“Wow.I’m impressed.”
Remembering Rodric’s sharp energy, another thought crossed his mind.Maybe Cass was only partly here for him.She would never let Celina disappear into hostile territory without protection.Especially not with a stranger as her only guide.
“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 gave a surprisingly sweet, wistful smile.
A twisty feeling wove through his gut as Celina talked through the healing she’d done for him with Rodric’s help.His sister had begun to develop a soul-bond with the hunter, allowing them to jointly use magic.She practically glowed when admitting the strength of their connection and their growing feelings.
I want that.The deep longing he felt in those peaceful moments with Daya reared up inside him, making his chest ache as if a weight pushed his sternum near breaking.
He glanced over to find Ember watching him with quiet intensity.It wasn’t just Daya, he realized.Ember, Ereven, Neka.All of them together belonged here on the mountain.
He fought the sense of drowning that started to fill him at being torn away from where he belonged.From the woman whose brown eyes drew him home.His soul reached out to be met with the brick wall that encased Daya, reminding him that she was beyond his reach no matter what he desired.
Desperation and yearning seized his soul.No!
“Connor!Are you okay?You’ve gotten pale.”
The familiar feel of Celina’s gentle magic sparked through him, jolting him back to the present.He took a few breaths and the room settled.Her palm covered his wrist on the table.
“Fine, sorry,” he said.
Her concerned eyes narrowed.“Cat would rat you out in a heartbeat if she were here.Even I know that was a lie.”
A short burst of laughter nearly made him choke as their little sister’s sassy smile flashed in his mind.She loved catching them in lies and half-truths and holding it over their heads.She’d earned her nickname—spark—early on with her fiery personality.
“There’s just… a lot going on in my head.My emotions are still catching up with my memories.”
“Of course they are.I should have realized.You don’t have to pretend with me, though.”
“I know.”He smiled because that was true.They’d always been friends as well as family.His life was just a lot more complex now than it had ever been before.
She cleared her throat.“So, where’s the huntress this morning?”
“Daya is out hunting with her birds.Wanted to give us some time alone.”
“Oh, that was kind of her.”
“It was, but she is also a little upset still.”
Celina seemed to catch her tongue and put some thought into the words she finally spoke.“Her defense of you last night was quite… fierce.You’re close?”
Close didn’t begin to describe it.He swallowed back the nauseous pain that rose again and traced over the carved images.“I wouldn’t be here without her.She’s… incredible.I wish things were different.But it’s no use dwelling on it.”
Celina watched him intently, frowning over his words.
He really didn’t want to get into the details with her.She’d see right through him and want to try to fix things.Always the first instinct with healers.And sisters.But this wasn’t something she could fix.It just was.
Before she could ask another question, he forced a smile to his lips.“So, tell you me about your trip to rescue me.This was the longest journey you’ve ever been on.It must have been memorable.”
Thankfully, she was in a gracious mood and let the prior conversation drop, but not before giving him a sisterly look that saidI know what you’re doing, but I’m choosing to let you get away with it.For now.Probably because he was recovering from an injury.A small blessing he’d gladly take.
“Oh, it was,” she said.“You know how much I hate to swim?Well, there was this river…”
His smile turned genuine as she told him about the eventful trip she’d taken to find him.He knew the reprieve would be a short one.There were so many intense emotions wrestling inside him, he was barely managing to keep them at bay.
