Chapter 29 Samian
Samian
“She will not be happy about this,” I sighed, walking through the clearing of our usual spot in the forest. Sybil was still in the camp, hidden and kept away from the other rebels, in case anyone saw her and got the bright idea to attack or harm her.
She was safe in Vivi and Ivara’s care—Ezra’s too—while the rest of us scoured the area searching for any beast that may have wandered through after Sybil lost control of her magic.
“I know I should care, but I don’t,” Kieran said gruffly.
“I’m only trying to protect her, as well as the rebels.
If Ambrose catches even a whiff of Sybil’s involvement with us, he will torture her for information.
You know it. Sybil knows it. And I, sure as hell, know it.
This is the only way we can keep her safe while still allowing her to help so she doesn’t run off on her own. ”
I stared at Kieran, my lips pressing together in a thin line. I knew he was right, but only to some degree. “She can break the commands he gives her,” I confessed. “If Ambrose commands her to give him information, she could potentially fight it long enough to do it again.”
Kieran stopped moving, his brows pinching together. “You didn’t tell me that.”
Nodding, I continued, though I slightly cursed myself for not thinking about telling him earlier.
“I found out about it with Aster the night she was taken to the dungeon. Ambrose made a command against using her magic. After Aster healed her, she was able to break the command, though it took a few hours. But if she did it once, then she can do it again.”
Kieran’s jaw ticked. I could see the plans taking shape in his eyes, thoughts spinning as he searched for the best course of action.
“No, it still doesn’t change things. Unless she can immediately break his commands, I will not allow Sybil to put herself in danger like that.
She’s untested and hasn’t had the chance to see how far she can go with her magic.
” Kieran paused, narrowing his eyes at me.
“Is there anything else you and Sybil have been hiding from me?”
“No, dick,” I sneered. “And we weren’t keeping that from you. Ambrose has made no other commands from Sybil other than the prisoners, and we haven’t exactly had the time to discuss everything that happened before Sybil joined the rebellion. It’s all happening way too fast.”
“And today with Cassia?” Kieran pressed, his head tilting to the side, though his face remained blank.
I clenched my jaw, the muscle feathering as my teeth ground together.
I knew he was having a hard time with the distance between him and Sybil.
He said nothing about it, but he had been more tense as of late.
He couldn’t visit the palace often, and Sybil couldn’t go into the rebel camp.
Murmurs had already started calling for her head, for Kieran to take her out of the game while Ambrose was distracted.
“Sybil told you she was going to talk to her, and even though it was sooner than I thought, she made that decision after you left. You went to the Seelie Court; it’s not like we could call you back to tell you what she decided to do.”
Kieran was scowling at me, ready to open his mouth for his next quip, when someone cleared their throat behind us. Sighing, I turned, finding Daelan and Orin waiting impatiently in the clearing.
“What?” Kieran barked without looking at either of them, his focus still solely on me.
“The area is clear,” Orin said calmly. Not even a hint of fear of Kieran’s temper could be found in his voice.
I nodded, moving toward the clearing, leaving Kieran behind.
Kieran followed me, though he kept his distance.
“It’s safe for you to come,” I said to Sybil through our bond.
Warmth flooded through me before she appeared with Ezra, Ivara, and Viv.
Salem was gone, hiding in whatever shadow he could find.
Sybil stepped away from Ivara and Viv, eyeing the clearing around us cautiously.
A smile rose on my lips at her wariness, the way her eyes grew round, while her head turned as if she could see around the trees that blocked her view.
Seemingly convinced that we were safe, she made her way toward me, bouncing on her toes with each step until her body brushed up against mine.
Coming up onto her tiptoes, she pressed a light kiss to my lips.
My hands came to her waist when she was suddenly pulled away from me with a quiet gasp. Kieran glared at me for a moment before looking down at her, his face softening, his hand cupping the side of her face. “Training first, then you can do whatever you’d like.”
“Fine,” she exhaled. “I guess I’m training with Vivi first?”
“You would be right,” Kieran said softly, pressing his lips to the top of her head. “Now go.” His hand fell to the small of her back, pushing her toward Viv and Ivara. Sybil breathed a laugh and jogged toward the two females who stood waiting on the edge of the clearing.
My smile grew, and I followed behind her, giving Kieran a quick snarl as I passed. He returned it, his face pinching in annoyance.
“Where do you think you’re going?” he asked, his gaze piercing my back.
“I am going with Sybil to help her with her magic,” I said over my shoulder. “I am her first mentor, after all.”
Kieran huffed, his steps crunching on the leaves as he grumbled quiet words and walked to where Daelan, Orin, and now Ezra stood waiting.
Stepping between the trees, I left the clearing, finding the females sitting on a patch of moss and leaves.
Sybil twirled a leaf by the stem, her face brightening when she noticed me walking toward the group.
“Room for one more?” I smirked while staring down at them.
“Only if you keep your distractions to a minimum,” Ivara sighed, waving her hand to an open spot between Sybil and Viv.
I chuckled and sat down beside Sybil, though Viv’s stern look stopped me from huddling in close to Sybil’s side. Viv’s eyes told me that Sybil was here to learn and only to learn. I had no doubts the two females would shoo me away if I got in the way of that.
Viv continued to stare at me with narrowed eyes before giving me a curt nod and sliding her gaze to Sybil. “Before we begin, do you have any questions?”
“I do, Solaris…” Sybil paused, her face pinching. “Is she the reason the rebels use a phoenix as their emblem?”
“She is,” Viv said softly. “When our group first came together, we were in complete disorder and inexperienced. We found ourselves in deep trouble at the beginning. We didn’t have a distinctive leader as Kieran was still fighting in the war when the rebellion formed.
Solaris has always had a soft heart toward our struggles and has saved our asses more times than I can count.
She was even the one who pushed Kieran to be our leader once he left the army. ”
“Right,” Sybil murmured, her voice trailing off. A strange air came over her as she stared at the leaf pinched between her fingers. Opening myself up to our soul-bond, a sober emotion echoed through it, a bittersweet melancholy filling her soul.
I leaned over, my lips brushing against her ear. “Kieran and Solaris were never together. They were—are—friends and nothing more.”
A blush bloomed on Sybil’s cheeks, and she looked away from me, hiding her face. I peered over at Viv, who arched her brow in warning.
Right, no distractions.
Returning to my spot, I gave her an innocent smile, my hands coming up in surrender.
“If you’re nervous about meeting Solaris,” Ivara chimed in, “you don’t have to be. She’s very…memorable, but kind. I think you two will get along well.”
Sybil let out a sigh of relief as the tightness in her body relaxed. “That makes me feel better. Thank you.” Sybil straightened, then faced Viv with newfound confidence. “Okay, now I’m ready to begin.”
Viv let out a light laugh. “Alright, let's work on what we did last time. Close your eyes and go back to the place of your magic. Once you’re there, use your magic to take the shape of the first thing you notice.”
Sybil took a deep breath, her eyes closing.
Her long, dark lashes rested against her cheeks as a calm look took over her face.
My heart came alive at the sight of her, so serene, so enchanting.
The moment she eased into the place of her magic, her lips curved into a peaceful smile, taking my breath away.
She cupped her hands, bringing them to her chest. A soft glow illuminated her palms, steadily growing brighter until a small bird made of pure light stood in her hands.
Its wings flexed before taking flight, soaring around us and into the tree branches above us.
Opening her eyes, Sybil stared up at the bird with excitement, a grin spreading across her face. Reaching her hand up, the bird came fluttering back down, perching on her finger. Its head twisted; its feathers shone as it puffed out.
“Good, now another one,” Viv encouraged.
Sybil nodded, her face growing livelier.
She closed her eyes, rolling her shoulders back.
Moving her hands back together, the bird silently flew into the air, hovering above her head.
It watched as more of Sybil’s light glowed along her palms. Suddenly, a burst of light surrounded us, and I shielded my eyes from the brilliance of its shine.
When the light faded, I sucked in a breath, my eyes widening to the sight before me.
Hundreds of butterflies and birds flew around us, filling the darkened shadows of the trees with what looked like starlight.