Chapter 22
T aking a deep, steadying breath, Celina composed herself before entering the kitchen. Rodric had gone to fetch Cass and Sev, giving her the opportunity to talk to her brother alone. She was grateful he understood but nervous after how the previous night had ended. Healings could sometimes be rough on the recipient, but she’d never had one go quite like that.
Steeling herself for what she might find, Celina exhaled and stepped inside. Bright sunlight filtered in through the odd cuts in the ceiling and the open window, illuminating the high table jutting out from the wall that served as a dining space. It was an oval shape, with rounded corners and intricate scenes carved into the dropped edge that wound all the way around the table. It had clearly been well and lovingly made.
Connor sat with a mug of tea, his fingers tracing the images etched on the wood tabletop. Though quiet and calm, he had never been able to keep his hands still. The familiarity of that behavior relieved a tendril of unease that had kept a hold on her.
Turning, his green eyes met hers, and he smiled tiredly. “Morning, Cela.”
Giving up any pretense of calm, she lunged the few feet separating them and hugged him. He was alive, whole, and had his memory back. She choked back tears as she held him close, reveling in the fact that he was really okay.
“You’re wearing mother’s blade.” His voice wavered with intense emotion.
Of course he’d noticed her weapon immediately. Warriors. “I had to come rescue you, so it seemed appropriate,” she said. “Don’t ever scare me like that again, Connor. Cat and I were devastated.”
“I know. I’m sorry.”
Celina squeezed him once more before letting him go, hand lingering on his previously injured arm. “What happened?”
“Everything that could go wrong, did. With devastating consequences.” His tone indicated that was all he intended to say on the subject.
“You survived. That’s all that matters. I’m sorry about the rough healing. I was so worried about you.”
“I’m fine, Cela. That healing packed a punch though. You could warn me next time.”
“That wasn’t supposed to happen, it never has before,” she exclaimed, shaking her head. “All I hoped to do was strengthen your lifeforce and speed up your healing, like I’ve done before when you’ve been injured. I hoped it might be enough of a boost for your mind to heal itself, too. We got a bit more than anticipated.”
Motioning her to sit, he went to make her a cup of tea. He moved around the space without having to think about where things were, as if it was his own.
“Don’t worry yourself over it, Cela. I’ll be fine, I promise. Where’s, ah…?”
“Rodric,” she supplied. “He went to get Cass and Sev so that we could plan.”
“Cass is here?” He paused, stunned. “I know you’re friends but… you got a Wolflumen to come after me?”
“A Wolflumen and two Preddari Hunters.”
“Wow. I’m impressed.”
“I’d do anything to save you, Connor.”
“I know, and I appreciate it. It means a lot to me that you risked your life to come find me.” He gave her a searching look. “And Rodric, is he going to be sticking around? There was something between you two.”
“I hope so, yes.”
Taking the offered tea, she thought about all the things she needed to tell him about Rodric, their connection, the future she hoped for. Steam from the tea tickled her nose when she stopped suddenly. Our connection.
“Of course, how could I not realize?” she murmured.
“Realize what?”
Shaking her head, she smiled. “Not what, who. Rodric.”
Connor frowned, tipping his head in consideration. “What do you mean?”
“My bond with Rodric amplified my ability to heal you.”
“You’re already bonded? Does he know? How would that… he’s a healer, too?”
“Yes, sort of, and yes, a physical healer. Although, I don’t think it was his healing magic that helped you. He has some mental magic as well—it’s a long story. We’re not sure the extent, but he’s been able to see memories once before. Maybe the combination allows him to heal them as well?”
“You don’t know for sure?”
“Well, he just found out recently that he has magic. As in, a few days ago. It’s been pretty rough on him. If our bond is deepening, it might be possible that I drew his healing and memory magic through the bond and used it without realizing it. The combination of all three is what saved you.”
She’d been the only one touching Connor, but her other hand had held Rodric’s. The physical connection would have eased the sharing of magic between them. Possibly without Rodric even realizing it, since his internal sense of his own magic was just beginning to develop.
“That’s… impressive. Ancient-texts-and-legends-level intriguing. Way to go, Cela.” Her brother grinned.
Celina returned his infectious smile. “Let’s keep that between us for now. He’s got enough to deal with without worrying over the complexity of soul-bonds.”
They continued talking and reconnecting in the quiet house until their tea grew cold and Connor heated some more.
The words her brother didn’t say about the huntress, Daya, who had rescued and nursed him back to health, concerned her. He’d shared a little, but then closed off, his eyes becoming guarded. She recognized the expression all too well from years of him coming home from secret missions. There was more there beneath the surface that he couldn’t, or wouldn’t, say.
Still, it was a relief to be sitting with him, talking and sharing like they always had. She’d let him get away with the silence for now. Once they were home and he’d had time to recover, she’d press him. Instead, she regaled him with tales of her tumultuous journey to find him while they drank their tea.
Eventually the front door opened and multiple footsteps approached, indicating the others had arrived. Her few moments of peace and relief over Connor’s return to the living were coming to an end.
Cass walked straight up to Connor when she entered the room and gripped his arm in a warrior’s greeting. Introductions between the men were made, then they all gathered at the table, mugs of tea in hand. Celina looked toward Rodric to begin. Her part of the mission was complete. Now, it was time for his to take precedence.
Slowly, he went over the whole story for Connor. “Our best guess is that they’re using this old fortress as a temporary holding facility.” Rodric brushed his finger over the map. “We need to know what other intel you have about these people, and ideally that site, before we move forward.”
Connor studied the map intently, tension in the set of his shoulders as he leaned over the table. “Your instincts about the fortress are good. It could definitely be a holding facility.”
Sighs of relief sounded around the table at his statement.
“There’s a problem though. It's been a while since I was injured. They tend to move the taken individuals every few months, shifting them to new locations.”
“How close are we cutting it?” Rodric asked.
Celina put her hand on his leg under the table. This was what they’d worried constantly over with every decision made along the journey. Had they made it in time to save Brenna?
“Too close. We need to do reconnaissance and move in immediately if we have any chance of getting her out.” Taking a breath, Connor continued, “We don’t typically do this type of retrieval. It’s our policy to rescue those we can en route to the facilities, but we leave the facilities alone. It’s the only way we can operate with any degree of anonymity. This type of operation has never been done before, so I can’t offer much experience from that perspective.”
“You’re still willing to help us? Risk the potential fallout and consequences of going against your military protocols?” Rodric asked.
“Hey, they declared me dead, right? Can’t reprimand someone who doesn’t exist.” Connor smirked before turning to meet Celina’s eyes. “Besides, this is about family. That makes it different. I’ll deal with whatever they want to throw at me once everyone is safe.”
Celina smiled, nodding her thanks to her brother. Though he’d entered the military soon after their mother died, he’d always been there when she needed him. Helping her raise Cat, taking on some of her responsibilities of their family estate, supporting her desire to train as a healer. And now, he was accepting Rodric, and by extension, his soul-daughter, taking on their protection as part of his responsibility to the family.
“I’ll loop Daya in when she returns from her morning hunt. This whole mountain range is her territory, and she guards it fiercely. She deserves to know what’s happening, and she’ll know the best routes for us to take,” Connor said. “You can leave your excess gear and horses here while we’re gone. We’ll have to pass this way again on the return trip.”
“Excellent. You three handle that aspect of things.” Cass nodded to them. “Connor and I have a date with a sword before we go anywhere.”
Connor groaned dramatically. “You’re going to flatten me just for fun, aren’t you?”
“That depends on how well your arm healed and how much of your muscle memory was restored.”
“Welcome back.” Celina hugged him before he left, grateful to have him safe, his mind whole again. She’d remember the piercing feeling of him not knowing her for the rest of her life.
His answering smile didn’t quite reach his eyes, causing a sinking sensation in her stomach.