He would wait until they were alone to call her on it.
“I owe you far more than a bit of energy, Cora,” he said instead.
Her mouth firmed. “There’s a lot to do, isn’t there? Unless you killed your brother and saved Maddy while I was unconscious.”
“We found Maddy unharmed outside the portal.” Ralan paused to let her process that bit of good news first. Then he sighed. “But Kien escaped. He’s probably found a way to Moranaia by now. The guards hadn’t seen him when we came through the portal, but that’s not necessarily a good sign.”
As her forehead creased, her gaze skipped around the room. “The portal?”
“We’re on my home world,” he answered gently. “Moranaia.”
Cora peered at the stone walls of Lial’s work tower. Then her attention landed on Inona, stretched out on the bed with Delbin at her side. With slow steps, Cora eased her way over. She nibbled on her lower lip as she scanned Inona.
“Is she going to be okay?”
“Yes,” Lial answered. “And when you have time, I would love to discuss the method you used. It’s difficult to close an arterial wound so quickly.”
“But she’ll be scarred,” Cora whispered. She stretched out her hand, forefinger extended, but let it drop before she made contact with the now-pale line on Inona’s neck. “Elves almost never scar, especially with proper healing. My method is a clumsy imitation of a true healer’s work.”
“Many true healers would have failed to save her,” Lial said, no hint of sympathy in his tone. “Or her brain would have been severely damaged by blood loss as they worked to close the artery. Fire, at least, is fast. I’m sure she’d rather have a scar than be dead.”
Cora didn’t answer, but Ralan could tell through their bond that she wasn’t fully convinced. He had a feeling she wouldn’t be reassured by anyone but Inona, and possibly not even then. He frowned. It wasn’t insecurity he sensed from her. Regret? He wanted to ask her what was wrong, but he knew she wouldn’t welcome the question from him.
Arlyn ducked her head through the open door and waved to catch Ralan’s attention. “Onaial wants to know how things are going. He’s been waiting to hear word about Inona. Should I tell him she’ll live?”
Ralan smiled as Arlyn used Eri’s word for father. But before he could answer, his cousin spoke.
“I will give Lyr a detailed update on her condition,” Lial said, turning a frown on Arlyn. “You should go to bed, Ayala.”
Arlyn’s brows rose. “You aren’t my grandmother, you know.”
Lial winced, a rare sign of weakness, before his expression hardened. “I am aware.”
“Sorry,” she answered. A hint of regret lined her face. “I didn’t think that through. I’ll just be out here feeling like a jerk.”
As Arlyn disappeared from the doorway, Ralan studied his cousin. What had happened to cause that odd interaction? He already knew about Lial’s feelings for Lynia, Lyr’s mother. Had Lynia rejected him? Had there been an awkward argument?
Ralan had too many of his own problems to find out.
Suddenly, Cora teetered on her feet, and her hand shot out to brace herself against the wall. Ralan stood, but she glared at him over her shoulder. “Don’t. You can’t spare more energy at the moment.”
She was right. He knew she was right. But he didn’t have to like it. “How can I help you?”
“I’m going to have to go home.”
“Cora…”
“Not to Galare,” she rushed to say. “My house in Chattanooga. It’s near a portal to my home world. I can draw from there.”
Lial’s eyes narrowed on her face. “You didn’t bind to Earth?”
“None of your business,” Cora snapped.
Despite the situation, Ralan couldn’t help but grin as Lial got a taste of his own surliness. But that brief moment of amusement was quickly gone. Once again, Cora was correct. Since she had no interest in bonding to Moranaia, she would have to return to Earth to regain her strength. He would have to let her go without him.
“Let me settle things with Lyr. Then Kai and I will take you back.”
Her solemn gaze met his. “We should speak about this in private.”
Ah, damn. This was it. Pain seared him even as he nodded. He’d already guessed that she would want to sever their bond. At least she had the kindness to tell him privately. After he’d messed up her life, it was more than he deserved.
“Fine.” He held out his hand. “Walk with me. We’ll find a spot outside to talk.”
Even Lial found something else to look at as Cora limped across the room. She rested her hand on Ralan’s arm, but the tremble in her fingers told him it was support and nothing more. None of the casual affection that had begun to form between them. His gut twisted, but he held his arm steady, taking some of her weight as they walked out the door and past Kai and Arlyn.
Ralan blinked at the shift from mage light to darkness, abrupt enough that he didn’t notice the dark blue tint to the sky at first. Blue, not black, and he couldn’t see many stars between the branches swaying overhead. Dawn approached.
“The sun must be near to breaking over the horizon,” he said. “Let’s head toward the ridge where we can be alone.”
The forest blocked true sunrise in many places, but there was a spot at the edge of Lyr’s estate, a small ridge before a valley plunged down to the east, where they could get a clear view. The trees thinned enough there that he would be able to see approaching danger without the scouts perched in the forest overhearing their words.
Cora’s steps were so slow that the sky had lightened considerably by the time they reached the spot. Ralan stopped on the smooth rock shelf and cast a small mage light above them. The harsh yellow painted her face in stark contrasts, and he swallowed against a lump of nerves at her unreadable expression. Even her energy felt muted.
“Careful,” he said. “This drops off at the end of the shelf. Do you want to sit?”
She shook her head. “This won’t take long.”
Could she throw away their bond so quickly, then? His heart gave a hard thump. “Is this so easy for you?”
“Easy?” Within a breath, her anger flared between them, so furious and strong he couldn’t believe he’d thought her energy calm. Banked, perhaps, but not still. “Not a damn thing in my life has been easy, in no small part thanks to you.”
“I’m sorry,” Ralan answered. He shifted his arm from under hers and took her hand. “Even then, I would not have wanted to hurt you. I don’t make a habit of causing others trouble.”
Cora snorted. “Don’t you? You’re the type who sees what you want, with your foresight or not, and then makes it happen. An arrogant prince through and through. I’ll wager you’ve caused a fair amount of problems for others without ever even noticing.”
“Of course I don’t,” he insisted.
But memories trickled through to mock his words. Lyr’s face after he’d discovered that Ralan’s faulty vision had placed Kai and Arlyn into peril. You said there was no danger. I trusted you. Ralan had helped to save them, but the error had almost cost them their lives.
And Kai himself after the latest meeting with Naomh. Before he’d stormed out, there had been no mistaking his frustration and disgust. And maybe a hint of hatred. I’m tired of you fucking up our lives with a smile on your face. Keep your prophecies to yourself if they concern me.
Gods.
“I shouldn’t have said that,” Cora said softly.
“No, you’re right.” Ralan tugged his hand from hers. “All my life, I’ve thought I was in control. Should be in control. The future was mine to see and to guide, I thought, and even when I didn’t use my Sight, I believed I knew best. But none of it mattered. I couldn’t save Kenaren. And I didn’t…at the time, I didn’t even Look to see what could happen to you.”
Cora paled at that. “You mean you could’ve seen those strands but didn’t try? You didn’t examine the possibility of marrying me?”
> “You wanted to marry a stranger?” Frustration, pain, rage—all twisted within him like a tempest. “I was an arrogant bastard, okay? I assumed my father’s plan was an idle threat because he didn’t like Kenaren. I gave it no other consideration than that.”
“Well, my father believed your family was serious about the alliance.” Her lips pinched until they whitened. “He staked his entire future on it. Even now, they won’t tell me how they are faring under Orn’s rule. But I suppose you wouldn’t have cared if Orn had managed to force me into marriage. To take my body against my will, night after night, while you lived your life without a bother.”
Each word seared his heart with its truth. “Cora—”
“Have Kai take me home, Ralan.” Cora swiped a tear from her cheek. “I’ll do you the favor of not breaking our bond while you hunt down your brother. Once that is done, come find me. We’ll have it severed then.”
Had he thought losing Kenaren had hurt? Every past rejection, loss, betrayal, failure—none of them had brought the same agony as Cora’s words. His breath heaved out, and he shoved his closed fist to his chest. His heart felt like it was folding in on itself.
Ralan opened his mouth, but the words to beg her to stay wouldn’t emerge. What could he say? She was right. His selfishness had cost so many people. He hadn’t seen Kien’s hatred. He hadn’t noticed Kenaren’s worry or her growing distance, and she’d died for it. She and their child. Then he’d left his father without a seer for three centuries so he could nurse his hurt feelings.
On his return? He’d failed to save Lyr’s mother from her near-fatal fall. He’d sent Kai and Arlyn into danger with a faulty vision. He’d let Maddy stay in Kien’s grip for days because he had been too afraid to perform the blood magic spell.
No, he couldn’t ask Cora to forgive him. He didn’t deserve it. But perhaps if he could accept his fate, he could atone for it all. He would have Kai take Cora to safety. Then Ralan would hunt down his brother.
And face his own death.
How could he just stand there, staring at her with those haunted eyes?
His pain lashed her, a whip that only increased her own upset. But still he said nothing. Cora brushed her hair out of her face with a trembling hand. What else could she do but leave? Her heart twisted as his resignation crossed along their bond. It was perverse, but she had expected him to fight her rejection. At least offer a counter.
Her decision had been pure logic. Cora scoffed at herself. No, she couldn’t say that. Hurt goaded her just as surely. He hadn’t even Looked for her. He might have learned of their bond centuries ago and saved so many a great deal of grief. Orn would not have challenged an alliance with a country as strong as Moranaia. But Kien’s words drifted back to her. Yes, Ralan would’ve had to choose between her and Kenaren, the mother of his child.
Cora wouldn’t have stood a chance even if he had Looked.
She dropped her restless fingers from her hair and took a trembling step back toward the path. “Goodbye, Ralan.”
“Let me help you,” he said, rushing forward to grip her arm.
Cora jerked herself free of his hold. “No. I can walk by myself. You need to find your asshole brother. And when you do? Make him pay.”
Ralan nodded, his sorrowful gaze studying her face. But again, he didn’t speak. As she turned away and started walking, another tendril of energy spilled into her from him. Her trembling body steadied, her steps firmer, but she didn’t offer thanks. Her throat constricted around the words she wanted to say.
Was the pain strangling her chest his or hers?
Maybe with distance, she would know.
The forest began to lighten around her, but Cora barely took note of the huge trees, their leaves blushed in bright colors. She stared at the dirt path, her concentration focused on each labored step. Only when she neared the stone tower did she look up. Thankfully, the two elves who had led them through the portal were still there.
Cora stopped in front of the male, the one Ralan had called Kai. “I’m told you can guide me back.”
He shifted on his feet. “I’ll have to verify that I can. Sorry. There’s a lot going on.”
“Figures,” Cora said.
Ralan’s voice sounded behind her. “Do it. I don’t care if Lyr yells at me again. Or you, for that matter. At least I’m not smiling this time, hmm?”
An undercurrent of tension passed between the two, but Cora was too tired to wonder about it. She needed to get to her home portal while she still had the strength to walk. Thankfully, Kai gave a sharp nod. Then he turned to the other woman with a frown.
“Do you want to stay or go with me?”
“I’ll stay,” the woman answered. “I should probably be here as my father’s heir. Not that I’m very useful in the role, but whatever.”
The last was said with a quick grin that Kai returned. Another interplay that Cora didn’t understand. Where was the female elf from? She sounded more like the people Cora knew on Earth than anyone here. Maybe if she’d stayed with Ralan, she would have found out the answer to the puzzle.
Not now.
“Cora.”
Her heart gave a sad little leap of hope at Ralan’s voice, but she stifled it. “Yes?”
“I left your pack in your car.” His shoulders hunched as he looked away. “If your phone is still in your pocket, call Maddy to pick you up. She took the car.”
“Thanks,” she managed to say around the lump in her throat. “I’ve got it.”
Then she spun away and followed Kai down another trail.
Chapter 24
Though Ralan said nothing to Arlyn, she rushed forward when he started toward the estate. Her soft footfalls kept pace with his heavy ones as they slipped between the trees, but for a while, she didn’t speak. A small mercy, since he knew he would struggle with civility. A mercy that didn’t last.
“I can’t believe you did that,” she finally said.
He glared a warning. “This is bad enough without your critique.”
“Only because you’re an idiot,” she said, unfazed by his anger. “I haven’t known you for nearly as long as the others, but even I can’t believe you would send your soulbonded away without a fight. With instructions on how to get home, no less.”
Heat stole up his neck and into his cheeks. “You weren’t privy to our earlier conversation.”
“I never thought of you as a quitter.”
His vision went as red as his face, and Ralan halted. Arlyn’s eyes widened when he spun to face her. “She lost everything because of me. Her entire world. And I didn’t know because I’m too damn selfish to pay attention. I fuck up everyone’s lives, just as your own bonded said.”
Her brows drew together. “Kai told me about that. He didn’t mean it.”
“Of course he meant it. It’s what seers do, isn’t it? Hell, I almost got you both killed.”
She scoffed. “Sure, Ralan. Because seeing possibilities is totally the same as creating them.”
He ground his teeth. “If I had Seen the threat, you would not—”
“We probably wouldn’t have gone,” Arlyn interrupted. She lifted a brow. “My father would’ve argued to his last breath against it. Kien’s spell would have been completed, causing gods know what kind of damage. Kai wouldn’t have found his real father. I mean, being held inside a stone wall doesn’t really make my top ten list of life experiences, but it turned out okay. Maybe there’s a reason you can’t yet See.”
Unease slithered through him. There was truth to her words, and if she was right about that, had he been foolish where Cora was concerned? He thought back to Cora’s closed, angry expression when she’d told him to return to her to have their bond broken. Maybe not. It would be easier this way in any case.
If she hated him, she wouldn’t be devastated when he died fighting Kien.
“She insisted we have the bond severed once my brother is defeated,” he merely stated. Arlyn didn’t need to know the rest.
�
�I’m sorry,” Arlyn said.
“Me, too.”
Ralan propelled himself forward by force of will. He didn’t want to see the pitying expression no doubt pinching Arlyn’s face. Her relationship with Kai had started off rocky, but they’d resolved things. There would be no resolution for him and Cora save death.
The guard at the door to Lyr’s study stepped aside without a word. Ralan slipped into the narrow passage that connected the study to the rest of the house and blinked as his eyes adjusted to the light. Then he strode into the room, his gaze going immediately to his daughter.
Eri sat in one of the chairs beneath the skylights. Her fingers twisted knots in her nightgown, and her dangling feet swung back and forth. When she glanced up and saw him, her eyes widened. Tears welled, and he steeled himself against them. His heart wasn’t in the lecture he needed to give, but such was parenting.
He looked toward Lyr, who leaned against his desk, his arms crossed and his face twisted into a scowl. “Any sign of Kien?” Ralan asked.
“Nothing,” Lyr said. “There hasn’t been the slightest ripple in the wards. But we both know that means little.”
Arlyn, who had followed him, walked over to her father. “Should I wake Selia? She might have insight after working with that assassin’s cloak.”
Lyr nodded, and his expression softened. “Good idea. Thank you, love.”
She leaned forward and gave her father a quick peck on the cheek before rushing away. Despite everything, Ralan’s heart warmed at the sight. A couple of months before, the two hadn’t even met. Lyr still privately expressed guilt at not knowing of Arlyn’s existence sooner, but they were forming a solid bond now.
The swishing of Eri’s feet caught Ralan’s attention, and he spun to face his own daughter. Then his brows rose at the anger in her eyes. “Don’t give me that look.”
“You sent my new mother away,” Eri said, her voice warbling. “Of all the strands, you picked that one.”
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