Her sister held out her hand, and blood dripped down and spread, merging into Leya’s, then it all seeped into the paper and disappeared. The writing on the scroll danced about on the parchment like an addict on an all-time high before coalescing and forming a word she couldn’t decipher.
Aerén’s arm brushed hers as he leaned closer, triggering a response within her, and desire rose. Not like she needed a reason for it. Just breathing in his scent made her want to jump him—
“Whoa!” Hana fell on her butt. “What the heck was that? Like I was tasered?” she rubbed her arms. “Ohhh…” She blinked at Leya, eyes wide.
Did she also feel this onset of desire?
The men in the room had moved to the doorway and out of the way, as if the magic might strike them dead or something.
“Yes. She is one,” Lucan said. But it was what he hadn’t said that had Leya’s stomach sinking. Not like she expected any different. She had hoped, but sadly, it wasn’t to be. So, she shut it out.
At her side, Aerén seemed hewed in granite.
No one said a word, which made her feel worse.
“Now what?” Reynner asked, breaking the heavy silence, and instinct warned this wasn’t about Hana being a Chosen.
Hana shot to her feet and grimaced. “Well, you have your result, and I need the bathroom.”
“I’ll show you,” Eve said, and Hana followed her out.
About to get to her feet, Aerén grasped Leya’s hand and helped her up.
Are you okay?she wanted to ask but didn’t dare, not when his icy stare was pinned on his brother, the elyon. He should be happy. They had a Chosen who wasn’t involved with anyone and who could aid their world, right?
“Not happening!” Aerén’s cold voice startled her.
“Cidéra needs her the most.”
At the brothers’ stalemate, Leya touched Aerén’s forearm. The look he shot her, the dark anger there, made her breath catch. “Hana knows what’s at stake,” she said softly. “I explained about the crisis in your world.”
The elyon folded his arms over his broad chest, no give in his flat stare. “It’s an order.”
Leya was so sure she was missing a chunk of the conversation. But with Aerén in a silent mental war with his brother, and not wanting to get in between them,andwith her bleeding hand demanding attention, she made for the door.
Reynner opened it and nodded at her, a tinge of compassion in his navy eyes as she passed him. The door shut quietly behind her.
Man, Leya grimaced. She didn’t want pity just because she wasn’t a Chosen—
“You must mate her,” the elyon’s stern voice had Leya stilling.
“It doesn’t work that way,” Aerén retorted. “Did you not learn anything yet?”
But the elyon was speaking again, “Did you drop your shields and let yourself feel her?”
“Why?” Aerén shot back. “When I know who I want.”
“Wantand what isneededdon’t correlate!” the elyon growled. “This is our dying world we’re fighting for! Cidéra—allof Élendium—needs a Chosen. I would do it, but I didn’t feel her. Drop your shields and let a bond form, Ren. It’s an order. Yes, I know you want the sister, but she cannot aid our world, and I’m sorry for that.”
Leya froze, pressing her bleeding fist to her constricting chest, unable to move. To breathe.
“I’m not giving her up!”
“What are you going to do?” the elyon demanded. “You can’t mate her, anyway.”
“Says who? When the magic is brought back, we will get its blessing. Lucan?” Aerén snapped. “You’ve performed all those rites, yes?”
Leya sank against the wall and shut her eyes, feeling as if her heart would explode, dread seeping through her.
