Chapter 18 #2
Esmyra sucked in a breath. “There’s more, before we even get to that.” She brought her knees up to her chest, holding them tight. Syrena didn’t miss the wince her wounds caused her.
She placed her hand gently on Esmyra’s knee. “What is it?”
Esmyra’s eyes lifted to hers. “Have you ever been compelled?”
Syrena’s fingers tightened faintly around her sister’s knee before she could stop herself. A pulse of heat went through her chest, sharp and cold all at once. Instinct screamed that Esmyra was testing her. That perhaps her memories of the ritual weren’t as sealed as she had hoped.
Her pulse trembled, her mind already running through how to redirect the conversation. “What? No, the only two beings in the realm that have the ability to do that are in this room. And even then, we’re not able to compel one another,” she lied.
Esmyra let out a low hum.
“I had the heir in my grasp. I was so close to ripping the air from his lungs when it happened.”
Syrena’s eyes narrowed as she danced around the subject. “Who do you believe compelled you?”
Esmyra’s eyes darkened, a storm brewing within them. “The mortals are working with an elven female.” Her nostrils flared as her gaze went distant. “And they plan to marry her to their new king.”
Thank the tides.
“Elven?!” Syrena gasped dramatically as she began to pace. “Esmyra, you need to keep a mental shield in place at all times around them.”
Esmyra stood from the bed, wincing slightly.
She threw her arms out at her sides. “Don’t you think I realize that now?
I don’t understand how to do that. I didn’t even think this would be possible.
” Her chest heaved a few times. “I didn’t anticipate anyone else in that kingdom possessing magic.
Now I know not to underestimate them in that aspect. ”
“Well, what did she make you see?” Syrena asked, noting how rattled she was.
If Syrena could figure out her fears, she could use it to her advantage. She knew Esmyra had thrown her fear of love into the flames when they reclaimed their divinity, but what could the elven have shown her? Had it been Draevyn?
Esmyra’s jaw locked and she immediately averted her gaze to the floor. “It doesn’t matter.”
Syrena tsked as she curled a taloned nail beneath Esmyra’s chin, bringing her focus back to her. “It does, actually. I need to know these things. How else would we protect each other?”
Esmyra huffed out a breath. “The elven bitch had an illusion of my father standing in front of me.” She swallowed. “With a blade protruding from his heart. Saying it was all my fault.”
Syrena’s eyes widened, but she continued to listen.
Esmyra bowed her head, looking ashamed. “Everything that happened to him and my crew… it was my fault.”
“Shh.” Syrena tried to sooth her as she pulled her into a hug, rolling her eyes the moment her sister embraced her back. When they pulled apart, they held each other’s forearms as their gazes met. “Did she make you see anything else?”
Esmyra’s jaw ticked, seeming hesitant to answer. “No. Nothing else. Just Cyrus.”
Syrena’s eyes narrowed on her, reading her body language. Esmyra’s teeth were clenched, a sudden tightness around her eyes, as if she was holding something back.
“Are you sure?” Syrena asked, sensing her lie.
Her sister pulled away from her and took a step back. “Aye.”
Syrena sucked on her tongue. It appeared she wasn’t the only sister keeping secrets. “Well good. I’m glad you didn’t have to endure any more than that. You must learn to protect your mind, because that’s likely how they’ll strike again.”
Esmyra lifted her head, silver igniting within her eyes as a pulsation of power skittered through the room. “I won’t let them do it again.”
“Good.” Syrena circled her sister slowly, fingertips trailing lazily along her shoulders.
“You’re vulnerable right now. Emotions will make you reckless.
If unshielded, any elven could walk through your thoughts like an unguarded kingdom.
” She smiled faintly, leaning close. “They’d know every weakness… have access to every fear.”
Esmyra stiffened before placing her hands on her hips. “Then teach me.”
“Close your eyes,” Syrena ordered.
Her sister’s lips pressed together, appearing annoyed, but she obeyed.
“Now,” she whispered, circling again. “Picture your mind as a fortress. Impenetrable walls of dark stone, windows barred. Not even a sliver of light can escape or be let in. Build it piece by piece. Brick by brick until it’s sealed off.”
Esmyra’s brow furrowed. “This seems ridiculous.”
Syrena shrugged. “Ridiculous, but necessary all the same. Picture yourself in those walls, your greatest enemy and only threat just beyond them. If your barricade falters, you will be granted a torturous death.” Esmyra’s nostrils flared. “It’s up to you to hold it strong.”
Esmyra scoffed. “What use is being a god if this must always be in place?”
“Only around elven,” Syrena reminded her. “Now, do you see your shield in your mind? Do you feel it?”
Her nose wrinkled. “I do.”
“Good. Let it bend to your will. Mend itself to your mind, forming a barrier. No one gets through unless you let them.”
Her sister gritted her teeth but nodded.
“Now do it again,” Syrena ordered. “And again. Until it’s second nature. Until they can stand right before you, screaming into your mind, clawing their way into your deepest thoughts and fears, but are met with nothing but silence.”
Esmyra’s eyes flew open, a bit of mischief lingering within them. “I can do that.”
Syrena smoothed a hand through her sister’s hair, coiling a lock around her finger. “The next time that elven bitch tries to crawl into your mind… make her drown there.”
Esmyra’s answering smile was cold and vicious.
Syrena leaned down, lips brushing her sister’s ear. “Now tell me about those velsinyte bullets.”
She needed to find out where the mortals were getting it and how they discovered the use of its magic.
Esmyra blew out a breath and shrugged before flopping back down on the bed, her body bouncing with the movement before prying herself up on her elbows.
“It’s impossible to say how much velsinyte Lephyrin has, but what I can tell you is that…
it’s everywhere. To my knowledge, so far they’ve made bullets, I’m assuming blades, along with cages, and rings. ”
Fuck.
Syrena snarled. “What do you mean rings? What do they work against?”
“Well compulsion for one. But honestly that might be the only thing. It responds to magic, but not physically.”
Double fuck.
“And how do you know this?” Syrena couldn’t help the snippiness in her tone.
Esmyra pursed her lips. “The night I captured Draevyn and threatened the king with his life, I tried to compel him then.”
“Draevyn or the king?”
“Well, both,” Esmyra admitted. “Draevyn was easily compelled. He can’t wear a velsinyte ring because it would suppress his own magic.
The king, though, was powerless. The ring bore no consequences for him.
Only protected him from certain things. He was likely wearing it because of the elven guests that night. ”
“Well, isn’t that just extremely irritating,” Syrena hissed, talons biting into her palms.
“Aye,” Esmyra agreed in that odd way of hers.
“I need you to do something for me.”
Esmyra quickly sat up, brows furrowing as she stared at her. “And what might that be?”
“I need you to remain in Maerinys until this threat is dealt with,” she said.
Syrena needed Esmyra out of her way while she and Azarian waited for the next Moon of Malya in two months’ time, but she also needed her to stay out of trouble until then too. That was when the bonding could complete and Kaelypso would fall to her.
Esmyra scoffed. “Oh, I don’t think so.”
“I command it as your queen,” she challenged.
Syrena certainly preferred Esmyra when she was clueless and eager to please her.
Esmyra’s eyes flared, her spine straightening as her lip curled back. “I have no ruler. I am a god, just as you are.” Her chest began to rise and fall with heavy breaths, her anger radiating from her. “Why would I sit here and do nothing? I have unfinished business in Lephyrin.”
“Well, you can’t go back there. It’s not safe,” Syrena reminded her. “I know you think you need revenge in your little lover’s quarrel, but it will have to wait.”
“I could get information when I’m there,” Esmyra countered. “I don’t care if they have velsinyte. Now that I know, I’ll be careful. Do you plan to just wait here until they arrive at our fucking gates?”
“We’ll be declaring war on Irah and the other gods, but we need to wait until the velsinyte is under control.” Syrena moved toward the door, halting in its archway. “I’m asking this of you as my sister. My life is bound to yours now too, after all. There’s no need to be selfish.”
Esmyra’s jaw dropped, but Syrena didn’t wait for a response before she stormed into the hall.