Chapter 9
VALANCE
My magic withdrew, leaving me with a pounding in my head. Sharp spikes of pain in my temples pushed streams of ache to my forehead.
Danu!
And I lingered at a crossroads.
If I didn’t act swiftly and grab the human, he’d fall. Splatter and break below. Goodness, the height wasn’t survivable.
An accident… Clementine’s suggestion rang in my head from her discussion with Kormac. Did he ponder it, too? Waiting for a moment like this? Only it was him close to death, not me.
My soul bond pushed me forward. I took a few steps closer to him, resisted, the pain in my head magnifying.
Part of the ledge near to where he held himself crumbled away.
So close to falling…
If I just held on long enough, maybe even less than a minute, he’d be gone. This would be over. I could still go north. I didn’t need him, did I? What could I possibly need other than his companionship and his strength?
Another step, the soul bond overwhelming.
No… I’m stronger than you…
…I don’t want…
I…
I…
I long for…
I…
I stepped back, my stomach flipping upside down. I grabbed it, lurch after lurch afflicting me.
“Valance…” the human whispered.
“I…”
It was almost time to be free. This would hurt. I knew that. I felt it in my bones. To be without him would be yet more grief to endure, yet it would be false grief. I held no attachments to this human. I owed him nothing, no matter this screaming magic in my head.
Any moment now…
Any moment…