50
Kora
There had been no nightmares. No shadows, or ghosts of the past. For once, Kora awoke soundly, her mind clear and her muscles relaxed.
Sunlight filtered through Raiden’s balcony, so much so that Kora wondered if the Mist remained.
She stretched, inhaling deeply as Raiden’s scent filled her nose, instantly calming her.
She glanced to the ceiling . . . empty. Kora rolled across the large bed, to find Raiden curled up on the mattress with no cover, his hair ruffled and his face relaxed.
She eyed the way his arms spread across the cream mattress, his biceps still flexed despite dreaming.
The way stubble lined his jaw, leading to his hair that glistened like freshly made weapons.
His eyelashes were long, his lips pout, and his body—stop staring.
Raiden’s eyes flew open, and she gasped.
“Enjoying the view?” His voice was heavy from sleep and Kora’s legs clamped shut.
“Just checking to make sure you hadn’t floated away.”
Raiden blinked and sat up, his eyes wide. “I’m . . . on the floor.” He swivelled to meet Kora’s stare as she continued lying on her front, her chin propped on her hands. “That’s the first time in months.”
Kora smiled. “I also slept well. As well as I can. I had a dreamless sleep. Even without a magtrate solution.”
Raiden scanned her for a moment. “Perhaps you can now make new dreams.” The hidden meaning made her breath catch and Kora rolled away. She couldn’t tell him the truth behind her future. Thanos had predicted it, and it was woven in fate’s plan.
“I don’t have time for dreams. I have a deal to fulfil.” She winced as her lack of essence slammed back into her, how hollow she felt inside.
She was back here again. Weeks of training, of learning and gods-damned sweating buckets for naught. But this time, her power had been stolen by the demon within. Meaning it was somewhere, waiting for her. Hidden beneath the layers of Kordelia’s cage.
“My father’s deals are binding,” Raiden rolled his shoulders. “And never truly fulfilled. But he’s never resorted to death. This is the first time, and I don’t understand it.”
Kora’s stubbornness consumed her as she faced him. “Let me be the first to break that.”
“I have an idea. Now that I know I can get through a night without floating away.” Raiden’s crystalised eyes sparked. “But we’ll need to leave today if we’re to make it back in time for your deal.”
“Leave? Where to?” Kora brushed the edge of Raiden’s bed. His room was identical to hers, but with darker furnishings and a lot of cushions and paintings.
“It’s time to hit the books.” Raiden smiled. “We’re going to the Galen Archives.”
“Absolutely not,” Aryn barked at Kora as she packed in her room. After applying the ointment from Raiden for her magical leech bites—called isuga cream, which sounded nicer than saying bloodsucker cream—she pulled on a set of grey and tan leathers, ready to face the day.
She was tired of waiting around. Tired of wondering what was going to happen.
When would Barron attack? Was he going to attack at all?
Would Hector finally snap and kill her? Would this mystery assailant strike with their shadowed claws again?
Would Erick wake up from his coma? Kora needed action, and this was the next best thing.
“Raiden said it’s quicker to fly and he can’t carry two people.
” Kora tied her backpack, glancing around the room to make sure she hadn’t missed anything.
Unlike Raiden’s, not a single tapestry of art graced her walls.
Maybe she could add some if she survived Zephyr’s wrath. “You need to stay here.”
“Where you go, I go. That’s our deal.” Aryn stepped forward. The hazel in his eyes had vanished and gold burned, swirling so much that she looked away. Aryn blinked, breathing deeply, letting the gold push out until it was just a ring around his irises.
“I don’t like being far away from you either.
” Kora stopped before Aryn and took his slender hands.
Her thumb brushed over his favoured archer tabs.
He wore loose clothing, with vambraces and his longbow slung across his chest. Now looking at it, she realised the patterns engraved into the wood were runes.
Just what power he channelled into them, remained a mystery.
“Then I’m coming with,” Aryn nodded. He seemed older, his features catching up to the depths of his voice. His floppy hair had grown out, with stubble lining his chin. Kora gripped his hands harder.
“I’m safe with Raiden,” she promised. “We need to go to Skybell Castle, to figure out what’s happening in my mind, and how to fix it before Barron gets to me.
Raiden wants to research deflection runes.
Sirona has scoured the healer’s books here for me, and I’ve practically torn Aerion’s history library apart. ”
In that moment, Kora realised just how much she appreciated the prince. Aerion had never been anything but welcoming to her. They’d scoured his books together, searching for clues on Devanian magic, including the divine. But his library was too recent, too polished.
Aryn’s lips twitched at the mention of Aerion. “And his biology scriptures.”
Of course he would know.
“When I come back, you’ll have to tell me what’s going on between you two. You were cosy at The Lost Lagoon.”
A deep red blush bloomed on Aryn’s cheeks. “Or I could come with and tell you.”
“You’re incessant!” Kora sighed, reaching for her gifted midnight-and-pearl dagger, sheathing it to her thigh.
“It’s . . . hard for a skildaj to be away from their bonded,” Aryn swallowed audibly. “This may weaken our connection.”
Kora paused. “What do you mean?” Had Aryn not told her everything? Had he somehow manipulated her into a connection? Was Raiden telling the truth?
“The Tvinnr Fyr demands some level of proximity. Being far away from each other causes strain, it could weaken one or both of us. It’s like a thirst that can’t be quenched. It’ll demand us to reunite eventually.”
Kora paled, her heart thudding unpleasantly. “You never told me that when I accepted.”
Aryn fidgeted. “I . . . I needed it back. I could feel it dying within me, the longer we went without it becoming reestablished. And you needed help with boosting your power. I will always protect you, Kora. I need to.”
“So you pushed it onto me for your own selfish reasons?” Kora snapped, backing away. “You lied to me about the extent of this!”
“It’s not changed anything!” Aryn’s ethereal power returned, his control slipping.
Kora flinched as the air charged, a channel of power filling the confines of her room.
“We’ve not changed. The bond strengthened you, helped you regain your ability faster.
It means we can always find each other. That when together, we can channel energies. ”
She stuttered. Her power had surged recently, her accuracy sharper when sparring with Aryn, the wielding more effortless and less draining. But she’d thought she’d accomplished it all through her own determination and strength. She was so wrong.
“There’s more you haven’t told me!” Kora’s rage blinded her to Aryn’s words. “What else haven’t you mentioned?”
Aryn stuttered, his words failing him. Kora whirled, grabbing her satchel.
“What’s wrong?” Raiden’s presence curled around her mind. Warm and soft.
“Annoying males!”
“Sometimes, the Tvinnr Fyr can force a deeper bond,” Aryn spoke to the floor. “If it sees your blood-bond as a match for another within the weave of fate, it will create a mating bond.”
A chill skittered down her back. What.
“Are you telling me that we’re pre-destined lovers?
” She shouldered her satchel, clipping it across her chest, her hands trembling.
She’d never seen Aryn that way. He was like the brother she never had, the foundation of stability and comfort.
An ever-present warm stone anchoring her chest. One of the few lights in her life that soared through the darkness of her mind.
Aryn’s eyes flared. “No! Just that it’s possible in some cases.”
Kora stormed for the door. “You better hope for Aerion’s sake that it isn’t.” Aryn recoiled in response and Kora paused. “That’s it, isn’t it? The issue between you two, is me.”
“When we returned, he wanted me to take the Tvinnr Fyr with him. He believes we’re . . . destined. But I couldn’t whilst still connected to you, I could feel it, hanging on. Only death could break our bond now.”
Almighty Thanos.
“Why force it? You can’t make decisions like that!
” Kora gritted out, unable to understand his decision.
Why sacrifice love for her? “You had a chance at something real, Aryn. Why waste it? It could still create a mating bond between us down the line. Aerion would never forgive you for that. I would never forgive you.”
She’d been ensnared before by a male. She had vowed never again. The next male to grace her heart would be chosen, away from manipulation, away from fate.
“You’re important, Kora. You may not understand or see it, but I will always put my life before yours. I love Aerion. I always have. And I always will. But for our survival, the world’s survival, you come first. I have to do this.”
“I wouldn’t be so sure,” Kora replied quietly. “I know my fate, Aryn, and it’s not bright.” He frowned at her response. “Stay here. Protect Erick. Make amends with Aerion. I need some space right now.”
Kora wrenched open the door, and yelped at the three Windward siblings stood on the other side, Skylar’s hand frozen mid-air about to knock.
Raiden’s fury was palpable as he glared at Aryn, his crystal eyes practically firing daggers through the air. Skylar was positively stunned, her cheeks round as she held a breath, her eyebrows flying high.
But Aerion. Silver brimmed his dark eyes, hurt clear on his face as his stare only held space for Aryn.
“This is how I find out?” Aerion choked out as Aryn rubbed his neck, his face burning so red it matched Scarlet Bay.
“Aerion, I-I can explain!” Aryn rushed forward.
“No!” Aerion raised a hand, his magic creating a barrier Aryn couldn’t cross.
He bounced back, his stare incredulous. “I’ve waited for those words for decades, Aryn.
I waited for you in the Mist. I had no idea if you’d died on the other side, whether we would reunite again.
I waited for you when Skylar and Cassidy saw you, fighting your own people.
I waited for you when you returned here, hatching plans with Raiden to save Kora. ”
“I know, I—” Aerion waved his hand sharply, cutting Aryn off.
“You don’t know. You could never possibly know what we,” he gestured to his siblings, “endured. And now I hear you value Kora’s life over mine when we . . .” Aerion’s breath hitched, his princely demeanour crumbling.
“Should we leave?” Kora awkwardly glanced at Raiden.
“Maybe one more minute.” Raiden’s eyes glinted at Aryn’s uncomfortable state. He was enjoying this.
Aryn stilled at Aerion’s final words. “Aerion, can we talk privately?”
They both glanced at everyone in the room. “Okay, we can take a hint,” Skylar replied, dragging Raiden and Kora with her from the chambers.
“It’s my room!” she moaned.
“And now it’s our new couples counselling room,” Skylar snarked.
Kora huffed as they stumbled into the hallway. Heads popped out down the hallway, Circe’s tawny stare blending in with the same ember-toned walls. Skylar waved her down, and as she slammed her door shut, Conan slipped through.
Smiling gently, Kora knelt to brush his gossamer black fur, his dual tails repeatedly hitting Raiden’s legs as his drool coated her hands.
“Good boy,” Kora crooned as Raiden muttered.
“You better be back in a couple weeks,” Skylar demanded, rolling her eyes as Kora continued to fuss the pooch.
“This plan is stupid, but Kora being powerless is stupider. Leto sent Mara back to us already with a note. Barron’s forces are advancing.
Ships are increasing along Talmon’s south coast. He must be moving to attack. ”
Anxiety flooded Kora’s system at her words.
Skylar never sugar-coated anything. Conan whined softly, his muzzle resting on Kora’s knees as his red eyes stared up at her.
The familiar scent of stale ale and ash caused her heart to flutter.
If she closed her eyes, she could pretend Finlay was beside her.
“It’s two days flying, at a push,” Raiden replied. “We can make it back before Barron advances. Father isn’t set to return for another week at least. You need to distract him from our absence if he does.”
“He won’t realise you’re missing,” Skylar muttered to Raiden. His face darkened, and something surged within Kora at the clear hurt on his face.
“And keep him away from Erick,” Kora added. “Barron’s head won’t be the only one rolling if Erick dies.”
“Nice,” Skylar grimaced. “Your company is always a pleasure.”
“Keep an eye on the lovers,” Raiden sighed. “Last thing we need is Aryn’s power unleashing on everyone because he’s having a bad day with Aerion.”
Skylar snorted. “Like we even know what it is still. That boy is riddled with secrets.”
For once, Kora agreed with Skylar. Aryn was elusive, and her blood boiled at the bond she’d been blindly trapped into.
Aryn wasn’t her enemy, but the idea of being forced into a mating bond terrified her.
She’d escaped Blake, and as much as she tried to deny it, something about Raiden called to her.
And it could all be destroyed on fate’s whim before she could explore it.
Please Thanos, don’t let it be.
The door swung open, and Aryn’s head bowed in the centre of Kora’s chambers as Aerion filled the doorway. Kora glanced away, her fingers shakily threading through Conan’s fur, unable to meet Aerion’s harsh stare as his slender frame vibrated with tension.
“Change of plan, we’re coming with you,” Aerion barked.
“And the dog stays here,” Raiden responded as Conan’s tails whacked his knees.