Nausea rolled through her as she followed Tobias on foot, Kaelen and Serena close behind. Her body went cold. Numb. She grabbed Sebastian’s hand desperately.
Don’t think about it. Don’t think about the fire.
But it was all she could think of. Her head was beginning to spin. She reached out to Sebastian through the bond, her panic bleeding out.
“I’m here,” he whispered, rubbing his thumb over the back of her hand. “No one will touch you.”
“Come,” Tobias said. “We were discussing strategy when you arrived. We need you.”
Tobias lifted the tent flap and they entered together, the ruby shield vanishing as they did so, though the Fatàn twins stayed close. A sea of noise surrounded them – the Council was already assembled, mid-meal, mid-strategy. Voices carried over plates of roasted meat and flagons of mead. Maps lay spread across one end of the long table, markers scattered in battle formations. It was warmer in here, filled with candlelight and braziers. Too warm. Suffocating.
They were all here, Merrick, Elias, Simone, Evelyn, Galen. And her father.
The moment Sebastian saw Alaric Hale, intense loathing spiked through the bond, so sharp it actually hurt. Kara squeezed his hand gently. But it wasn’t just the Council, some of their families were here too. Two of Merrick’s three sons sat beside him, red-cheeked and deep in their cups, and beside Galen, his eldest son Jareth and–
Henry.
Oh no.
Kara had known he’d be in camp somewhere but she hadn’t expected to be thrown into his company immediately. Sebastian stiffened as his gaze followed hers. She felt his anger rise sharply in her own chest.
“Sebastian Thorne and Karalynna Hale,” Tobias announced, as if it were an everyday occurrence.
All eyes fell on them as the room went silent. Her father eyed her sword with open disdain. For a heartbeat, no one moved. Then Galen rose from his seat and stopped before Kara, his portly frame stiff, and inclined his head.
“You came,” he said hoarsely. “After what we almost–” He swallowed hard, unable to finish the thought and appeared to change tack mid-sentence. “You have my thanks, Lady Hale. For standing here. For standing with us.”
Kara nodded awkwardly. What could she say to that? Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Henry staring intently at the table. His brother, however, was watching them with a keen, unreadable gaze.
Elias Lyra stepped forward next, violet light stirring nervously at his fingertips. He bowed, shallow, but sincere. “You will not find me amongst your enemies.”
Encouraging. One ally out of seven.
“I am told you united the Shards?” Elias asked.
Sebastian nodded curtly.
Elias’s eyes gleamed. “Then the Arcanth has spoken, and I will not doubt its will.”
Then Elias stilled, his gaze narrowing as though he were listening to something no one else could hear. His magic glimmered stronger now, and his expression shifted from curiosity to wonder.
“By the Four,” he breathed, looking between them. “You’re Soulbonded.”
The blood drained from Kara’s cheeks.
No. Not here. Not now. Not in front of everyone.
Tobias’s head jerked towards them. Kara knew, in that instant, that Sebastian hadn’t written of it in his letters.
Elias didn’t stop, his excitement carrying him forward. “Your bond is blazing. I’ve never felt – Gods – I can feel it from here! Does your magic–”
But the scrape of a chair distracted Elias from his discovery. Alaric Hale was on his feet, his face contorted with rage.
“Enough,” he ordered.
The single word silenced Elias. Alaric’s glare locked onto Kara, hard and unrelenting. “You dare flaunt this – this abomination in my presence?” He turned his fury on Elias, voice rising. “You celebrate mydaughter binding herself to a murderer?” He looked directly at Sebastian as he snarled, “To a man whose hands are covered in Vallennan blood?”
Kara’s pulse hammered. She felt Sebastian’s fury ignite white-hot. It was mirrored with her own. The words cut deep, as her father knew they would. How dare he call the bond that made her stronger,whole,an abomination. Call Sebastian, the man she loved more than life itself, a murderer. In that moment, she hated Alaric Hale. Sebastian stormed forward, fists clenched, as if he meant to face Kara’s father down right there. But Tobias was faster. He clamped a hand down hard on Sebastian’s shoulder, holding him back with quiet, immovable strength. Kara didn’t let go of his hand.
