Celina squeezed him once more before letting him go, hand lingering on his previously injured arm. “What happened?”
“Everything that could go wrong, did. With devastating consequences.” His tone indicated that was all he intended to say on the subject.
“You survived. That’s all that matters. I’m sorry about the rough healing. I was so worried about you.”
“I’m fine, Cela. That healing packed a punch though. You could warn me next time.”
“That wasn’t supposed to happen, it never has before,” she exclaimed, shaking her head. “All I hoped to do was strengthen your lifeforce and speed up your healing, like I’ve done before when you’ve been injured. I hoped it might be enough of a boost for your mind to heal itself, too. We got a bit more than anticipated.”
Motioning her to sit, he went to make her a cup of tea. He moved around the space without having to think about where things were, as if it was his own.
“Don’t worry yourself over it, Cela. I’ll be fine, I promise. Where’s, ah…?”
“Rodric,” she supplied. “He went to get Cass and Sev so that we could plan.”
“Cass is here?” He paused, stunned. “I know you’re friends but… you got a Wolflumen to come after me?”
“A Wolflumen and two Preddari Hunters.”
“Wow. I’m impressed.”
“I’d do anything to save you, Connor.”
“I know, and I appreciate it. It means a lot to me that you risked your life to come find me.” He gave her a searching look. “And Rodric, is he going to be sticking around? There was something between you two.”
“I hope so, yes.”
Taking the offered tea, she thought about all the things she needed to tell him about Rodric, their connection, the future she hoped for. Steam from the tea tickled her nose when she stopped suddenly.Our connection.
“Of course, how could I not realize?” she murmured.
“Realize what?”
Shaking her head, she smiled. “Not what, who. Rodric.”
Connor frowned, tipping his head in consideration. “What do you mean?”
“My bond with Rodric amplified my ability to heal you.”
“You’re already bonded? Does he know? How would that… he’s a healer, too?”
“Yes, sort of, and yes, a physical healer. Although, I don’t think it was his healing magic that helped you. He has some mental magic as well—it’s a long story. We’re not sure the extent, but he’s been able to see memories once before. Maybe the combination allows him to heal them as well?”
“You don’t know for sure?”
“Well, he just found out recently that he has magic. As in, a few days ago. It’s been pretty rough on him. If our bond is deepening, it might be possible that I drew his healing and memory magic through the bond and used it without realizing it. The combination of all three is what saved you.”
She’d been the only one touching Connor, but her other hand had held Rodric’s. The physical connection would have eased the sharing of magic between them. Possibly without Rodric even realizing it, since his internal sense of his own magic was just beginning to develop.
“That’s… impressive. Ancient-texts-and-legends-level intriguing. Way to go, Cela.” Her brother grinned.
Celina returned his infectious smile. “Let’s keep that between us for now. He’s got enough to deal with without worrying over the complexity of soul-bonds.”
They continued talking and reconnecting in the quiet house until their tea grew cold and Connor heated some more.
The words her brother didn’t say about the huntress, Daya, who had rescued and nursed him back to health, concerned her. He’d shared a little, but then closed off, his eyes becoming guarded. She recognized the expression all too well from years of him coming home from secret missions. There was more there beneath the surface that he couldn’t, or wouldn’t, say.
Still, it was a relief to be sitting with him, talking and sharing like they always had. She’d let him get away with the silence for now. Once they were home and he’d had time to recover, she’d press him. Instead, she regaled him with tales of her tumultuous journey to find him while they drank their tea.
