Chapter 12
Leaning against the doorway, Connor watched Daya walk away through the forest, Ereven riding her padded shoulder. The fact that the hawk was riding and not flying told him how much she was hurting. How much she was hiding.
His heart yearned to go after her, but honor and duty bound his soul too tightly. He couldn’t slash those bonds. Wouldn’t. Not even for the woman he’d fallen in love with.
After the night they’d shared, he could admit it in truth. He couldn’t claim her the way he’d always wanted, but she was his nonetheless.
Swallowing the thickness in his throat, he forced himself to turn away as she faded from view. Ember swooped in as he closed the door, sailing with practiced grace through the hallways to her living room perch.
He sank into his regular seat at the table and dropped his head into his hands. Thoughts tumbled and warred with his emotions as he tried to force everything to blend cohesively.
Finding a way forward was going to be difficult, no matter what path he took. His family had been in fear and pain, his teammates had died, and two little girls were in trouble. Yet, he couldn’t find it in his heart to regret his time on the mountain.
There was no question where his responsibility would lead him, more a matter of weighing priorities. Giving up when a headache began to bloom, he opened his eyes to stare at his favorite image.
A beautiful carving of a young girl was etched into the top of the wood.
Her hands were lifted in welcome, hair billowing in the wind as she embraced the great owlcat flying toward her.
His lips softened into a smile at the sight, and he lifted a finger to trace over the younger versions of Daya and Neka.
No wonder this seat had once been her father’s preferred place to sit. It had become his too.
Shadows flickered on the wall, alerting him before sound reached him that his sister was approaching. Burying his complex feelings deep as only an experienced and stubborn warrior could do, he let only the positive emotions stream through.
True joy radiated through him as he turned to face his sister. He smiled broadly at her as she walked in.
She looked the same as ever, with her auburn hair glowing brightly in the morning light.
While their baby sister had inherited their mother’s vibrant red hair, and Connor had inherited their father’s golden blond, Celina’s was a rich brown that radiated sunlight with strands of red and gold mixed in.
Something had changed about her in the months they’d been apart. Her shoulders bore less weight than usual, a regal strength emanating from her that she’d been lacking before. Whatever it was, it suited her well.
“Morning, Cela.”
Her eyes filled as she looked at him, relief and joy radiating from her. With a small intake of breath, she lunged for him, throwing her arms around him.
He caught her just as he once had when they were younger, holding her tight. The embrace was filled with years of love. Some of his tension fled as he let the sense of home fill him. Memories settled into place in his mind. Like they’d been waiting for this reunion. He’d missed his family so much.
“You’re wearing Mother’s blade.” He choked on the words, filled with intense emotion.
The dagger was a smaller complement to his sword.
Both steel legacies of their mother’s life and passion.
Celina had refused the inheritance when she’d come of age and taken over their family line as matriarch.
They’d been opposite that way—him taking on everything he could and her only what she had to.
“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.”
His mind finally caught up with all that had happened, pushing him to recognize how much she’d sacrificed and risked to come after him. The evidence of it was in the amethyst dagger on her belt.
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.”
“You survived. That’s all that matters. I’m sorry about the rough healing. I was so worried about you.”
“I’m fine, Cela, thanks to you. That healing packed a punch though. You could warn me next time.”
“That wasn’t supposed to happen, it never has before.”
He smiled as she explained. The shock of the healing had been a bit rough, but it had worked. He wasn’t as distressed as she seemed to think he would be. Daya’s influence, no doubt.
When she paused to take a breath, he motioned her to sit and went to make them tea, forcing down his brewing emotions.
Perhaps she’d inadvertently healed more than his memories. It was as if his heart was waking up after being asleep for too long. He swore it felt different than before, but that could be from the turmoil of emotions he was battling.
“Don’t worry yourself over it, Cela, I’ll be fine. Where’s, ah…?” He came up short on the name of her companion, though he vividly recalled the protective energy the man had emanated.
“Rodric,” she supplied. “He went to get Cass and Sev so that we could plan.”
“Cass is here?” He stopped short with the tea, surprise holding him immobile for a moment. “I know you’re friends but… you got a Wolflumen to come after me?”
Cass was Celina’s best friend, yes, but she was also one of the realm’s fiercest and most secret assets. He’d worked with her once before. The brief time had improved his blade skills immensely. What in the world was she doing spending her very valuable time tracking him down?
“A Wolflumen and two Preddari Hunters,” Celina said proudly.
“Wow. I’m impressed.”
Remembering Rodric’s sharp energy, another thought crossed his mind. Maybe Cass was only partly here for him. She would never let Celina disappear into hostile territory without protection. Especially not with a stranger as her only guide.
“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 gave a surprisingly sweet, wistful smile.
A twisty feeling wove through his gut as Celina talked through the healing she’d done for him with Rodric’s help.
His sister had begun to develop a soul-bond with the hunter, allowing them to jointly use magic.
She practically glowed when admitting the strength of their connection and their growing feelings.
I want that. The deep longing he felt in those peaceful moments with Daya reared up inside him, making his chest ache as if a weight pushed his sternum near breaking.
He glanced over to find Ember watching him with quiet intensity. It wasn’t just Daya, he realized. Ember, Ereven, Neka. All of them together belonged here on the mountain.
He fought the sense of drowning that started to fill him at being torn away from where he belonged. From the woman whose brown eyes drew him home. His soul reached out to be met with the brick wall that encased Daya, reminding him that she was beyond his reach no matter what he desired.
Desperation and yearning seized his soul. No!
“Connor! Are you okay? You’ve gotten pale.”
The familiar feel of Celina’s gentle magic sparked through him, jolting him back to the present. He took a few breaths and the room settled. Her palm covered his wrist on the table.
“Fine, sorry,” he said.
Her concerned eyes narrowed. “Cat would rat you out in a heartbeat if she were here. Even I know that was a lie.”
A short burst of laughter nearly made him choke as their little sister’s sassy smile flashed in his mind. She loved catching them in lies and half-truths and holding it over their heads. She’d earned her nickname—spark—early on with her fiery personality.
“There’s just… a lot going on in my head. My emotions are still catching up with my memories.”
“Of course they are. I should have realized. You don’t have to pretend with me, though.”
“I know.” He smiled because that was true. They’d always been friends as well as family. His life was just a lot more complex now than it had ever been before.
She cleared her throat. “So, where’s the huntress this morning?”
“Daya is out hunting with her birds. Wanted to give us some time alone.”
“Oh, that was kind of her.”
“It was, but she is also a little upset still.”
Celina seemed to catch her tongue and put some thought into the words she finally spoke. “Her defense of you last night was quite… fierce. You’re close?”
Close didn’t begin to describe it. He swallowed back the nauseous pain that rose again and traced over the carved images. “I wouldn’t be here without her. She’s… incredible. I wish things were different. But it’s no use dwelling on it.”
Celina watched him intently, frowning over his words.
He really didn’t want to get into the details with her. She’d see right through him and want to try to fix things. Always the first instinct with healers. And sisters. But this wasn’t something she could fix. It just was.
Before she could ask another question, he forced a smile to his lips. “So, tell you me about your trip to rescue me. This was the longest journey you’ve ever been on. It must have been memorable.”
Thankfully, she was in a gracious mood and let the prior conversation drop, but not before giving him a sisterly look that said I know what you’re doing, but I’m choosing to let you get away with it. For now. Probably because he was recovering from an injury. A small blessing he’d gladly take.
“Oh, it was,” she said. “You know how much I hate to swim? Well, there was this river…”
His smile turned genuine as she told him about the eventful trip she’d taken to find him. He knew the reprieve would be a short one. There were so many intense emotions wrestling inside him, he was barely managing to keep them at bay.