by Candy Crum
She swallowed hard, starting to wonder if she was bonding with the mama tiger. But then, what about the baby? He was growing very quickly, and she had seen flashes from his point of view as well. As far as she knew, no one had ever had two familiars—one could only bond with a second animal after their first familiar had passed.
Arryn had been told what it was like to have a familiar, but she had never been told in detail what the bonding process was like. Was it different for everyone? Had she used more magic on them than she thought?
She shook her head, telling herself that was it. She’d used more magic than she’d thought to soothe the animal, somehow giving her the ability to see through her eyes.
To hope for anything else was both terrifying and thrilling.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Fresh meat and even more rest had gone a long way toward making Arryn feel normal. Not just normal, but strong. She could feel no difference in herself today than from the day she had been taken from Arcadia.
It felt as if she had finally regained not just some, but all her strength. Something about the tigers, the cave, restful sleep, the warmth; all of it together had brought her back to where she needed to be.
Now, it was time to get ready to go home.
Arryn had spent the previous night sleeping next to the tiger and her cub again. When she awoke, the cub looked to be a couple inches bigger still, and the mother had grown several as well. Looking at them from across the cave, there was no denying it.
The mother had been fully grown, so under normal circumstances it would have been impossible for her to have grown any more. She was now large enough that Arryn could safely ride her if the big cat would allow her to do so, and the cub was growing at a rapid pace, too.
Males were always bigger than females, so she wondered if he would be even bigger than his mother.
The animals in the Dark Forest changed in various ways when they bonded. Some of them grew more intelligent. Some of them changed colors, even taking on colors that were unnatural such as pinks or even blues, like Luna’s—Nika’s familiar—blue-grey coat.
They weren't vibrant, but you could definitely see them in the sunlight. There were a few that changed size. Luna had also been one of those, but it hadn't been much. Only Zobig, Chaos, and Echo had changed so greatly in size.
It now appeared that she had not one but two familiars, each of them growing at a rapid pace. Part of her still refused to believe it. She didn’t want to jump the gun and think something had happened that hadn’t. It would only depress her when it came time to leave.
Still, she couldn’t keep herself from wondering if it might be true. It made sense to her that she would have bonded with the cub, since she'd used her magic on him. She was unsure what had happened with the mother.
But they belonged here in the mountains. This was their home. Would they want to leave? Would they want to travel somewhere they were unfamiliar with? Was it fair for her to ask them to? She decided the best answer was to wait it out during the rest of her stay and do her best to test it before getting her hopes up.
Arryn had waited for so long to have a familiar. Deep down, she hadn’t believed it was possible. She'd never been told how the process worked. Hell, she didn't even know how Cathillian and Echo had bonded. She only knew bonds existed, and that she hadn’t previously been able to seal one.
The mama was lying across the room, bathing her cub when Arryn made her way to the mouth of the cave. Her goal was to use only enough magic to teleport small distances, and today she was focusing on accuracy.
She was at full strength, so she was confident she would be able to hit her target. If all went well, she would get some rest that night and head down the mountain the following day—maybe the day after.
All she would require was sunshine and a cloudless sky. If she could view the terrain below her, she could map out exactly where she needed to land.
The question was, would she be teleporting alone?
Arryn stood just outside, both tigers watching her with curiosity. She felt the swell of her magic around her as her eyes turned black. The mama tiger stood, seemingly nervous about what was happening.
She began pacing back and forth at the back of the cave where they had rested. As soon as Arryn felt confident, she stared at a place on the ground a few feet from the large animal and allowed the magic to consume her.
Everything blacked out around her for just a moment before she reappeared inside the cave in exactly the spot she’d aimed for. She had only a moment to be excited before she was pummeled to the ground by the tiger.
The animal began sniffing her all over, concerned for her and checking for wounds. When she was satisfied Arryn was safe and sound, she began licking the side of Arryn's head, making her hair a disgusting mess.
"I'm okay! I'm really okay," Arryn assured her, doing her best to shove the tiger away but failing miserably. "What's wrong? You’re acting like a crazy mom. I'm fine."
Arryn felt something: an emotion that wasn't her own. Fear. Worry. The tiger had seen her disappear, but had no idea where she'd gone. Having Arryn leave her line of sight like that scared her.
When Arryn realized what had happened, she pushed a small amount of magic forward to make sure the tiger could understand her words. "I'm fine. It's magic. It's how I'm going to get off this mountain. I have to get back home so I can save my city."
The tiger grumbled as she sniffed Arryn some more. Arryn could feel her confusion.
Arryn thought for several moments, trying to find a way to explain it to her so she would be able to relate to it. Finally, she came up with the best example she could find. "The lycanthrope that attacked your cub… Had I not been there, he would've died. You would've wanted to kill that lycanthrope for that had I not done it already, right?"
The tiger grumbled, nodding though Arryn wasn't completely sure she understood what she was conveying by nodding or shaking her head. Regardless, she felt confirmation through the temporary connection.
"There's a woman where I'm from who's killing people. Innocent people. People who did nothing to her, just like your cub did nothing to that lycanthrope. He was its prey. This woman treats the entire city like prey. I have to practice my magic so I can get strong enough to go back and stop her."
The tiger curled her lips back over her fangs, a growl rattling in her chest. Though Arryn couldn't understand the sound, somehow it was translated for her by the magic. “You want to kill her?” had more or less been the question.
Arryn nodded. "She needs to die. I don't like violence, but I will not allow her to live after all she has done. She has tortured people to death and threatened so many more. She brought me up here to die. Had it not been for you, I would've died. It will be her life for the many!"
The tiger backed away and allowed Arryn to stand. She brushed herself off and look at the big cat.
They stared into one another's eyes for a moment. "I'm gonna have to name you if the bond is really happening, but I can’t yet. I can’t let myself get attached to you yet. And I won't force you from the mountains. When it comes time for me to leave, if I’m sure we’re bonded, we’ll go together. But if I don’t know without even a shred of doubt, I’m leaving you here. I don't know if I necessarily believe we are bonded. I’ve never had one, though I've always had an affinity for talking to animals, but I've never felt this close to another animal before. I've never been able to communicate this easily, so this must be a bond."
Arryn took the tiger’s head in her hands and leaned over, kissing the cat between the eyes as she scratched her jaws. After a moment, she pulled away and walked back toward the entrance. "Now, lay down and relax. I have some practicing to do."
***
Talia paced back and forth in the Academy basement, drinking mystics’ brew by the mug. The brew wasn't doing much good, and she wished she'd had the foresight to get something stronger.
As she heard footsteps coming down the basement stairs, she closed her eye
s and sighed, her entire body slumping. The entire reason she'd hid in the basement was so no one would bother her. She’d wanted to be alone to brood over the latest failure.
Scarlett appeared at the base of the stairs. It surprised Talia that she wasn't smiling. For the first time ever, it appeared that she was actually taking things seriously.
"What do you want? Now's not the time," Talia said, a scowl on her face.
Scarlett put her hands on her hips, sighing and shaking her head. "I came down here to check on you. I haven't seen you all day, and that isn’t like you. You’re usually stuck in your office watching everything like a hawk."
Talia's hands went out to her sides and she gave Scarlett the most sarcastic smile she could possibly muster. "And what exactly do I have to watch from my office? Everything is falling apart. Amelia is alive. The remnant are more than likely going to come for me sometime soon. Amelia somehow intercepted the governor of Cella, and now their people are filling the city. I have no clue what is happening with them, but their Guard will be training ours.
“It’s probably only a matter of time before Amelia has them convinced of my guilt, and then the entire Arcadian Guard will turn on us. Jackson and Caydon were arrested. And now, because they were so fucking stupid, people are talking all over the city about the possibility that Arryn might not have been the murderer. I mean, seriously? Where the hell did they get that knife? How could they have been so stupid as to use the same one?"
Scarlett shook her head, pursing her lips as she stayed surprisingly quiet. Talia took another long drink of brew, draining the cup before walking over to the desk and refilling it.
"A noble." Talia shook her head again. "A well-known noble at that. That girl was part of the revolution, from what I've been told. She worked directly with the Boulevard bitch to con everyone at the Academy. After I asked about her this morning, I didn't have the stomach to stick around for anything else. Your hold on the city is failing."
"Indeed, it is," Scarlett said. She walked over to the desk, grabbed a glass, and poured some brew from the pitcher. "It's taken quite a lot of energy, but I managed to get some of the more significant people back under control. Those from Cella will be my next targets, but more people means more power required to implant a simple compulsion. Hopefully, they will be able to convince the weaker minds. We need to make some kind of a move soon, because I'm being stretched way too thin. I’m not all-powerful. I’m not even the most powerful, though I am strong. Of course, I suppose I could send for some friends of mine."
Talia's eyes darted toward Scarlett. "Friends? What do you mean, friends?"
Scarlett shrugged. "I have a few friends I might be able to send for who could help us get the city under control."
Talia turned her full body to face her, her expression something between disbelief and anger. "And you didn't tell me about this, why?"
Scarlett laughed. "You don't trust me now. You haven’t trusted me in a while. Are you really going to trust an entire crew of mystics? Would you have allowed me to bring them in back when things were going well?"
Once Scarlett said that, Talia understood why that information hadn’t been offered sooner. Talia nodded. "You're right. I would have killed you, probably literally. Well, things are different now. We are desperate. Well, I'm desperate. You're definitely right about one thing. I don't trust you as far as I can throw you. I trust your friends even less. But if they get me control over the city, I suppose I won’t complain too much."
Scarlett nodded, taking another drink of her brew. "Very well, then. In the meantime, what do you plan to do about the jailbirds?"
"They need to die." Talia's response came quickly and without a second's thought. She had no remorse in her voice whatsoever.
"Wow. Glad you put at least a moment of thought into that," Scarlett responded sarcastically.
Talia snorted. "What choice do I have? You know as well as I do that Jackson is weak. Caydon is explosive and unpredictable. If I had to guess, I'd have to say it was Caydon’s doing that got them both into this mess. Jackson wasn’t one for disobeying me. Still, his past loyalty is not in question here. It's his future loyalty. The jail is in the Capitol building. If Amelia threatens him just right, we're fucked."
There was a pause as Scarlett studied Talia. Talia wondered if she was trying to get in her head or if she was simply debating the next thing she would say.
"The others seem to think you might be getting a little paranoid. It seems I'm not the only one. Perhaps you should take a step back. Give this some time and think about it. Jackson has been very good to you. If he dies in custody, the others will turn on you."
Talia had already thought about that, but she didn't care. Things were falling apart right and left, and she didn't want any loose ends. "They die. The other twin should probably go as well. Camdon’s no better than that impatient imbecile brother of his."
Before Scarlett could protest, Talia waved a hand to signal she would hear no more of it.
Scarlett replied anyway, her voice coming off annoyed. “I’ll get rid of Amelia myself. I think I have a plan that will do just fine. And I’ll have Jackson and Caydon taken care of while I’m at it.”
Talia nodded before turning her back on Scarlett without another word, silently telling the mystic the conversation was over and she expected Scarlett to carry out her orders.
She couldn't be certain, but she was relatively sure she heard angry mumbles coming from the woman as she left the room and headed back upstairs.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
It had been a long day for Amelia. Bringing in the citizens from Cella and placing them in available homes had been quite a feat. Luckily, there were plenty of empty homes, and more were currently being built in the Boulevard.
Amelia and the governor of Cella had spent quite some time talking, working everything out. He'd been forced into a corner by the remnant, compelled to make a deal with them.
Amelia couldn't fault him—she found she respected him for it. He’d put aside his own safety to buy his people some time. She'd also admired his honesty. He’d told her what he had done, even though he didn’t have to.
While he wasn’t comfortable being in the same city with Talia, he also didn't feel that his people would be safe if they stayed in Cella, which lacked the necessary resources to protect against another attack if the remnant decided not to hold up their end of the deal. Amelia honored Talia's offer, and the two struck an agreement.
Both cities had fallen. Cella had no way to protect itself, and some of the buildings near the southern wall of the city—not far from the entrance—had severe structural damage from fires that had been set.
Arcadia had gone through hell with Adrien, and it had just barely been starting to show signs of healing when the remnant came for them, too. On top of that, whatever Talia had in mind had yet to be revealed. It was a simple decision.
Arcadia needed the support, and Cella needed the shelter and defensive capability.
Everything was agreed upon exactly as the governor and his son Nathaniel had hoped. His people would band together and help rebuild the Boulevard as quickly as possible, bringing all the resources they could transport along with them.
Those who weren't needed for building would work in the factory and help build extra resources—magitech lights, weapons, sinks, beds, whatever they might need.
Amelia had sent Ren with an order for amphoralds—the crystals that powered magitech—for extra weapons like the ones Elon was working on, as well as for the lights that would be needed for the Boulevard’s new housing. Also, the Cella Guard, who were very experienced fighters, would train the Arcadian Guard.
Within a very short period of time, Arcadia would come to life again.
The accommodations were made with the understanding that once Arcadia was back on its feet and under no threat, no less than two hundred men would return to Cella to reinforce its walls, rebuild the homes that had been damaged, and supply whatever resources they
could manage. Amelia herself could not have planned a better arrangement.
Both cities won, both cities lost. They would truly become allies, not only in this fight, but in future battles as well.
The governor had never been a fan of the previous Chancellor, and he had avoided setting foot in Arcadia when he could. But now, an alliance had been forged between the two cities, Amelia having proven herself to him as someone worth fighting beside.
He also vowed that the Cellan Guard—as long as they did not fall victim to the mystic’s tricks—were hers to command as she saw fit, provided it was for noble and just causes.
After a full day of welcoming everyone and making arrangements, Amelia was exhausted. Exhausted, but excited. She felt hopeful. Though this hadn't been her own plan, it had nevertheless fallen into her lap, and she'd made the best of it.
Wherever Arryn was, she hoped she would be happy with the steps she had taken. She also sent a silent prayer that Arryn would return safely.
"You look bored, Mattias," she said to the guard who accompanied her. Given everything that had happened, she never stayed at home alone. She always made sure to have someone inside the house with her, as well as outside.
Mattias smiled. "Not at all, Chancellor. Though, I am wondering when we will get our hands on the Dean."
Amelia laughed. "Hopefully soon. Arryn has been gone for quite some time now. I'd have to say it's about time for her to return."
Mattias' expression turned uncertain for a moment. "If she’s still alive."
Amelia looked at him with a sad but reassuring smile on her face. "I know it seems impossible, but she's not dead. Don't ask me how I know—I just do. I've met people like her, and they are damn near impossible to kill. If she's not on her way back right now, she will be very soon."
The guard smiled and nodded, opening his mouth to say something. He was cut off by sound of his own screams. Amelia quickly joined him, both gripping their heads as pain overwhelmed them. She fell from the couch to the floor as blackness surrounded her.
