CHAPTER 39
SHARDS OF THE ARCANTH
After the Dark War, in recognition of their neutrality, the Arcanth allowed Occarlia’s ancient time magic to endure. To Vallenna, it gave the blessing of the Four: Earth, Water, Air and Fire.
– Arcanthys Mythology
A sharp, nagging throb in his knuckles pulled Sebastian from sleep.
He lay there for a moment, groggy, entwined in Kara’s arms, frowning at his hand.
Then he remembered the Fatàn monument two nights ago, smashed beneath his fists in a haze of anger.
His knuckles had paid the price for his lack of control.
Split skin, swollen, bruised to hell. Fuck, they hurt like fire.
He sat up slowly, eyeing the basin, thinking vaguely that the cold water might numb them a bit.
He flexed his fingers gingerly. They were stiff, ugly.
One cut opened again, droplets of blood oozing from it.
He rubbed his hand over it absently, and without calling for any magic at all, emerald light flared from his fingers, warm and dazzling.
What–
He jerked his hand back. The pain vanished. The bruises faded before his eyes, the cuts sealed over. Completely healed.
No. That’s not possible. That’s her magic.
Sebastian froze, staring at his hand. “...what the fuck.”
He clenched his fist. Opened it. Emerald bloomed.
He did it again. Emerald.
No denying it.
Fantastic. I’m glowing Hale green.
“Oh, brilliant. Perfect. Just what I need.” He flung his hands upwards in defeat. Then he started whisper-yelling at the ceiling as if the Four themselves might bargain with him. “I’m a Healer now. Gods save me.”
He glanced at Kara. Still asleep. Smiling faintly in her dreams, completely unaware he was losing his mind.
“Kara.”
She rolled away from him. “Sebastian, it’s too early.”
“No, seriously, Kara, wake up,” he said urgently, shaking her shoulder.
“If it’s about breakfast,” she mumbled, hair in her face, eyes still shut, “I’m not hungry. Go back to sleep.”
He lost patience. They’d been on the run for their lives a few days ago. How could she sleep this well already? “Hale – this isn’t about breakfast. Look at this!”
He shoved his hand right in front of her face, to show her how damn emerald his hand was. The magic – he wouldn’t say his magic – danced there, mocking him. She finally opened her eyes and blinked once. Then again. Still half-asleep.
Tell me you see this too, Kara.
“That’s my magic.”
“I know it’s your magic!” he hissed. “Why is it in my hand?”
Kara stared at the emerald glow, then back at him. “It must be the bond. Can you – can you use it?”
“Apparently,” he growled. He placed his healed hand over his other injured one. Emerald bloomed at once, knitting the cuts back together instantly.
“It just works? Without any studying at all?” Kara exclaimed incredulously. “That’s amazing!”
“Not sure that’s the word I’d use,” Sebastian said grumpily. “What if it goes off accidentally? Heal someone I’m supposed to be fighting?”
Kara snorted. “The horror.” Her eyebrows shot up. “Sebastian... you still have your magic, right?”
The blood drained from his face. “I–I don’t know!” he shouted, panicked now.
“Well, try,” she said calmly.
He thrust out his now perfect hand, scowling at it like it had personally betrayed him. Nothing happened.
Come on! Work!
Kara bit her lip, trying to contain her laughter, but it bubbled up anyway. “Don’t hurt yourself,” she giggled.
“This isn’t funny, Kara!” he snapped. He shook his hand furiously. “What if it’s gone? What if I–”
Just as Sebastian nearly gave way to complete panic, his crimson magic flared to life across his palm. Familiar heat raced up the veins on his forearm, crackling over his skin. He sagged backwards with sheer relief, and dragged both hands down his face.
“Oh, thank the Four.”
Kara laughed outright, half nervous, half delighted. “You are ridiculous. You have two types of magic now, and you’re upset about it?”
He shot her a glare through his fingers. “It’s not normal, Kara! Not possible! You can’t just pick up another House’s magic overnight. It takes years. You have to live in the land, train for it–”
She raised an eyebrow at him. “Looks pretty possible to me.”
He dropped his hands to his lap, completely dumbfounded. Kara grinned at him. Of course she found this whole thing hilarious.
Suddenly she stood, excitement lighting her face. “Sebastian, do you think that means I can–”
Before Sebastian could say a word, crimson blazed across Kara’s arm – jagged tendrils of light over her skin, alive with power.
“Kara!” he barked, jumping up, half-horrified, half-bewildered.
She gasped – then beamed. “Ahhhh! I’m strong!”
The magic sparked, blazing across her hands like it had always belonged there. She looked like Thorne, born and bred. Kara flexed her fingers, and her crimson pulsed, wild and hot. “Oh, I can feel it – I can actually feel the power.”
Sebastian pressed the heel of his hand to his forehead. “This isn’t happening. This cannot be happening.”
But Kara was already looking eagerly around the room, eyes landing on the nearest piece of furniture.
“Don’t you dare,” Sebastian growled.
Her grin widened. “Oh, I dare.”
He tried to grab her wrist but missed–
Crimson’s made her quick.
She wriggled away, throwing herself down by the bed. She braced her arms under the heavy oak frame and heaved it clean off the floor like it weighed nothing at all. Sebastian swore violently and surged forward, hands out to catch it.
“Kara! Put that down before you–”
She dropped it with a loud thud, giggling madly. “Did you see that? I lifted the bed!”
“This is not funny,” Sebastian snapped. “That’s my magic–” He jabbed a finger at her, glaring. “Thorne magic. Do you have any idea how dangerous it is untrained? You could’ve–”
“Our magic now,” she corrected, grinning wickedly. “You feel this way all the time? It’s amazing!”
And then – he felt it. Her joy. It burst through his chest alongside the sound of her laughter. Dazzling and golden, like it had become his own.
That’s her.
His hand flew to his chest. “Kara–”
She straightened, still breathless with giggles, and frowned at him. “What?”
“Your joy,” he said hoarsely. “I can feel it.”
Her face lit up. “Well, good. Now you know how much fun I’m having.”
Kara was now scanning the room – practically vibrating with excitement.
He’d never seen her like this, so playful and light, so free.
Whether it was the bond, the magic or the fact that for now they were safe instead of running for their lives, he didn’t know.
He didn’t get time to consider it further because her gaze had fallen on him.
“Kara–”
But she darted forward and wrapped her arms around his waist before he could stop her.
“Don’t you–”
Sebastian’s stomach lurched as the ground disappeared beneath his feet. He made a noise that was definitely, absolutely not dignified. She was actually lifting him. Over six feet of hardened muscle, effortlessly hauled into the air by a healer girl glowing crimson.
What the fuck?! I’m a fucking Thorne soldier and she’s throwing me around like a sack of grain.
His hands shot to her shoulders in disbelief. “Gods above, put me down right now!”
She was laughing so hard she nearly dropped him. “You should see your face right now! Oh, I love this bond!”
He landed ungracefully, staggering backwards. “Kara. You picked me up.”
She spread her arms wide, triumphant. “I told you. I’m strong.”
Unbelievable. I train for ten years, bleed for every scrap of control, and she masters it in seconds.
That’s so hot.
He sighed internally.
Don’t tell her that. It’ll only encourage her.
“If you try that again, Kara Hale, I swear I’ll use this new magic and put you to sleep,” he warned.
She gasped in mock outrage. “You wouldn’t dare.”
“Try me.”
“Oh, I will.” She crossed her arms, still grinning. “Go on then, Healer. Put me to sleep.”
Sebastian raised a glowing emerald hand like he actually might do it. Kara lifted her chin defiantly.
“Don’t tempt me.” He hovered his fingers over her temple.
She closed one eye, but peeked at him through the other. “What, afraid it’ll work?”
He scowled at her, then focused, willing the magic to do something. Green light flickered uncertainly at his fingertips, then spluttered and fizzled out. Nothing.
Kara burst out laughing. “Oh, that was terrible!”
His ears went scarlet. “It’s new. I don’t – shut up.”
Wonderful. Not only a healer, but an incompetent one.
She bent over, clutching her sides, tears streaming down her face as she tried to speak through her laughter. “Sebastian Thorne... feared across all of Vallenna...” She gasped for air, struggling to get the words out. “...can’t even put his bondmate to bed!”
Oh really, Healer?
He lunged, pinning her down against the mattress, his face hovering inches from hers. “Keep laughing, Karalynna. I’ll figure it out. And then you’ll regret it.”
Her breath caught, though her grin didn’t fade. “Karalynna now, am I?”
“Only when you’re misbehaving,” he smirked.
She kissed him quickly on the lips and his irritation melted away instantly.
One kiss. That’s all it takes.
Ridiculous, Thorne.
“I’m glad it didn’t work,” she told him.
“Oh?”
“I don’t want to miss a single second with you.”
As if I’d let you.
He kissed her deeply, their golden bond humming at the contact. When they broke apart, her expression changed suddenly. He knew that look – lips still flushed, eyes gleaming with mischief. She’d thought of something, and he wasn’t sure if he should be worried.
“Could you heal me?” she asked.
He frowned. “You’re not injured.”
She held her palm up to him, showing a small cut across her skin. “This one. I never bothered with it.”
He muttered under his breath but caught her hand all the same, brushing his thumb over the mark.
A warm green glow flared instantly. After his failure with sleep magic, he half expected it to not work, but then she exhaled a tiny, blissful sigh.
The cut had sealed, disappearing like it had never existed.
At least I can manage that.