And Jax and Thalia...He swallowed hard.The depth of love and partnership they had couldn’t be matched.
Cass pressed the advantage as memories flooded his mind of the last time he’d seen the pair together.
Thalia had looked very local with her hair coiled in braids and the long Eldrin style dress.Jax stood protectively at her side with an arm around her mate’s waist, holding her close.How the mated couple managed to watch each other work in dangerous situations and not lose their sanity, he’d never understood, but he’d always yearned for what they had.
Heart beating too hard, Connor tightened his grip on his sword, struggling to regulate his breathing.
“Keep going,” Cass commanded.
Pressing him toward the back room, she pinned him in the corner.The blazing look she gave him told him to fold or step it up a notch.Realizing he couldn’t hurt her with her superior sword skills, he met her challenge.He let go of his restraint and poured all his strength into the attack.All his grief.
It was messy, gritty, and lacked precision, just like the emotions raging inside him.She didn’t say a word, just moved in sync with him, meeting his strength with every clash of the blade.
Finally, he let up, signaling he was done and dropping his weapon.His arm trembled as his lungs heaved, but it was a good pain.
Cass assessed him with a knowing gaze.“You look better.”
A morose laugh escaped him.What marker was she using for that judgment?
“Signal me if you need to vent,” she said.“Don’t let anything build up and throw you off-kilter.We need you at your best.”
The harsh but true words sobered him, bringing back the wrenching emotion to his stomach.“I won’t lose anyone else.”
She nodded, witnessing his vow in a way that only another warrior could.Time would tell, but he would commit the entirety of his being to this next phase of the mission.
“You leading or am I?”he asked.
“I am.You’re just the first survivor we’ve rescued.”
“Thank you, Cass.”
It would create a mess of unwanted attention for her at home, which he knew she would hate.Her sacrifice would free him to act in ways he couldn’t if he’d been leading the rescue as a lightning warrior.His deepest hope was that Veda and Opal were being held with Brenna.Then he’d only have two deaths on his conscience.
Chapter 13
Ember’shuntingscreechbroughtDaya up short just as awareness from the mountain rumbled through her soul.Stopping, she placed her hand on the nearest tree to deepen her connection.
What is it?She opened the question to all of them—a trick it had taken her forever to master.
It’s time,the mountain responded.
They search for a child to the southeast at the abandoned watch post.Ember relayed.
Ridgecrest.Daya’s heart thudded in concern.
Altering her direction, Daya resumed her path, this time pointing toward home.It appeared she wouldn’t be watching Connor leave quite as soon as she thought.
Turmoil brewed inside her as she realized that she’d need to work with not only him, but his companions, to take down the fortress.She was grateful for the help but wary.Guarding the mountain had always been a solo endeavor.A team was something she’d never been a part of.
Magic notwithstanding, her skills most closely aligned with the two Preddari hunters.Connor and the female warrior would be most experienced for this mission, so she’d let them lead unless she needed to step up.
Her goal was to eliminate the darkness, and she was willing to accept whatever conditions best supported that outcome.The mountain had bidden her to wait until they arrived, so she needed to use them as the resources they were.
Where is he?
In the barn, practicing with the Wolflumen,Ember said.
That gave her pause.You’re sure they used that term?
