Two more blue flames flicker to life. Farron lets out a long sigh. “The Harvest Goddess must truly be blessing us to see so many.”
“They’re not dangerous,” I reiterate. “Legends say they can be mischievous, leading bewildered travelers off the path. But others say they’re leading you toward your destiny.”
“And why do you both know so much about these… things?” Ezryn asks, swatting one away that bounces too close to him. Farron utters a pained hiss at Ezryn’s movement. The flame weaves back, skittering blue light over his armor.
“We looked them up while we were researching mates.” An idea sparks in my mind. We’ve been so busy trying to figure out this frost, I haven’t spent as much time on my original goal: finding a way to break the princes’ curse. Finding their mates.
Warmth blooms on my skin. Maybe there’s another reason I’ve been avoiding that mission.
But I have to stop being selfish. This is for the entire Enchanted Vale.
“Farron,” I say, “do you remember that legend about catching a will-o’-wisp?”
“The lighting of the mate bond.” He nods. “One myth says that if you catch a will-o’-wisp, it will temporarily alight your mate bond, and you can see a path to the other half of your soul.”
Keldarion grumbles as if the whole thing is ridiculous. He already knows his destiny and hates it.
“Come on,” I urge the others. “It can’t hurt.”
Slowly, they follow my instructions and creep toward the will-o’-wisps.
“Any legends about catching one and it consuming you in its creepy fire?” Dayton asks as he perches beneath one.
“Only one way to find out.” Cautiously, Farron holds out his hand. He closes his eyes, steadying his breath. A little chime sounds through the air, and the wisp floats onto his palm. “Hello.” He smiles at it, eyes crinkling.
Following his lead, both Ezryn and Dayton catch their own. The three of them return, little flames dancing happily above their palms.
“That was surprisingly easy,” Dayton says.
“They appeared,” I say, remembering the lore. “They wanted us to see them.”
“I think that one’s waiting for you.” Farron nods to my left, where a blue flame floats beside my head.
“Be careful, Rosalina,” Keldarion says sternly. He, unsurprisingly, stands back.
“I’ll go first,” Farron says. “If I remember correctly, you place it on your chest, and its fire will merge with you for a short while.”
My heart pounds nervously as Farron carefully holds the wisp to his body. Magic crackles, and his chest glows with unearthly light. It’s as if we can peer inside him, not to his skin or bones, but to something else. Something soul-deep.
And beside his heart is a cracked circle, tangled with dark lines, like black yarn woven around a miniature star. Every few seconds there’s a burst of light, and then it dims, the darkness strangling it.
“That’s kind of strange.” Farron gulps.
“Here goes nothing.” Dayton brings the wisp closer. Ezryn gives a frustrated sigh and mimics the movement.
I gasp as both their flames spread out over their chests and reveal the same strangled ball of light. Dissatisfaction lingers in my heart.
“Maybe this is what it looks like when the mate bond is dormant,” I muse. “We need to wake up those balls of light. I’m pretty sure I didn’t feel my connection with Kel until he was trapped beneath the ice.”
Kel gives a displeased sigh as he does anytime our tie is brought up.
“Why don’t you try, Rosie?” Farron says. “Then we can see what an awakened bond looks like.”
I glance over at Kel, but he’s avoiding my gaze, so I gently place the blue flame over my chest. A tickling warmth spreads from my heart as the wisp’s fire expands. I tilt my chin down, and my heart sinks when I see the same strangled light as the others. Maybe the wisps don’t show mate bonds at all.
Then a spark ignites, bursting forth like a shooting star and slamming straight into Keldarion. He looks down at the glowing yellow thread as if it’s offended him. It glimmers between us, a living tether.
“Well, it does work,” Farron says. “Seems there’s something wrong with us.”
