From Spirit and Binding

by Carrie Ann Ryan

  It was probably what I deserved, something that needed to be done. Why did it hurt? It shouldn’t hurt.

  “We already know where we need to go,” I said, looking at all of them. “We need to go to the ruins in the southern Spirit territory, just like we went to the northern Spirit territory to find the first part of the prophecy. We need to figure out the rest down there.”

  “Can you leave so soon?” Wyn asked, studying my face. “You need to make an appearance and make sure everyone knows that you’re alive and safe and that everything’s fine. Then, we can go.”

  I nodded at her. “We all do. Because this isn’t about me. It isn’t about any of you either.”

  “It’s not even about me,” Lyric quickly added.

  “It’s all about you,” I corrected.

  “You’re the one with the curse.”

  “Yeah, and you’re the one with the prophecy. It looks like we’re a pair.”

  I could’ve kicked myself just then, but something was pushing at me, and I couldn’t help it.

  “No, we really aren’t,” Lyric said, giving me a sad smile. One that I never wanted to see again.

  “We’ll leave soon,” I said, looking away from her, forcing myself not to look at her.

  “We’ll all go with you,” Teagan added.

  “Not all of us,” Justise grumbled.

  “Do you mind us leaving? Will you watch the court again?” I asked.

  He glared. “Of course. After you make an appearance and let the kingdom know that you’re safe and sound.”

  “And we’ll watch this one here,” Ridley added, nodding at Garrik, surprising me. There was a little menace in his voice, something I didn’t hear often.

  “Yes, we’ll watch Garrik,” Justise confirmed. My two uncles shared a look, and I had to wonder what that was about. But there wasn’t time to find out. There wasn’t time for anything these days it seemed.

  I forced myself not to look at Lyric, to wonder what went on inside her. Because there was a deadness inside me that couldn’t reach out to her—that told me not to try.

  We would figure out what she needed to do with everything. Discover how she could save us.

  And after that, if I was lucky, I’d figure out how to save myself.

  Chapter Twelve

  Lyric

  * * *

  “Are we sure it’s okay to bring Braelynn?” I asked Rhodes as we finished filling our packs.

  He nodded at me, looking down at his own bag, and I just shrugged.

  “You don’t think it’s weird?”

  “Any weirder than actually having a cat who’s a friend that happens to also have bat wings and occasionally spews fire?”

  “The fire. So, I didn’t just imagine the smoke and flames that show up every once in a while when she burps?” I asked, wincing. “Because I didn’t know cats could do that.”

  “She’s not a cat. She’s a Familiar.” He tied up his rucksack and put it over his back. “She’ll be fine. Luken won’t let anything happen to her.”

  The words, of course, lingered unsaid in the air between us. She’d already been hurt before. Now, Luken would be there to protect her above all else. Maybe even above his king and kingdom. None of us wanted anything to happen to any of us. Though we especially didn’t want anything to happen to Braelynn again.

  After all, she had already died once. Somehow, the magic within her blood and the crystal had transformed her into what she currently was. Not that it made much sense to me. Though I wouldn’t trade it. Because she was here. Alive. I’d just have to deal with this new reality. Like I had dealt with so many of them recently.

  “Okay, then. So, Luken has Braelynn. And we’re going to make sure we get to the southern Spirit territory.

  “It’ll be fine. We’re going to use some of the crystal to get us there.”

  “Are you sure that’s wise? I didn’t think we could do that,” I asked.

  “Yes. With the combined power of all of us, we can make it work,” Easton said as he came in, his bag over his shoulder. There was a darkness in his eyes, and my belly clenched at the sight of him. He was here. Alive. And he, at least, looked to be whole.

  I hated the fact that we didn’t know exactly what would happen next with him, let alone us. I couldn’t think about that, though. He was cursed, and that meant we would have to deal. We would break that curse and figure out what was going on with me, as well. Everything would be fine.

  And if I kept telling myself that, maybe it would actually be true.

  “Like we talked about in private before, you’re sure using part of the inner power is going to help the crystal?” Rhodes asked, leaning against the wall. He had crossed his arms over his chest, and I couldn’t help but look between him and Easton. They were always at odds, but I knew it wasn’t about me. After all, Rhodes wasn’t my soulmate, and Easton might not ever be. And I wasn’t self-centered enough to think it could be about me. They had a long history, one that went back to way before I was even born.

  They did seem to like to puff up their chests when they were around me, though. That was getting a little old. After all, we had the end of the world to deal with.

  “I’m not sure of anything, but I thought we already said it’s no longer Lumière versus Obscurité when it comes to us,” Easton said, his tone casual, even though he was anything but.

  He leaned against the doorway, his arms also folded over his chest. I wasn’t even sure the two realized they were mimicking each other. No, they were just standing casual-like, as if they weren’t a prince and a king and fellow warriors. They were just each other’s sworn enemy. Rivals that no longer had to fight each other, a battle where no one knew what was coming next.

  Namely, The Gray.

  I had a feeling we would have more to fight before long.

  After all, we didn’t know where Rhodes’ uncle stood on the line of that battle. He hadn’t contacted us yet, hadn’t sent emissaries or anything to discover where his nephew and niece were. Hadn’t offered condolences over their father’s death. Hadn’t done anything. He had to know that the Lord of Water was dead, as well as the Lord of Air. And yet, he had done nothing.

  And that in itself was troubling.

  But that was a problem for another time. Or for a little bit later, at least. First, we had to get to the southern Spirit territory so we could find the ruins. Maybe then I’d be able to figure out what the rest of the prophecy was and actually determine how I was supposed to piece this realm together.

  “So, how do we keep that promise?” I asked, putting my bag on my shoulder. I was getting stronger with all of this traveling, but even with the magic coursing through my veins and my own Wielding, I was still the weakest link of the bunch. I didn’t want to be, though. So, I was training as much as I could.

  My Wielding training would have to continue while on the road. The others would help, and I didn’t know what I would do without them.

  And since I didn’t want to actually think about that, I didn’t. We weren’t going to lose anybody else. I refused to let it happen. We had already lost so many, nameless faces I had never met, those on the trail, and those during the fight with the Water Lord. We lost Arwin. We lost Easton’s mother. I had lost Braelynn in her human form. And I was afraid that I was going to lose everybody else. Maybe even myself.

  “We’re going to the crystal room. We’ll use that to create a portal. If we rely on our own strength rather than only the crystal, we’ll push our Wieldings through it rather than pulling Wielding from others. Lore messed up the crystal, cursed it in a way, but we’re going to get it back. We’re going to fix this.”

  There was such strength and finality to his tone, I wanted to believe him. Listening to him talk made me feel like everything was going to be okay, and I could rely on him.

  I knew that wasn’t really the case. We didn’t know what kind of hold The Gray had on him or what could happen next. We didn’t know much of anything right now. We would, though.
Because we had to.

  “Then let’s get there.”

  I nodded, tightened my rucksack, and followed the boys to the crystal room. Luken was already there, his sword on his back with Braelynn on his shoulder. She was perched there like a parrot, and I couldn’t help but snort.

  That made me remember Slavik and the pirates. Those Earth-Wielding pirates had been against the crown, and against all who entered what they considered their territory. I knew his second in command was gone, no longer a problem, someone who tortured others and had even tried to kill me.

  I wondered where Slavik was. And what side of the fight he would fall on when it came. Because it would. There would always be a battle when it came to this. It was inevitable.

  Wyn and Teagan were arguing with one another in the corner, but it was just par for the course with them, so it didn’t really worry me.

  Rosamond came up to us when we walked into the room.

  “We must go soon. If we don’t, we’ll miss the time.”

  “Another vision?” Rhodes asked as he went to rub his sister’s shoulder. “They’ve been happening more often than not lately.”

  “Don’t worry about me, little brother. I’ve been at this for four centuries now. I’ve gotten the hang of it.”

  “You may think so, and I know you’re stronger than most people give you credit for, probably even me, but I’m always going to worry about you.”

  “Perhaps. But I’m the older sibling. I should be worrying about you.” She put her hand on his cheek, and the two of them rested their foreheads together, showing themselves as a unit in every way that mattered.

  I was so relieved that Rhodes was alive, that he had survived the fall off that cliff. I didn’t know what Rosamond would have done if she had lost her entire family in one fell swoop.

  I honestly didn’t know what I would’ve done if I’d lost Rhodes and Easton.

  Now, they were both back—one in light, one in darkness. Just like before.

  And now our purpose in the grand scheme of things was to somehow mix the two kingdoms, the light and the dark, together to build something new.

  “Your uncle is securing the prisoner,” Ridley said as he strode into the room, worry lines marring his face.

  Although everybody generally looked around the same age, considering that everyone stopped aging once they hit their peaks in their late twenties or early thirties, Ridley look far older right now. Maybe it was the weight on his shoulders.

  “Prisoner?” Easton asked, and I turned back to Ridley, clearing my mind of far-off thoughts.

  “He’s not exactly welcome since we don’t know his intentions, do we?”

  “You’re not usually the callous one,” Easton said, his voice soft.

  “No, and look what happened when I wasn’t. The Gray got you. The thing of our nightmares took you, and we didn’t know. So, maybe I need to be a little harsher. Perhaps I need to be a little bit more like my husband.”

  “That’s not Justise speaking, he would never say that to you.”

  “No, he didn’t have to. I can read his face. And I know he blames himself, just as I blame myself.”

  “My mother didn’t even know about Lore or The Gray, Ridley. I didn’t know.”

  “Well, we should have. And we’re going to beat this. We’re going to beat all of this. Because I’ll be damned if I’ll lose you. You might as well be my son.”

  I took a few steps back to stand near Rhodes and Rosamond as Easton moved forward, putting his hands on either side of Ridley’s face.

  “You and Justise raised me. Just like my mother. My dad was long gone, thanks to Lore. You were always there. And you’re always going to be here. Just like I’ll be here for you. Don’t blame yourself for what happened with The Gray. We can blame The Gray himself. Now, don’t let Garrik feel too much like a prisoner. Maybe we should let him think we believe him. That he’s truly our friend.”

  My brows rose.

  “Trick him?” I asked.

  Easton shrugged. Then he moved back from his uncle. “Maybe. That might be the best. Because I don’t believe for a minute that The Gray would just let him walk out like that. I also don’t think that Garrik is The Gray’s favorite. Something’s going on there. And while I want to think the best of people, I haven’t in a long time. And with good reason, considering everything that’s happened so far.”

  “So, what’s the plan?” I asked.

  “You go to the Spirit territory and figure out the prophecy,” Ridley said. “We will take care of the kingdom.”

  “And if our emissaries and scouts don’t come up with anything from the King of Lumière, we’ll know something’s up. Well, something’s always up. We’ll be back as soon as we can. Because Uncle Brokk isn’t going to stand by for too long after losing his brother. We all know that he’s up to something. He always is.”

  “Uncle Brokk?” Rhodes asked, his brow raised. “I thought he was my uncle.”

  Easton shrugged. “I enjoy telling calling him that, makes him sound like he’s an old man without a clear connection to reality.”

  “Maybe. He knows more than he lets on. He’s far more conniving than my father ever was.”

  “That just means we have to get back as quick as we can.” I shook my head as I moved towards the crystal. “Let’s get there. Figure it out. And come back.”

  “We will,” Easton said. He came up to me and tucked a piece of hair that had fallen out of my braid behind my ear.

  I looked into his dark eyes and swallowed hard. I was scared. So afraid that I was going to break in the end. And not just from my Wielding.

  Even as I thought that, Fire licked at my fingertips, and I sucked in a breath, clenching my fist.

  Easton looked down and then into my eyes before making a shushing noise as if trying to soothe me. My Wielding listened to him when it wouldn’t listen to me.

  It was hard not to resent him a little for that.

  That I needed him when I wanted to do it on my own.

  There wasn’t time for that, though.

  We made our way to the crystal and got ready for our journey.

  “We’ll link hands,” Easton said, arching a brow at Rhodes as he glared at him.

  Easton took one of my hands, and then Wyn slid deftly in between Rhodes and me and took the other.

  She met my gaze and rolled her eyes, and I held back a smile, my lips twitching. No, we did not have time for the chest pounding the guys usually gave when they felt like acting that particular way in front of me. At least Wyn and I could find the humor in it.

  Rhodes took her hand, and she smiled sweetly at him, but there was nothing sweet about it. It was more snarky. The baffled expression on Rhodes’ face let me breathe a bit easier.

  The others made their way around the circle, grasping hands, and then Easton mumbled something under his breath, his Wielding reaching out to mine. My Fire slid around my right hand and wrapped in a spiral around his, meeting his own. Earth rumbled beneath my feet. Water and Air rolled around me like a tunnel. The others’ Wieldings were doing the same, and then they arched over our heads and into the crystal. Warmth spread through my chest, then moved down my arms and into my fingertips before arrowing down again through my legs and into my toes. It also shot up to the top of my head and settled in the tips of my hair.

  I let out a shocked gasp, and the magic sucked in again. Suddenly, we were no longer where we were. Instead, we stood on the edge of the Spirit territory, a place I had seen before. In fact, it was the exact spot where I had camped with Rhodes and Luken and Emory and Braelynn. We had stayed here before we entered the Obscurité Kingdom the first time. This had been the last place where I had seen Emory as herself before she walked away, following the trail back to the human realm portal and ignoring all of us and what power lay beneath the ground at our feet.

  Then she had been taken. By whom or what, we still didn’t know. And now, she was different.

  I knew once we got back, I needed to
find her. Had to help fix her. I owed her that. Even if she had been cruel to me, she had been changed because of my power. Because of my destiny.

  I wouldn’t let her get hurt any more.

  “Okay, now what?” Teagan said, rolling his shoulders back. “That felt different.”

  “I don’t think the crystal’s been used like that before,” Easton said, looking down at his hands before shaking it off. “At least not with all four elements in play like that. Regardless, it got us here.”

  “And, like you guys said, maybe the crystal will be better for it,” I said, trying to contemplate the whys of that thought. “I mean, the Spirit Priestess is supposed to use all five elements to bring the realm together. Maybe using four elements with the crystal will help bring some stability to it.”

  “That’s a nice thought, and one we can look into more later,” Easton said quickly.

  “Maybe, or maybe it’ll take that fifth element,” Rhodes added.

  “We’ll figure out Spirit when we can. Though I worry, at what cost?” I asked and pushed that thought away.

  “Let’s go, the ruins are to the west. I couldn’t get us all the way there, but I did at least get us to this border.”

  I looked at Braelynn on Luken’s shoulder, and she twitched her ear at me. She knew where we were, as well. There was nothing we could do now. Emory was gone, at least for the moment, and so was part of Braelynn. And maybe even a part of myself. We weren’t the same people who had come to this realm to try and find Rosamond. We were far from it.

  We walked towards the ruins, my endurance level clearly not what it needed to be since my legs were already hurting. Easton handed me some water, and I took the pouch gratefully before handing it back. He just gave me a tight nod and continued walking by my side, not saying a word.

  The silence hurt, even though it shouldn’t. Because the issue between him and me wasn’t the important thing. Then again, maybe everything needed to be a little bit important. Something that hurt this much ought to be.