Chapter 7
W hen Rodric was a teenager, first out hunting on his own, he had reveled in his freedom. Running from the black cloud of suspicion and rejection hovering over his family was so much better on the back of his horse as he raced through the woods over fallen logs and under weeping branches. The forest was vast and filled with so much to explore—enough for a lifetime—and that was exactly what he had decided to do.
Slowly, the laws and life of the hunter replaced those of the noble house in which he was raised. He became not just a hunter, but one of the Preddari—an honorable warrior, fierce hunter, and renowned tracker. Trusted and respected by his fellow Preddari brothers. His fear and grief had dwindled to the faintest trickle flowing through him as he embraced this part of himself, built a life free of the weight of his heritage and history.
One day, he was racing with pure abandon as Zora weaved through the trees at a dizzying pace and was slammed to the ground by the heavy branch of a yolun tree. It came out of nowhere, stealing his breath and leaving his mind blank for a few moments of expectant, floating silence. Until the pain struck with the power of a thunderstorm, rolling through him to leave a trail of lightning in its wake. His broken ribs had monitored every movement of his lungs, making him pay for every precious breath of air he pulled in, keeping him still until Zora returned to find her fallen master staring at her from the forest floor.
Another unexpected branch hit him now, with the words Celina is a healer. Shock froze his mind as he followed Celina up the stairs, leaving him completely blank and floating. He mindlessly entered the room, the words reverberating through him in the deafening silence. He was only vaguely aware of Morgan and Sarai in the room with him, his gaze following Celina like a beacon.
“You’re right, something is wrong with him. Sarai… I think you might be a healer.” Celina’s voice hit him with the full force of that tree branch.
Pain, buried deep for years, erupted from the hidden mines of his soul and gutted him from within.
You’re a healer, Avery! This is wonderful! his mother’s excited voice exclaimed. Laughter and high-pitched cries of joy pierced his mind, pictures of his mother dancing with Avery around the kitchen, celebrating the discovery of her magic.
“What? How?” Sarai’s worried eyes snapped to Morgan, who looked only slightly less surprised than his soul-daughter.
Rodric absently rubbed his thumb over the fingers on his left hand, tracing the long-healed wound that had almost ruined his chance to train as a warrior. Their dog had run through, jarring him as he wielded a kitchen knife, causing red blood to soak into the freshly baked bread from his nearly severed fingers.
“Rodric!” Avery raced to him, fear draining the color from her face. Heat tingled in his skin as her small hands covered his own. A soft white glow enveloped their hands, shimmering and flickering like the flame of a fire as it wrapped around them. They both stared as his hand healed before their eyes, all his fingers becoming whole and intact again.
“Oh, stars…” Avery whispered, before looking up. Pure joy radiated from her in beautiful waves of starlight that were almost visible, reflecting in the morning light.
Their starburst , his mother had always called her. Though he had the same dark hair and eyes that distinguished their family line, his sister Avery had been born with white-gold hair and bright hazel-green eyes. She was a beautiful flare of light in the sea of dark colors common to their people. It had always worried him, the way she stood out, but that was nothing compared to his overwhelming fear at the revelation of her magic.
Staggering backward, he found the wall and gave it all his weight as he tried to breathe. His vision wavered out of focus, imposing Avery’s image over the young girl before him.
“Sarai, I think you were helping him all this time, keeping his symptoms at bay without even realizing it. When they separated you, and he stopped receiving that healing energy, an infection set in,” Celina said.
“But… I’m not a healer. I was caught for dream walking.” Sarai’s ears turned red in a deep blush as she described how her magic had initially been discovered. She swallowed hard. “I can’t have more than one magic ability, can I?”
“It’s true that people usually only have one type of magic. But they might have multiple abilities within that same category. Dream walking and healing are both potential abilities of someone with Spirit Magic. It is possible you have both abilities. Your healing magic didn’t have a reason to develop until Aiden needed your help, so it stayed dormant. Dream walking is quite rare, and usually a smaller talent. I think healing is actually your core ability.”
Understanding dawned on Morgan’s face, and he grinned like a proud guardian. Sarai sat stunned, her lips parted slightly in shock. Celina smiled at them both before turning to look at him, deep concern transforming her beautiful face as she assessed him. She was right to worry.
Jagged pieces of grief tore through Rodric as he tried to swallow, eyes burning. Fear and heartache over finding Brenna missing swirled, mixing with the old pain to ravage him.
No. He shook his head as Celina began to reach for him. Needing her, yet not ready for her. Not here, not now. He flattened his hand against the wall and pushed his feelings down and out with every breath of air, repeating the words in his mind. Not here, not now.
Unable to look at Sarai, whose hazel eyes were shining with a familiar joy, he focused on Celina. Auburn hair weaved tightly against her head. Back strong and straight as she sat near the bed, hand settled comfortingly on the sick boy’s arm. Slowly his vision settled, along with his heart, as he listened to Celina’s voice explaining the universe of magic to the new healer.
“There are different types of healers. Some can mend bones, knit skin, and fix injuries. Others can heal infections or other natural illnesses or inflammation. A very rare few, like me, interact with someone’s lifeforce and strengthen the body’s natural healing abilities. There’s a small chance you’re like me, but I think it’s more likely you’re able to heal infections.”
Oh, Avery. Rodric sucked in a breath, torn between fear, old pain, and morbid curiosity to know more about his sister.
Sarai nodded, thoughts chasing across her face as she processed the news. “How do we do we help him? I don’t care what I am as long as I can help him.”
“Believe me, I understand.” There was a wisp of memory in Celina’s voice as she spoke, the slight extra weight of emotion deepening her natural tone. “Once we start, I need you to do exactly what I tell you. Healing can be very dangerous, because we use our own lifeforce to power the healing magic we send to our patient. That’s partly why healers often work in tandem—so that no one burns out.”
Emotion reared again, making Rodric’s heart jerk in his chest. Celina’s worried eyes found his again, and the sparkling blue of the Eldrin ocean washed over him in soothing waves, until his heart calmed and settled into a normal rhythm. With great effort, he banished his memories back into the hidden traps he had built to keep them safe from the world and locked them tightly.
For the moment, he forced his mind to focus closely on the people in the room, letting them anchor him to the present, banishing Avery’s sad smile, her blood-drenched hands.
Morgan squeezed Sarai’s shoulder, drawing her full attention. Rodric could see the worry in the slight dip of his eyebrows and hear it in his solemn tone, could tell that he knew. Knew the dangers, the risks, of letting magic run wild. Rodric wanted to yell at him to stop the process, to not let Sarai use this magic, to protect her from it, but his voice was still frozen in his throat.
Balancing on the balls of his feet, the warrior spoke confidently to his soul-daughter. “You’re going to do great, starshine. Just promise me you’ll listen to Celina. I know how much you want to save him, but I don’t want to lose you too. Your life is just as important.” He touched her face, tucking her long hair behind her ear. Tears shimmered in her eyes but didn’t drop. “No solo charging once you get in there. Work with Celina and don’t overdo it. Promise me, Sarai. Or I will toss you over my shoulder and haul you out of here quick as a falcon flies.” Morgan smiled slightly and winked at her. “You know I can.”
Sarai’s light laugh bubbled through the room, breaking the tension, and she wiped her eyes, smiling at some shared memory. “Okay.” She took a deep breath and nodded. “I promise.”
“Good girl.” Morgan pulled her close and kissed the top of her head before stepping back to give them room to work.
Nodding his permission for Celina to take over, Morgan settled next to Rodric against the wall. Concern strained his muscles and stiffened his stance slightly, but his energy remained calm and confident. This was a lesson Rodric wasn’t ready for—watching Morgan guide his soul-daughter as she prepared to take the step off the precipice into the dangerous wild that was magic. How could he ever support Brenna in pursuing something that could kill her?
Sarai settled comfortably on the bed next to the unconscious boy, legs crossed under her, and made eye contact with Morgan one more time. Whatever she saw made the last hint of anxiety vanish. Relaxing her shoulders, she sat up tall and straight and looked at Celina.
A very serious young woman filled with purpose took the place of the scared girl from moments before. The gleam in her eyes was so much like Brenna’s when she was stubbornly focused on something that Rodric had to close his eyes briefly to steady himself.
Encouragement and confidence rang through Celina’s words as she gave Sarai a quick lesson on the basics of healing, preparing the girl for what they would attempt. “Magic—healing—is as natural as breathing. Those instincts will always guide you. It may take us a few sessions, but we’ll be able to save him.”
Excitement at her new abilities rolled off Sarai in waves as she beamed at Celina and Morgan in turn. It bounced off Rodric in stark contrast to the grimness curling through him.
Celina was going to heal someone, here, now, just a few feet from him. His insides began to claw as his worries multiplied. The moment of pure innocent joy for the others seemed like the quiet before a thunderstorm started. What if something went wrong? They could easily give too much, put their lives at risk. The lurking danger hung in the air for only him to see.
R odric wasn’t sure how much longer he could stand by and watch Celina grow continually paler by the hour as the boy’s health improved.
He’d only known Celina but a day and was already drawn to her. The hunter in him prowled the room in worry, clawing at his chest with fear, wanting to protect her from the invisible threat.
“How do you do this?” The words sprang from his mouth without conscious thought. “Deal with the magic, the risk?” The fear and worrying?
Across the room, Morgan was sprawled in a chair, head resting on his hand as he watched Sarai with significantly less worry than Rodric felt. Was it just exposure to this that made him less anxious? Did knowing more, understanding all this, help ease the burden?
“Depends.” Morgan sighed as he rubbed his face. “Out in the field, working with teammates who have magic abilities? Just a different skill. It’s more dangerous by nature, sure, but the same rules still apply—knowledge, training, practice. Constant vigilance. You don’t go into battle with a dull weapon, or a partner you’re not completely sure of. Magic is both of those things.”
Morgan nodded toward the healing session taking place a few feet away. “But this? It never really gets easier. That phrase bleeding heart exists for a reason. Compassion, stubbornness, and ability to make a difference? It’s a miracle we don’t have healers burning out every year, every month.” He shook his head, his gaze moving to Sarai again. “I’m getting a binder here as soon as I can to seal our bond. At least then I’ll know if she’s in trouble.”
“You mentioned that before. Does that bond change anything, influence their magic?”
“No. You can’t change what they are.” Morgan gave him an empathetic, knowing look. “A bond creates a permanent link, a connection between two people. It’s not enough to track unless you have that particular magic, but depending on the individuals, strong bonds can transmit emotion—distress, for instance.”
Morgan filled the silence with the history of bonds, describing the ancient practice that bound relationships—mated couples, active warrior partners, children and guardians. Magic only seemed to make a difference in how one could use the bond, not its existence.
A tendril of relief wound through him. At least he hadn’t failed Brenna in that regard, too. Even bound magically with such a bond, he wouldn’t be able to track her.
“I could still have that, even without magic?”
“Even without it,” Morgan confirmed. “I don’t have a drop of magic myself.”
Determination filled Rodric. He’d never be comfortable with magic, but he’d do whatever he could to protect Brenna, including this full guardian bond.
She brought so much light to his life. Coming home had been difficult, living in a house full of too many hard memories. He still couldn’t be there for long stretches of time, preferring the peace of the forest when his soul hurt. It was why he’d handed over the rule of their family to Veron when his father died. But Brenna, her laugh, her mischievous playfulness, brought light and joy to his dark world, reviving part of his heart.
He could do this for her. Do better for her, as her soul-guardian.
Rodric absorbed everything. Twilight glowed outside, streaming faint rays through the window to touch the women. Celina spoke quietly to Sarai, giving her instructions and praise as they slowly made progress on their patient. The fading light made the red hints in her dark hair flare brightly, as if even her hair held a touch of shimmering magic.
Both of the women were fighting hard to save the boy from the fevered sickness that blanketed his brain. He’d been a captive with Sarai and had fought their captors when they tried to hurt and torment her. Morgan’s face had clouded with anger as he’d explained that the teenagers were more at risk for foul play during captivity than the younger children. Aiden had tried to shield Sarai from abuse.
Rodric had blanched, not wanting to hear the atrocities potentially happening to Brenna. Unfortunately, avoiding thinking about that left him to stare at the healing session. The longer he did, the more Avery’s memory tugged at him, older pain rising to the surface.
“Your soul-daughter, Brenna. She the reason you found your way to my protected refugee compound?” Morgan asked.
Glancing up, Rodric found the concerned guardian now pushed aside, making way for the commanding warrior who had returned to the room in the beats of silence. Unease rolled through him as he debated his response. Sitting guard for nearly an entire day with the man had created an understanding and respect between them. A kindred feeling.
He looked at Celina, his beautiful, compassionate enchantress, who was ripping his heart out as she faded away before his eyes, giving her life for someone else’s. Their future was precarious and uncertain, but he wanted her in his life. This was her life. Her people. And… he needed them too. Knew that they would appreciate his situation, whether or not they were willing to help.
“Yes. I came to Calderre in search of help.” He met Morgan’s hard stare. “Brenna has magic. She was taken from her home while I was away. I followed the trail as far as I could until it vanished. I need to find her, rescue her.” He shuddered as pent-up emotion tried to barge out of his soul before he locked it down again. “I didn’t know. About her magic. Didn’t know she was in danger. If I had…” He shook his head, sorrow and regret pricking at him.
“Sorry to hear that. But they would have come no matter what, Rodric. What area was she taken from? How long ago?”
“Four weeks ago now, from the Westcliff region. I tracked them all the way to Barrett’s Forest before the trail disappeared. Thought I might find a way to recover the trail with your… unique resources.” The word magic stuck on his tongue, still a challenge for him. “I can’t track something that’s been made invisible to my eye.”
“No, you can’t.”
“Celina thinks Connor is my best chance to find her. Is she right?” As much as he trusted Celina, her vision was clouded by the need to save her brother, just as his was for Brenna.
Morgan watched him closely. If he hadn’t been keeping such intense eye contact, Rodric would have lost hope of an answer.
Finally, the bear of a warrior sighed and inclined his head.
“Under the circumstances… yes. Other options won’t reach Brenna with the speed you need. My teams are highly capable, but I can’t free up any of my warriors with the talent to recover that trail or track Connor. That’s a rare skill, and the only two warriors I have who could help are out in the field on classified missions.”
“What about private trackers?”
Morgan’s expression soured. “They exist. But I wouldn’t vouch for them. They work for pay and have no loyalty beyond it. They’ll be no help in a crisis.”
“You’d choose to find Connor? If it were Sarai being held captive?”
“In a heartbeat. Freeing her won’t be easy, especially if she’s at a holding facility. In that scenario, which is likely, I’d want either Connor or Cass with me to infiltrate. They’re not trackers but have other skills and abilities you’ll need. And Connor will know where to look. My teams work off the intel gathered by his division.”
Relief washed over Rodric at the confirmation that their plan could work. “I trust that Celina can do as she claims and track Connor’s lifeforce once we’re close, but I need confirmation that he was in the right geographic area to help us.”
Morgan gave a wry grin. “At the risk of Cass murdering me when she finds out I’m allowing Celina to leave the realm with you… I’ll see what I can unearth.”
“Even if it means breaking protocol?”
“Cass and Celina are family to me,” Morgan whispered.
And maybe it was. Had it been Sev begging him for help, he would give anything. Break any laws to help the man who had stood by him without ever wavering.
“Thank you, Morgan.”
The man nodded, then shifted his gaze to his daughter.
Rodric did the same, watching the light fade from the sky as the women continued their attempt to save the boy.
His experience at the orphanage made him certain of one thing. Celina was an honorable woman with a lot of fight in her. She would die trying before she let him down. She was exactly what he needed. He only hoped Morgan could give them a place to look.