It was a fair question, and Rodric didn’t mind the focus shifting off him for a moment as he struggled to control his reactions to what he’d just learned.
“Very astute, hunter,” Daya answered with a smile.
The less aggressive of Daya’s two hawks flew over to settle on her arm, making soft sounds at her. She petted it with two fingers before looking up at them.
“I’m the Guardian of Hannelore Mountain,” Daya said.
“An ancient guardian?” Cass asked.
Daya nodded, looking tense as she confirmed the news.
“The Wolflumen stories are still whispered around the fire, but guardians are forgotten myths,” Sev said.
His friend’s voice rose in excitement over being in the presence of an actual myth. Turning away from the group, he let them talk. Daya had been helpful and he was grateful for her presence, but wasn't interested in the details of her life.
What bothered him more than Celina not telling him about their joint use of magic was that he hadn’t noticed it. Or had he chosen not to? There had been that moment of memory—his own magic—when they’d healed Connor. An oddity of shadowing Celina during the session. Or so he’d let himself believe. What more was he capable of with his magic?
The weight of responsibility crushed his chest as the need for urgency consumed him. His blood heating and heart racing. He needed todosomething. For Brenna and for Celina. He was desperate enough to try anything to bring himself closer to them.
He bent his ear toward the conversation the others were having and caught Daya’s response to someone’s question.
“Those of us who remain are responsible for guarding the sacred lands and ritual sites, and for guiding the people in both ordinary and magical rites. Though that doesn’t happen often.”
“Rites… like binding two people with a soul-bond?” Rodric asked.
Everyone turned their eyes to him in surprise, and he shifted self-consciously.
“Morgan told me about the soul-binding between children and their guardians. That it could be done between mates. Can you do that?”
“I can’t do more than what nature has already begun. But I can tell you that those are two very different types of bonds,” Daya said gently, brown eyes warm with concern.
Her words rang true. His bond with Celina was visceral.
“So, I can’t track Brenna.”
“No.” Daya shook her head slowly. “Your bond with Celina though…it is the beginning of a weaving of yoursouls.Such bonds between mates are legendary for a reason.”
“But how?”
“Soul-bonds are unique. Completing the bond will come instinctively to you when you’re ready. But that connection exists inside you already. You just need to trust it.”
Rodric rubbed his chest. If what Daya said was possible, he could track Celina, sense what was happening, feel what she was going through. Make sure she was alright.
Closing his eyes, he breathed away some of the fear and looked inside himself. The magic was there, waiting. Sinking into the cold blue fire, he found the connection to Celina and reached for it, but he slammed into hard glass. The harder he tried to grasp the strand of their bond, the more the wall darkened into the opaque barrier that had hidden his magic for most of his life.
Panic surged to the point he could barely breathe, bringing back the dizziness. “I can’t.”
Quiet sighs of disappointment and frustration rang through the group.
Turning away, he headed for the trees, the old desire to run quickening his steps.
Chapter 28
Ridgecrest Fortress, Realm of Eldridge
Minddullandfoggy,Celina fought her way out of a pool of dark fire. She focused on measuring her breathing, taking slow, steady breaths through her nose. Oxygen flooded through her in deep waves, relieving the sharp edge of pain just a hair. The distinct scent of dirt, metal, and stone reached her brain. One sense was functioning. She was at the fortress.
Sharp lances pierced her when she tried to access her magic, the dark fire lighting in her chest with a menace. A soft cry of pain escaped, and she physically jerked, only to be stopped by the ropes binding her to a chair. Trying again with a softer touch caused the same tendrils of flame to snake through her, making her whimper.
