“It’s all right.” His shoulders sagged under his grief. “She passed during the coup. She was a gentle soul who didn’t deserve that violence.”
Ash winced, dagger clenched in her fist, wishing she could take it back. Her anxiety about Race was clearly taking a toll on her mind. “I didn’t mean to intrude.”
“Not your fault, lass.” His back straightened. “I won’t let her death be in vain. We can’t bring back our loved ones, but we will take back our world.”
She turned to him. “Do you not know who betrayed them?”
His brow furrowed. “We have tried to find who could have committed such an atrocity, but it’s been millennia. They would probably have been killed anyway. No traitor would be left alive to spill the truth.”
Ash nodded. “Then I’m glad Race is here, and we can help.”
By late afternoon, Race hadn’t returned as she worked with her weapon. While she understood he was busy, still, dejection took hold that she wasn’t even worth a quick mental,Good, you’re still breathing. Continue.
Nothing.
I feel you, my mate,he mind-linked with her, startling her for a second.Just hang in there, this will all be over soon. I’m on my way back.
Is everything okay at Talonhold?she asked.
Yes—
Voices sounded, and Ash spun around from examining her dagger that pierced the trunk. Race, wearing a long black cloak,spoke to Attor, but his eyes were on her, and relief washed over her.
“I’ll transfer everything to Gildershard later tonight,” he told Attor, then crossed to her. “Come, let’s work on your storm calling again while it’s still light…”
Her stomach tensed at how fast time moved.
Her concentration was shot, her summoning faltering as lightning struck wide of the targets. And her tension rose.
“Pay attention, Ash.” His fingers brushed hers as he corrected her stance, then he let go as if burned.
Frustrated to her skull, she spun to him. “I understand tonight is important, but why are you shutting me out?”
He raked back his unbound hair, then tied the top part into a ponytail with quick, irritable motions. “I’m not ignoring you, Ash. Time is of the essence.” He scanned the late noon sky, his nostrils flaring. “We need to focus on—” His hands clenched. “Try that sequence again.”
“Fine.” Anger burned through her as she spun to face her target, her hands prickling. With everything in her, she flung out her arms. Lightning rushed from her fingertips, splitting the distant tree clean down the middle, and it burst into flames.
Ash stumbled back, staring in absolute horror. “What did I do?”
“In a life or death situation, it’s you first, always,” he growled. “Remember that.”
After hours of his detachment, that outburst genuinely startled her. She frowned at him. “Okay, okay, don’t get your knickers in a knot.”
A faint gleam of amusement flickered through their bond and died. “Come, get your things, we must go.”
Ash flung him a dark look before she ducked into the cave and grabbed her backpack.
She turned to find him standing in the entrance.
“Ready?” he asked.
“Yeah.” She buckled her pack and joined him.
He took it from her, then slipped an arm around her. Ash pressed her face against his chest, breathing in his scent as he dematerialized them, the world blurring.
And her stomach churned. The first day of battle was mere breaths away.
Race reformed with Ash in the overgrown backyard of Talonhold House. Night had settled thickly over this quarter of Lemuria, lights dim behind fogged glass. The icy wind did nothing to temper the fever under his skin.
