My mind was already racing, and there was no way in the seven circles of hell that I was going to risk falling back asleep and ending up in the same nightmare again.
Meticulously inching away from my sleeping mate, I pushed myself to my feet. Synchronized sounds of breathing came from the other room where Maiela and Kysha slept, and relief ran through me. At least they were sleeping. This small house was just large enough for the four of us. With six, it would have been tight. And yet, there should have been six of us here.
A sob rose in my throat, and I pressed my hand against my mouth. Slipping outside, I slid the door shut before letting the ragged breath escape. Tears pricked at my eyes, but I refused to let them fall. Not now.
Yesterday, I had wept for Daegal and Ryllae. I had shed more tears than I had known was possible. Yesterday, I had held my bonded mate as he grieved the loss of his closest friend, and watched as Daegal’s sister mourned her last remaining family.
Today, I was going to seek answers.
Shaking my head and breathing in deeply until I was certain I would not cry; I kneeled on the cold stones. Nothing about this city was safe, but that strange feeling of being observed from yesterday was gone. For now, I felt secure. At least, secure enough to do what I had planned.
Drawing my daggers from their sheaths, I arranged them next to my knees. I would keep them in easy reaching distance, just in case. Wrapping my cloak around myself to ward off the chill permeating the air, I set my palms flat on the cold cobblestones. A shiver ran through me as I dove into the well of power within me, gathering a handful of magic. Pulling it out all at once, I pushed it into the earth.
For a moment, nothing happened. My magic felt its way through layers of shale and stone, trying to reach the earth. More. I shoved another handful into the land. Then a third.
Finally, my magic connected with the earth, and the ground rumbled beneath me. It was quiet at first, but soon it grew in strength.
A familiar, ancient, ethereal voice reached my ears.High Lady of Life, you are grieving.
A hot tear ran down my cheek.Yes.
A comforting wind blew past me, ruffling my hair.What do you need?the earth asked.
Sending it even more magic, I told it what I required.
The land hummed, seeming to think over my request, before it trembled.It shall be done.
Breathing out a sigh, I turned my attention to the land. Even from here, deep within the mountain, the earth’s desperate need echoed in my bones. It was dry, crying out for sustenance.
It needed me.
I had failed Daegal and Ryllae, but this I could do. I had been denied my magic for years, but connecting with the earth was as easy as drawing breath now that I was Mature. Maintaining that connection barely took anything out of me.
I probably had hours before any of the others woke. Sitting back, I got comfortable against the rigid stone wall. Directing some of my ribbons to form a green shield around myself—it was quiet, but I wouldn’t let my guard down—I allowed the rest of my threads of power to flood out of me. It did not take long for them to find the land that was desperate for my touch.
Here, the earth was dying far more quickly than any other part of Ithenmyr I had seen. It was thirsty, drinking up everything I poured into it with the ravenous hunger of a starving being. Shriveled, blackened roots absorbed my power, growing stronger by the second. Trees called out, their trunks thickening. Night insects, mice, and rats all stopped what they were doing to turn to me.
They all acknowledged me at once.The High Lady of Life walks among us.
Their relief echoed through me, touching a part of me that belonged solely to the land. My magic poured into the earth, righting the balance—at least for right now.
Time slipped by and I continued to work. My well had refilled while I slept, and now the earth fed me as much as I fed it.
A rustling of leaves, completely incongruous with this stone city, hit my ears.
Finally.
Releasing the earth, I drew my hands from stone and pushed myself to my feet. Wrapping my cloak around myself, I nodded curtly. “I wasn’t sure you would come.”
Apologies and Interference
XANDER
The second I woke; I knew something was wrong. I flung my hand beside me, only to encounter cold stone.
Aileana was gone.
My heart pounded, alarm pulsed through me, and my eyes flew open.