Andi takes a large drink from her goblet, and she looks at her companions. “Well. I don’t know where to begin. I’m not sure what Wyatt has told you all.” She gestures to me for some help.
I lean forward and shake my head, “Um… Caelan knows most of it.” I shrug apologetically, and Andi nods, taking another sip.
“Okay. Well, as most of you saw, I have magic from my family, the Taniths. That magic has been hidden for most of my life. I only just learned everything recently, and as soon as I did, I was hunted and beaten.” Andi shudders, her hand touches the faded pink scar on her neck. Her screams vividly ring through my head, playing on repeat. A sound I hope I never have to live through again.
She sneaks a glance at Myles, who studies his feet. “Myles and I ran from Vendyl, as more and more guards appeared, we had to, there was no choice. We recuperated in Cyvail for a while, earning some coin to keep us going. That’s where we met Kali, but… guards found me, somehow. Kali took us to her sister Lura’s, but on the way, we were attacked by some Hundican, and I was bitten.” Audible gasps and mutters fill the room.
Caelan bangs his goblet on the arm of his chair for silence. Andi nods in thanks. “I was out for weeks, but Lura healedme. I’m so thankful for her.” Lura gives a little smile but ducks her head down. “We remained in her house for a while, hidden beneath her wards, but guards were swarming the place. We knew it wouldn’t be long before they found us, and we’d be defenceless. Lura said she had a friend from a village in the mountains, that’s where we were headed when we came across some of your men.” Andi gives a small smile to Kaleb and Izaac. “You guys know the rest.”
Andi downs the rest of her goblet and slumps back in the chair, immediately plucking at her fingers. Her eyes are surrounded by dark circles, must have been a while since she had a decent sleep.
Caelan thinks for a minute. “Who is this friend?” He directs his questions to Lura this time. She lifts her sleeve up to her mouth, her hand shaking.
“Seema. She told me to come here if there was ever any trouble.” Her voice comes out as barely a whisper.
Caelan nods, glancing at his ring, twiddling it round. “Seema was right about that.” He stands up, setting his goblet on the table. “I know Your Highness is probably in need of some sleep.” Andi goes to protest, her face reddening at the term, but Caelan continues, “But I think it’s important to have you all checked out first.”
He looks at Lura. “Seema will heal any cuts or scrapes you have.”
I walk over to Andi, helping her up out of the chair, and follow Myles and the elf females out of the hut, glaring at Ronan’s fixed stare on Andi. Andi sneaks a peek at him too, her cheeks flush. I nudge her to shift her attention.
I walk Andi and the rest to Seema’s hut, glancing over my shoulder. Ronan follows us with his eyes. I whisper to Andi, “He’s dangerous, you should ignore him.”
She looks back over her shoulder. “He doesn’t look that bad, besides, I have Myles, remember.”
Seema opens the door to her hut and steps out, smiling at Lura, wrapping her in a warm embrace. She pulls away, taking Lura and Myles by the hand, squealing, “Congratulations. I haven’t seen a mating bond in so long.”
Chapter Thirty-Seven
Andi
Did I damage my ears in that fight? I don’t think I did, but the elf’s statement makes no sense. “I’m sorry.” I laugh awkwardly.“Can you repeat that?”
Seema’s eyes dart between Lura, Myles, and me, assessing her lapse in judgment. Wyatt stands rigid at my side, steadying me. Mating bond? Was she talking about Lura and Myles?My Myles.
Seema stutters, “Oh—um—I must be mistaken.” Her eyes bore into Lura’s. “Come in.” I lunge forward, grabbing Lura by the arm, her eyes meet mine for a split second, before flicking to Myles.
“No, no,” I say to Seema. “You seemed quite sure of what you said. So, please indulge me.” Seema shuffles her feet, unwilling to respond. I turn my attention back to Lura. “What is she talking about?”
“Lura?” Kali asks, confused as I am.
Lura’s tear-filled eyes meet mine, and she backs up just behind Myles. I become intensely fixated on their interlocked fingers. My arms fold firmly across my chest, keeping myself from falling apart at their feet, as Lura starts explaining.
“Andi, I’m so sorry, we didn’t mean for this to happen.” My eyes flicker from hers to Myles, he can’t even look me in the eye. “When we first met, there was a…spark…a connection. We tried to fight it, but it was painful not to be with each other.”
I can’t believe what I am hearing. “You’ve been…together, all this time. While we’ve been…I feel sick.” Bile rises in my stomach. I turn to Kali. “Did you know?”
“No. I promise.” Kali holds her hands up in innocence.
Lura starts crying, saying inaudible words. The situation is so absurd that all I can do is laugh. I try to hide it, but the more I try, the less I can. Before I know it, I am in hysterics, tears streaming down my face. Everyone watches me, unsure of what to do.
“I can’t deal with this right now,” I say and walk away. Myles runs to catch up with me, trying to pull me into an embrace, but winces, clutching his heart.
“Now I see.” Retreating from his grasp. “I thought you were hurt. Every time you would show me any sort of affection, you would rub your chest or flinch away. I thought you were physically in pain. But this is why, isn’t it? The mating bond.” My words are laced with an unfamiliar venom. A bitter taste swells in my throat, spitting words I would never have had the courage to say before.
Myles reaches for me, but my arm sparks with lively embers. “Don’t. Do not come near me again.”
Myles recoils, grabbing Lura’s arm and dragging her, still sobbing, into Seema’s hut. Kali follows behind them, with an apologetic smile, shutting the door behind her.
