Soulbound (The Return of the Elves Book 1)

by Bethany Adams

  Arlyn found herself approaching with slow steps. The map in her head said this tree was important, but it didn’t say why. It didn’t tell her about the history or culture of this world. Even without it, the way the room was built around the trunk with obvious care, coupled with the intricate carvings on the columns that framed it, told her of the tree’s significance. That and the energy that seemed to waft from it like a spring breeze.

  She stopped an arm’s reach from the smooth trunk, but she couldn’t bring herself to touch it. What if it was taboo? Her mom hadn’t mentioned anything about Moranaian religion, if she’d even been told about it. For all Arlyn knew, she’d be hauled off by a bunch of priests for defiling the sacred tree. Or something. Who even knew?

  Her eyes drifted closed as the tree’s gentle energy flowed through her. Arlyn’s stomach muscles unclenched as some of her tension eased, and the restlessness that had driven her began to fade. She drooped where she stood, the exhaustion long-masked by the energy of this world overtaking her. Rubbing a hand over her face, she forced her gritty eyelids to rise. If she didn’t go to bed now, they’d find her sleeping at the base of the sacred tree come morning.

  Arlyn forced her leaden limbs to carry her to the stairs. As she climbed, the peace of the tree followed her. Was there some magic at work? Did the tree contain a soothing spell to help the home’s inhabitants rest? Still pondering, Arlyn settled into bed and snuggled into the soft blanket. After a week of fractured sleep, she just didn’t care.

  Only one of the moons was visible, its half-full face partly hidden by clouds. Two marks until dawn. It had taken Kai longer than expected to pack his things and arrange for all of them, except for the one bag he carried, to be sent to Braelyn in the next couple of days. How had it been possible that his room contained so many possessions? He was rarely there. But he had boxed up several crates worth during the last few hours.

  As he sent his senses out in a sweep, Kai examined the trees around him. There were few problems on this path, but anything was possible. Except for sleep, which seemed destined never to be his. Though he barely had the energy left to shield himself and monitor his surroundings, his father had demanded he leave at once. Kai hadn’t even had the energy to use the transportation portal between the two estates. Over a week now since he had properly rested. He reminded himself again that sleeping on the side of the path would be a bad thing.

  He used a great deal of energy to cross the Veil in a matter of minutes, sometimes nearly half of his reserves if the path was difficult. In his early days of being a sonal, it had not taken as much to go to the human world, and if he’d been traveling to the underhill, he would have simply rested before returning. But now that the energies there had become polluted, the risk was too great. Kai did not want to take such unhealthy stuff into his body or, worse, contaminate his own world. Not to mention the newer threat of assassins. So instead, he wore himself down to this exhaustion every trip.

  Something would have to be done about the Sidhe and their thrice-cursed poisoned energy. And soon.

  Kai slowed as the hairs on his arms stood on end. Had something flickered on the edge of his senses? He dropped his hand to his knife and sent his power sweeping farther ahead, pain shattering in his skull from the effort. As best he could tell through the haze of agony, no sign of life existed beyond the normal assortment of forest creatures, yet he was not reassured. If he possessed more energy, he could cast something stronger. Doing so now would collapse his already-meager shields.

  With the perimeter of Braelyn only a few minutes away, Kai sped up, hoping to make it to the safety of the estate shields before the threat he sensed could show itself. The land guards could search the area to see if they could find anything. Besides, the energy depletion might be messing with him, jumbling up his perceptions.

  A rustle of fabric and quick jolt of power were his only warnings. Out of reflex, Kai drew his knife, but it was too late. The slide of the blade under his ribs brought a new kind of agony, and energy slipped from his body as steadily as blood. He fell hard, each gasp of breath twisting the knife ever deeper into his flesh.

  Hands closed around his shoulders, and his world tilted. Rough bark bit into Kai’s back. He could see little this deep in the shadows, but a form hovered above him. Tall. He tried to pull energy from his surroundings, but what was left of his reserves was gone, dispersed by the blade in his side.

  Must be steel.

  “You’ll make a nice warning,” a deep voice murmured. “If you manage to live, tell your lord this: leave Sidhe business to the Sidhe. If not, well, let’s hope he figures it out, hmm?”

  Kai attempted to rise, to fight, but he couldn’t get his limbs to move. The stranger chuckled, then disappeared in another swirl of fabric. Kai blinked, trying to clear the sweat from his eyes, but he could make out nothing but the forest. Gone. He struggled to breathe as the trees swirled around him.

  So near Braelyn, but not close enough. He’d never be able to send out a mental call to Lyr from this distance. Miaran. He couldn’t even pull up enough energy to call the closest land guard. Kai’s eyes drifted closed, and he let his head fall back against the tree. Agony screamed through him, a match for the fear pounding his heart.

  Not just for himself, but for Arlyn.

  Arlyn woke screaming. Her hands darted to the source of pain along her left side, but her skin was smooth with no sign of injury. She struggled to draw breath, to make sense of the sudden agony. Frantic, she searched the room, still lit by the mage light she hadn’t known how to extinguish. No one there. No tormentor to account for the pain gripping her. She lifted a shaking hand, certain there must be blood even if she couldn’t find a wound. Nothing.

  The door slammed open, and Lyr rushed in, Lynia just behind. They scanned the area as she had before taking in the sight of her writhing form. Lyr ran over to the bed. “Arlyn, what is it?”

  “I…don’t…” she said, trying to pant through the unrelenting pain, “know. No blood. No wound. But my side…”

  Lyr pushed her hands away and pressed down where the wound should have been. “Does that hurt?”

  “No different.”

  “It is not her pain.”

  Her grandmother stepped closer. “What do you mean?”

  “She is soulbound. We have to get to Kai.”

  “Kai?” The elder frowned when she noticed the necklace Arlyn wore. “Gods. When did he have time? Well, never mind that. Teach her to control it.”

  “I’m not sure she can with the bond incomplete.” He brushed Arlyn’s hair from her face with trembling fingers. “The healer can put her to sleep while I go find Kai.”

  Arlyn grabbed his wrist. “Take me with you.”

  “Do not be ridiculous. I doubt you could walk.”

  Her grip tightened. “You will find him faster with me. I can sense where he is.”

  “Arlyn—”

  “I think they used steel.”

  “How could you know such a thing?”

  “I…” She panted around a surge of pain. “I’m not sure. An impression.”

  With a curse, Lyr gathered her in the blanket and lifted her in his arms. At least moving her physical body did not increase the pain. Though it made no logical sense, she would allow nothing to stop her from getting to Kai. The link she’d believed imaginary clearly wasn’t.

  When they reached the outside, Lyr’s men surrounded them. He paused, looking at her expectantly. It took her but a moment to trace the link and gesture toward the forest to the west. “That way.”

  Arlyn closed her eyes against the swirling of the stars above. Apparently, Lyr was not an idle lord. When she dared to look again, he was running full out, though his expression showed no sign of strain. Only a worried frown. His gait as he sped through the trees was so smooth she was barely jostled. Stories of elven strength and grace given life.

  A faint voice broke into her thoughts. “Arlyn?”

  Another wash of agony came with it, taking her
breath. When some of the pain cleared, she looked for the mental path. “Kai?”

  It took him so long to answer that she assumed she had gotten the connection wrong, but when his voice returned, the pain flowing through their bond seemed muted. “Yes. I sense you nearing. Do not come alone.”

  “Lyr is with me, along with some guards. What’s going on?”

  “Surprise attack. Tell him to contact me. I am too weak to contact anyone but you.”

  “Lyr.” He looked down at her when she spoke but did not slow. “I just spoke to Kai. He said he does not have the energy to contact you himself.”

  “That weak? Miaran.” He fell silent, then, likely seeking out Kai himself.

  A few moments later, a new flash of pain seared her side, and her body jerked as she stifled the scream. Blind with it, Arlyn motioned to the right, following the invisible line that linked her to Kai. “Hurry.”

  After cutting off the link to Lyr, Kai braced himself to pull out the blade. He would have left it in until he reached a healer, but the steel was more of an issue than the wound itself. Already, the poison of the metal seeped into his body in a slow burn. At least his allergy was relatively mild. His body would heal almost as fast as with any other injury, but not if he left the metal in the wound. The longer the contact, the harder it would be to heal by magic.

  With one hand, he ripped the sleeve off his tunic and wrapped it around the blade where it met flesh. Then he grabbed the hilt with the other and pulled. As his body exploded in fresh agony, he pressed the fabric down tight, knowing it would do little good. The cloth was already growing slippery with the blood soaking through. He tried to block the pain from Arlyn again, but his strength had ebbed too much. For the first time, feeling his life pooling on the ground and knowing he was too weak to stop it, he accepted that he might die.

  But the worst part? He’d been stupid enough to start the bond. Incomplete and tenuous as it was, Arlyn might be pulled with him when he died. Kai’s throat convulsed around a moan. He had to try to contact Lyr again, tell him to take her far away. Maybe distance could save her. He’d gladly give up his own slim chance of survival to keep from taking her with him.

  “Don’t you think highly of yourself?” Arlyn’s voice interrupted, making him jump. How could she read his thoughts so soon?

  “You heard that?”

  “You were practically shouting. I’m sure everyone heard.”

  “No, Lyr would have said something. Probably would have shielded me, too.” He struggled to keep his shaking hand pressed against the wound. “Are you near?”

  They appeared out of the darkness before she could answer, mage light illuminating Arlyn bundled in Lyr’s arms. Five others ringed him and began to cast in an arc around them in an attempt to break the attacker’s invisibility, but the assassin was probably long gone. His warning had been well delivered. With a groan, Kai glanced up to see that Lyr had set Arlyn on her feet. She sank down beside him, heedless of the pool of blood. Her energy flowed around him, soothing, though it could barely bolster what he’d lost.

  “Go, Arlyn. The farther away you are, the less likely you will be pulled with me.”

  Lyr stooped down beside him and examined the wound, then blanched. “Great gods, Kai, why haven’t you stopped the bleeding? Your allergy is certainly mild enough.”

  “No energy left.” He lost focus, using the power he’d gained from Arlyn to search inside himself. “Think it nicked my stomach, maybe a kidney. Missed heart. Can’t just seal outer layer.”

  Lyr’s jaw clenched. “I’ll give you energy. Your healing gift is mild, but surely—”

  “Won’t be enough.” Kai’s eyes slipped closed. He tried to open them again, but it was too much effort. “Not enough personal reserves to convert it. If Arlyn knew…”

  “Knew what?”

  “Energy that passes along a taenac, a soulbond, is more useable. Something in the link,” Lyr answered for him. “But it takes a great deal of training to learn how to transfer power that way.”

  Her gaze filled with resolve. “I can try.”

  “Just go,” Kai whispered. “Please. All of this is my fault. I’ll not…” His voice trailed off as he struggled for air. Each pant seared his side like a brand, and he heard Arlyn gasp with the echo of it. “Please.”

  “No.” He forced his eyes open and focused on her face. Frowning, she shook her head. “If anyone or anything is going to kill you, it’ll be me.”

  He smiled at her words. A blessed bit of numbness spread through him, and his hand dropped to his side. The cloth went lax against his wound. “I fear not.”

  Lyr placed a hand on her shoulder. “Arlyn—”

  “No!” Arlyn grabbed Kai’s arm.

  Then the world exploded.

  Lyr’s groan reverberated against the cold floor as consciousness slammed into him. Had there been an earthquake? It took a few heartbeats to realize that a hand, and not the earth, shook his body. He twisted, trying to see over his shoulder, and caught sight of his mother, eyes wide and face drawn. What had happened? The last he’d seen her—

  Arlyn. Kai. The injury. Lyr shoved himself up to sitting and looked around. How had he gotten to his daughter’s bedroom? An arm span away, Arlyn slumped over Kai, both of them unconscious. With Lyr awake, his mother rushed over to them and reached out, then pulled her hand back with a hesitant frown. “What happened?”

  “Kai was stabbed.” Lyr slid himself closer, every muscle in his body screaming against the action. He placed a hand on Kai’s chest and shuddered in relief to find it still moving, however slowly. When he glanced to Arlyn, he found her pale but breathing, too. “Did you call Lial?”

  His mother nodded. “Just before you came to. Should we move the girl? I am not even certain you should be touching Kai.”

  “I—”

  The door flew open, slamming against the wall, as Lial rushed in. With deft hands, the healer bundled his long, auburn hair at his nape, tying it as he walked, his gaze taking in the scene. Lynia scrambled back, making room, and Lial dropped to his knees beside the unconscious pair. He rested a hand on Arlyn’s brow, then pinned Lyr with his gaze.

  “Her channels are blasted wide and raw, but she’s otherwise unharmed.” Lial nodded toward the bed. “Take her there for now so I can see to Kai.”

  Stifling a groan from the ache moving brought, Lyr stood and gathered up his daughter’s still form, cradling her against him as he carried her to the bed. Despite the healer’s words, her lack of movement caused Lyr’s chest to tighten with worry. What if she didn’t wake? What if he lost her? One of the last things he’d told her was that he didn’t trust her. His own daughter.

  Lyr tucked the blankets around her and smoothed the hair away from her face. What had he ever done for her? The reasons he’d clung to for staying away from Aimee crumbled around him. He might have had to search for his father’s murderer, and he might have had to take his place as Myern. But, clechtan, he still could have visited. Lyr had let himself be ruled by fear. Fear that Aimee hadn’t fought to come with him because she didn’t love him.

  And their daughter had paid the greatest price.

  His mother’s hand settled on his shoulder, and he lifted his to cover it. For a long moment, she said nothing, though some of his tension eased all the same. “She will be fine. You know Lial would not give you false hope.”

  Lyr snorted, glancing over at the man in question. Lial’s assistant had joined him, and they worked in silence over Kai. The assistant stitched with needle and thread while Lial sat in a trance, energy streaming from his outstretched hands. Lyr’s stomach pitched at the sight of the open wound, and he averted his gaze. He’d been friends with the terse healer for several centuries. If there was one thing Lial didn’t do, it was placate. “True.”

  “How did you get here?” She gestured toward the window. “I was waiting over there when all three of you just appeared.”

  Lyr let out a quick breath, remembering the surge of energy
that had blanked his mind. A transportation spell? But none of them had that ability. His gaze darted to Arlyn, and Lial’s words finally registered. Her channels had been blasted open. Could she have done the spell without knowing how? Surely not. Such magic took decades of study to master.

  Yet here they were.

  “I think it was Arlyn.”

  A frown pinched his mother’s brow. “None in our family possess that talent.”

  The glow faded from Lial’s hands, its absence drawing Lyr’s attention. He let out a long breath, bracing himself, and left his mother with Arlyn while he spoke with the healer. Steps slow, Lyr approached, throat tightening to see the healer’s pallor. Was the news so dire, or had the healing needed that much effort? Lyr ran a hand through his hair, dislodging the tie that held it. It could be both.

  After a long, shuddering breath, Lial’s eyes opened, focusing on Lyr. “I’ll not lie to you. He is still at great risk. The wound is barely knit.”

  Lyr’s hand tightened, pulling at his hair. “Barely?”

  “The knife was steel. It leaves less iron in the wound, and I have no allergy.” Lial motioned to the stitches binding Kai’s side. “But his weakness to the metal makes it difficult to heal him with magic. Even with all I expended, the wound is grave.”

  “Will he…” Lyr swallowed around the lump in his throat. “Will he live?”

  “Likely. But nothing is certain.”

  Lyr sent up a quick prayer to Bera. “What about Arlyn?”

  “The girl?” Lial pushed to his feet, then swayed for a moment before he could stop himself. “I’ll see to her.” The healer glanced over his shoulder. “Elan, monitor Lord Kaienan for any signs of weakening.”

  “No,” Lyr answered, then shook his head at Lial’s raised brow. “I mean, yes, watch him. But I was going to say that Arlyn is bound. She and Kai. If he dies, she’s at risk.”