“He’s a friend.” Rodric’s heart began beating again, returning blood through his veins in a hurried rush. “Kavesh,Sev! What were you thinking?”
“That your shadow warrior friend might not like a blade to her throat.” Sev shrugged, walking forward to join them with careful steps, eyes trained on Cass.
Shaking his head, Rodric turned back to Cass, assessing her for injuries. Unsurprisingly, there was not a scratch in sight. Checking himself revealed nothing majorly concerning from the brief battle. “Cass, I think I’m going to call you Shadow from now on. You’re practically a ghost, fading in and out of the mist. That was incredible.”
Cass chuckled, patting Rodric’s shoulder in camaraderie. “Yeah, you’ll do. We make a good team, hunter. But you…” Turning to Sev, she narrowed her gaze. “You stay out of my blind spot next time. Not bad for an Eldrin, though.”
Heading toward the nearest body, she pulled the blade from the fallen man’s back with an exaggerated sigh. “So much for questioning. Best laid plans…”
“We’ll make do.” Rodric ran a hand over his face, the adrenaline from the battle beginning to wane. “By the way, Cass, this is Sev, a Preddari brother and trusted friend.”
Hefting the knife, she turned and tossed it to Sev. “Nice blade, but slightly out of balance and the handle grip needs to be tightened.” Winking at him, she walked away.
“Where did you find her?” Sev’s awestruck look followed her.
Rodric grinned. “I don’t think anyone could find her unless she wanted to be found.”
Sev stood motionless, still staring after Cass. “I think I’m in love.”
Rodric laughed out loud and smacked Sev on the back. “Don’t let Zora hear you say that.”
“I’m being serious!”
“So am I.” Smiling at Sev’s dazed look, he shook his head. “She’s out of your league, my friend.”
Suddenly, a wave of distress overtook him, the feeling of something very wrong consuming him with the force of an ocean wave barreling toward shore.Celina.Stumbling, he turned in a circle, searching for her.
“Whoa! Are you alright? Injured?” Sev steadied him with a hand to his side.
“No.Celina.”
Chapter 16
WavesofdistresspummeledRodric with rapidly growing fear. Celina,his Celina, was in danger. That desperate feeling stemmed from her somehow. “Cass! Where is she!? She’s in trouble.”
Cass spun and ran toward the spot they had left Celina.
No. She’s closer.He knew it, could feel it. A hint of movement in one of the tents flickered.There!
Running for her, he slid to a halt when he entered the tent. She was kneeling on the ground, hands on the boy, her face contorted in painful concentration. Color was rapidly fading from Celina’s skin.No, no, no! Not again!
The boy was equally pale. He was on his side, curled in as if to protect himself, but unconscious. Old bruising on his chest looked as if someone had pinned him to the ground with a boot, probably cracking his ribs.
“You found her?” Kneeling opposite Celina, Cass quickly put her fingers on the boy’s neck. “His pulse is weak. I think she’s losing him.”
“No!”
Cass’s penetrating gaze assessed him. “You need to try to pull her out, Rodric.”
“How do I do that?” He dropped to his knees beside Celina, swallowing hard.Was she dying? Leaving him so soon?
“Stars, I hope I’m right about you two,”Cass murmured, the whisper barely reaching his ears. She squeezed his shoulder, pulling his attention. “I know this is going to sound crazy to you, but you need to try to connect with her… spiritually.”
“What?”
“How did I end up being the one explaining this? Couples form bonds, Rodric. Deep bonds that exist on a spiritual,magicallevel. You’ve heard the term ‘soul-bound’? It’s not just a pretty phrase. You need to reach for her from your soul. Physically moving her won’t break the amount of magic she’s channeling.”
A burst of light flashed in his memory and winked out.“I’m sorry.”
