint rays through the window to touch the women. Celina spoke quietly to Sarai, giving her instructions and praise as they slowly made progress on their patient. The fading light made the red hints in her dark hair flare brightly, as if even her hair held a touch of shimmering magic.
Both of the women were fighting hard to save the boy from the fevered sickness that blanketed his brain. He’d been a captive with Sarai and had fought their captors when they tried to hurt and torment her. Morgan’s face had clouded with anger as he’d explained that the teenagers were more at risk for foul play during captivity than the younger children. Aiden had tried to shield Sarai from abuse.
Rodric had blanched, not wanting to hear the atrocities potentially happening to Brenna. Unfortunately, avoiding thinking about that left him to stare at the healing session. The longer he did, the more Avery’s memory tugged at him, older pain rising to the surface.
“Your soul-daughter, Brenna. She the reason you found your way to my protected refugee compound?” Morgan asked.
Glancing up, Rodric found the concerned guardian now pushed aside, making way for the commanding warrior who had returned to the room in the beats of silence. Unease rolled through him as he debated his response. Sitting guard for nearly an entire day with the man had created an understanding and respect between them. A kindred feeling.
He looked at Celina, his beautiful, compassionate enchantress, who was ripping his heart out as she faded away before his eyes, giving her life for someone else’s. Their future was precarious and uncertain, but he wanted her in his life. This was her life. Her people. And… he needed them too. Knew that they would appreciate his situation, whether or not they were willing to help.
“Yes. I came to Calderre in search of help.” He met Morgan’s hard stare. “Brenna has magic. She was taken from her home while I was away. I followed the trail as far as I could until it vanished. I need to find her, rescue her.” He shuddered as pent-up emotion tried to barge out of his soul before he locked it down again. “I didn’t know. About her magic. Didn’t know she was in danger. If I had…” He shook his head, sorrow and regret pricking at him.
“Sorry to hear that. But they would have come no matter what, Rodric. What area was she taken from? How long ago?”
“Four weeks ago now, from the Westcliff region. I tracked them all the way to Barrett’s Forest before the trail disappeared. Thought I might find a way to recover the trail with your… unique resources.” The wordmagicstuck on his tongue, still a challenge for him. “I can’t track something that’s been made invisible to my eye.”
“No, you can’t.”
“Celina thinks Connor is my best chance to find her. Is she right?” As much as he trusted Celina, her vision was clouded by the need to save her brother, just as his was for Brenna.
Morgan watched him closely. If he hadn’t been keeping such intense eye contact, Rodric would have lost hope of an answer.
Finally, the bear of a warrior sighed and inclined his head.
