CHAPTER 39 #3
Thank you, Healer and Warrior. The Soulbonded. For centuries I was scattered, silent. But now I am whole.
Kara opened her eyes in shock and saw bursts of light erupting from the Arcanth. Every colour and a flood of ones she couldn’t even name. But the Arcanth wasn’t done.
I bless you with the power to stand against the storm that comes.
Together, or not at all.
The finality of those last words made a shiver run up her spine, and Sebastian’s hands tensed against hers.
“What does that–”
But before Kara could finish, or even register her unease at the words, the force of the Arcanth surged through them.
Kara felt it – raw, unnameable power surging into her.
A flood. Air in her lungs. Water rushing through her veins.
Fire crackling behind her eyes. Earth making her muscles heavy.
The magic exploded inside her. Mind. Emotion. Strength. All of it, all at once.
She gasped. Sebastian swore under his breath.
They weren’t just Hale and Thorne anymore.
Not just a healer and a warrior. They carried every House.
Every element. They were all of Vallenna.
When the light finally dimmed, the Shards were gone.
In their place, one crystal, perfect and gleaming, hovered between their hands – the Arcanth, whole at last.
Kara lifted her gaze to Sebastian. His eyes were wide, reflecting the same awe she was feeling.
We did it.
Sebastian spoke first, but the words tangled. “Did the Arcanth – was that – did it... did it speak to us?”
“You heard it too?”
He nodded, gaze fixed on the diamond-shaped crystal in front of them. It pulsed as if it was alive, its insides swirling with colour like both liquid and gas.
Veyra stepped closer, her usual serenity edged with reverence. “The Arcanth has blessed you,” she said. “All of Vallenna’s magic. It is... an extraordinary gift.”
Sebastian and Kara stared, awestruck, at the Arcanth.
Their power thrummed across their bond. It was so much...
almost too much. It rolled in waves, too vast, too fierce.
It should have been unbearable, but their bond contained it.
Kara knew in that moment that sharing it with Sebastian was the only reason it hadn’t swallowed her whole.
“It’s – Gods, it’s everything,” Sebastian breathed. He gripped her hand so tightly – like letting go would shatter them both.
“Now what?” Kara asked.
“Now, you must train,” Veyra said.
“Train?” Sebastian repeated.
“Yes,” Veyra said seriously. “Most of this power, you have never used before. You will need to learn control, to wield it properly against Draknor.”
This is madness.
“Right,” Sebastian said weakly as he reluctantly removed his hands from Kara’s and laid the Arcanth carefully back in the satchel.
“I can assist you, if you wish.”
“Yes,” Kara said immediately.
Sebastian nodded reluctantly beside her. “Please.”
They were both too overwhelmed to even pretend otherwise.
“Let’s begin,” Veyra stated.
Already? My legs still feel like water.
Veyra stepped back into the circle, folding her hands behind her back.
She looked at Kara as if she knew exactly what she was thinking.
“Draknor are coming. Last time... we lost thousands of Vallennans. I do not wish for that to happen again.” Veyra glanced up at the shielded sky, its tinted ruby glow. “There can be no delay.”
Sebastian raised a hand. “Give us a moment.”
“Of course,” Veyra said.
Sebastian pressed his forehead to Kara’s.
“This is a lot,” she whispered.
He laughed. “You could say that.” He kissed her temple. “You ready?”
“Absolutely not,” she said, “but when has that ever stopped us?”
He grinned. “Fair point.”
They turned back to face Veyra, who wasted no time. “Very well. Show me what comes naturally.”
Sebastian let out a low breath and held out his palms. A darker red than usual sparked there, threaded instantly with gold. It swept out in an arc, hardening into a shield that shimmered in the air before them. Fatàn magic. As clear and strong as if he’d been born to it.
Veyra’s eyebrows raised. “Impressive.”
Sebastian glanced at Kara with a cocky grin. “Not bad for a first try.” He flexed his fingers, admiring the shimmering shield. “Maybe this won’t be so hard after all.”
That did it.
She fought the urge to roll her eyes, and reached out – the air stirred, cool and damp, as sapphire and gold burst from her hands and a wave of water swirled into existence. Sebastian’s shield stuttered then died, shock breaking his concentration, and the water dumped itself squarely over his head.
“Seriously?” Sebastian spluttered, shaking droplets from his hair.
Kara tried to smother her laugh and failed miserably. “What? It came naturally.”
Sebastian shoved his dripping hair back from his face, glaring half-heartedly at Kara. “You enjoyed that far too much.”
Even Veyra’s lips twitched with humour, though she hid it quickly.
“Perhaps a touch more control, Lady Hale.” She gestured between them.
“You see how the gold runs through every colour now? That is your bond – visible, permanent. And you need not touch to share its strength, its skill. It lives in both of you now.”