Chapter 20
Ancient trees towered in quiet protection around the sacred site. Colors flashed as memories clouded his vision.
Leaves sparkling with iridescent colors, shimmering brightly. Delicate blue leaves covering a tree branch. Daya’s deep brown eyes.
He shook his head to clear his mind as he set Opal down to go with the other children. A wild whisper called to him through the trees, tugging him to one in particular. It felt monumental. Familiar. But he was equally certain the sight was new to his eyes.
The largest tree in the circle was split near the base, the two halves entwining into one central knot toward the top of the trunk.
Unable to stop the compulsion, he pressed his hand to the knot.
Power zapped him, searing through him. His hair stood on end and his chest expanded as a familiar presence began to rise.
An insistent pull on his soul made him turn away from the ancient tree. Connor’s breath hitched and gravity fell away. The entire meadow faded from view until all he saw was Daya.
Dressed in a soft gold robe, she made her way toward him. Amber rays of sunset filtered through the trees. The light sparked and danced around Daya, weaving around her as if welcoming her to the meadow.
Her eyes locked with his, and he felt the natural world around them move. The trees, grass, animals all aware of her, reaching out to embrace their guardian. The energy in the sacred space rose and sang with intensity.
Connor’s heart tripped, its rhythm stopping and restarting at a new pace as he yearned for her.
His mate. Whether he ever saw her again after this, there would be no one else for him.
His soul was completely hers. More than anything, he wished he could connect with her just once.
Their souls sang to one another, but the wall around her soul held her for the mountain, separating her from him.
Something other, an encompassing presence, invaded his senses. A shiver of knowing ran down his spine, making him straighten. Everything seemed to hum and spark, the living things around him enriched with a magic he’d never encountered. Hannelore. Its presence, or soul, had joined them.
The opposite of a shadow, everything the mountain’s presence encompassed brightened, glowing to his eye with vitality.
The same thread wound through Daya. Binding.
Infusing her, and every living thing, around them with the essence of the mountain.
Beside her, Veda had a faint tendril of the same light. A connection, though not yet binding.
The weight of observation, of coming judgment, strummed through his veins as the presence loomed over him. Not negative exactly, but not welcoming either.
Daya was so certain that death awaited him if he challenged the mountain, but he wasn’t wasting the opportunity to communicate with it.
Why won’t you accept me? Connor asked, throwing the question toward the presence with intent.
Why should I?
I belong with her. We are meant to be one. He knew it, without a doubt, and pressed that knowledge forward ferociously.
It is not enough.
Satisfaction that the mountain didn’t deny his claim on Daya was tempered by grief and anger, that the admission wouldn’t change their grave future.
I am willing to stay. My sword and shield hers. To do your bidding. He would give up everything for Daya, if he could stay and be hers.
The feeling of observation ran over him again, assessing. Deep disappointment followed. It is not enough.
The denial eviscerated him, encouraging the feeling of failure to permeate his being.
You’d really kill me, if I tried? he pressed.
You would die.
The mighty presence faded slightly as tiny hands tugged at him.
Picking Opal up again, he moved with heavy steps into his place in the circle, on Daya’s right-hand side. Veda took the place on her other side, dressed in a matching golden robe.
Reining in his emotions, he buried them deep.
He didn’t want even a hint to show in his eyes.
This was important to Daya, and to Veda, so it was to him too.
He refused to let the interplay with the mountain influence the evening.
The healing Daya and the mountain offered was a gift.
One his girls and the other children and adults needed.
“We come together now to begin the healing journey.” Daya’s warm voice whispered over his senses as she introduced herself as guardian and began the healing ceremony.
Opening her arms, she raised her palms to the sky.
“We come to the heart of the mountain as a place of peace and healing. Of transformation. And most importantly, of community. The mountain calls us all together.”
Veda’s nervous eyes sought his as Daya continued, looking for support before her role would begin. Her teeth worried her bottom lip.
On an exhale, he smiled at her and winked, trying to project all his love and confidence to her. No one would stop her from becoming who she was meant to be. Not even him.
“Together, in community, we cleanse our bodies and souls of the pain and trauma that came before.” Looking down at Veda standing beside her, Daya indicated she should begin.
Veda paused in her steps and flicked her eyes to his once more.
He nodded at her to let her know, unequivocally, that she had his support to embrace the moment.
Her hesitation faded before his eyes, shoulders straightening as she turned toward the fire.
Stepping up, she held her yellow collar over the flames and released it.
He let her see his pride and support. A small smile fluttered over her face, lightening her intensity as she returned and found her place next to Daya.
Opal trembled slightly in his arms. It was her turn next. Holding her tightly, he pressed a kiss to her head. “Together,” he whispered.
Two short strides brought him to the fire, and he leaned forward so that Opal could let go of her blue collar.
As soon as it was done, she turned into him, pressing her head into the protection of his neck and shoulder.
His hand settled on her head, gently stroking her hair until some of the tension eased out of her and she turned her head so that she could watch what was happening.
She was in time to watch Brenna and the older boy, Gavin, send their collars into the fire. The children finished with their task; the focus shifted to the adults.
Connor’s throat tightened, making it hard to breathe, as he watched Daya place a small chunk of stone into the fire. Black stone, sparkling like the carvings from the villagers she’d known. Letting go of the part of her past that held Savian and Draven.
The medallion in his palm was heavy as he stared at it.
He couldn’t be Daya’s. The mountain had confirmed it would never accept him.
He no longer felt the same calling to be a lightning warrior.
The betrayals were too great, and his heart had changed.
Without either of those things, what drove him?
Who was he? He’d been focused for so long on his mother’s legacy, he’d neglected to build his own.
As he let the medallion go, he hardened his resolve.
His highest priority was to take care of the traitor responsible for the death of his teammates.
Then he’d figure out how to live again, when the two things that had brought so much meaning to his life and his soul had been stripped away from him.
Opal patted his chest comfortingly as he moved back into place, telling him everything would be okay.
He closed his eyes as Cass stepped forward and the ceremony continued.
How did he let go? He’d never done so in his life.
Just the opposite. He was good at holding on tight to what was important to him.
To what was important to those he cared about.
Breathing out, he released his magic and let it flow into the shadows created from the firelight.
The flash of flames behind his eyelids was rhythmic, and he focused on it.
Beginning to hear a steady heartbeat, he synced his pulse.
Letting the blood in his veins pound with the beat of the earth and fire that sounded in his head.
Feel them. The whisper of the mountain pushed against his mind.
Accepting the command, he let himself feel. Daya and Veda radiated in his mind. Balanced, peaceful, beautiful. The strength of their connection to the earth astounded him. Deep inside, his heart clenched. They were exactly where they belonged.
“Together, we begin anew.” A deep, confident glow of hope poured from Daya, infusing her words with promise and certainty.
Her eyes met his as she took his hand for the last part of the healing ceremony.
For a second before the others joined hands with them, the world slowed.
He was alone with Daya, Veda, and Opal. His spirit settled and an intense feeling of home swept through him.
The strength of it burned everything else away.
He loved them. Would do anything for them. Including walk away.
Hours after their healing ceremony, the flames were still flickering strong, lighting up the clearing with the rustic colors of firelight. Joy raced through Daya’s blood, rightness dancing in her soul.
The ceremony had been powerful in its transformation, renewing her strength and commitment to who she was: a guardian with significant purpose and meaning in her life. She hadn’t realized how much she had needed that reminder.
Veda had been fully immersed and had embraced the power and meaning of the rite.
At the end, she’d moved of her own accord.
No longer shadowing Daya’s movements but making her own, dancing around the fire with joy and purpose.
Connor had met her eyes as they’d watched Veda, understanding and acceptance clear in his gaze.