“Yes. Is that significant?”
“Yes.” Xandria shared a look with Cass, and they silently came to a shared decision. “There is an ancient text that speaks of twin bonds. Family members often have lifeforce-level bonds, but twins naturally have deeper bonds, at the soul level. It theoretically allows them to share energy and boost power through the connection.”
“You mean like the bond Celina and I have? That’s what we did to heal him, right? Share magic.”
“Essentially, yes. When your sister died, it’s possible that the connection between you was open and allowed her to give you the last tendrils of her magic.”
“That shouldn’t be possible,” Celina said. “Why have I never heard that before?”
Xandria shrugged. “Anything is possible with soul-bonds. Our ancestors believed that’s why they can’t be forced, manipulated, or created artificially, even by a powerful mage—soul-bonds form intrinsically between two people, and what can be done through them is unique to the pair’s bond. Avery giving you a life gift of magic is incredibly rare. Be grateful for her blessing.”
Rodric stepped back and closed his eyes as he wrestled with the information.
“How do you know all this?” Celina asked. She’d read everything she could find in the archives she had access to but had never come across any such text.
“Wolflumen have existed since ancient times. We keep all manner of knowledge and secrets. Information the world isn’t ready to have returned.”
“Avery’s magic was white like that when she used it. That means the blue is… mine. My magic?”
“For someone who never wanted magic, you have quite a lot of it.” Celina smiled gently at him and stroked his arm. All indications showed that he had a huge amount of power, and multiple skills. Visibly seeing magic was a rare mental talent.
“Great,” he sighed, pushing a hand into his hair. “If you’ll all excuse me…” Rodric gave a respectful nod to Xandria before striding away from the group.
“We’ll make a Calderran out of him yet.” Cass chuckled.
Rolling her eyes at her best friend, Celina motioned Cass toward the tent holding the injured boy even as her eyes followed Rodric’s path across the camp.
Chapter 18
Duckingintotheirtent,Rodric was greeted with the now familiar image of his stubborn, beautiful enchantress using her magic. Celina sat cross-legged on the bedroll, eyes closed, face serious, as she attempted to track Connor. Her hair glowed red in the firelight from the open tent flap.
He lay beside her, head resting a breath away from her knee. A few long, hard days of riding had passed since he’d discovered his magic. He was focused and attentive on their surroundings during the day. Hunting, scouting, tracking, and pushing them hard toward their destination. Once night fell, though, he was forced to face a whole new set of challenges.
Taking off his boots and heavy coat, he got as comfortable as he could on the ground, careful not to disturb her task. Behaving himself, he let her concentrate, his mind returning to the barrage of emotions choking him.
“Are you okay?” Celina’s fingers moved through his hair in soothing strokes. “I know today was difficult for you.”
Rodric kept his eyes closed and leaned into her touch as he relived the memory. His lungs had seized earlier when Celina had cut herself on the trail, asking him to help her heal the small wound. It wasn’t dire but a good opportunity to use his magic intentionally. He’d done it, shaking to the point his stomach had rebelled. Physically, he’d recovered from the event, but his mind felt ravaged, the remnants of childhood anxiety swamping him for the remainder of the day.
“Are you sure you can’t heal emotional trauma with your magic? Because I’m ready to admit how much I need it.” The question popped out without thought, but once uttered, he decided he didn’t want to take it back. He may be uncomfortable with magic still, but he trusted her completely.
“You’re healing Rodric. And I’m right here with you.” Lying beside him so they were eye to eye, she kept up the calming touch through his hair and along his face. “I have an idea. Why don’t you try connecting to me?”
He groaned. A magic lesson was not what he needed right now. “I finally ask you to use magic on me—healing magic—and you want to do something else?”
“Yes.” She encouraged him with a smile as her fingers trailed down his neck to his collarbone and back up. “Connection is integral to healing, but it’s different than actively using magic.”
After a moment of staring into depths of turquoise, he gave in. He didn’t close his eyes though. Keeping them focused on her, he found his magic the way she’d taught him and felt for her presence. The connection was strong and vibrant, reacting instantly to his mental touch.
Celina beamed. “See? Nothing to it. And you’re calm and relaxed.”
“It’s easy because it’s you. I think I felt you long before I ever opened the magic.”
“Mmm. That’s probably true. You know, I think that’s why I never asked your name the night we met.”
“What? Really?”
Her touch dipped under the vee of his shirt opening, coaxing a shiver from him as she played with the hair on his chest, tracing circles into his skin. She smiled, the hazy look of memory overcoming her features.
