57. Chapter Fifty-Seven
Chapter Fifty-Seven
Kya
E verywhere hurt when I woke up in Ryker’s arms. My head, my muscles, my veins, and my heart.
For a blissful moment, when I first opened my eyes, I didn’t remember the day before.
I didn’t remember seeing the bodies being consumed.
I didn’t remember Odarum dying to protect me.
I didn’t remember being struck with my own poison-tipped arrow.
I didn’t remember wishing I would die rather than endure the pain to live.
In that fleeting moment, it was just me and my mate, warm in bed.
Until it all came crashing back down on me, and I felt like I was drowning under the weight of it all.
And I could feel everything, more than I had ever before. I could sense everything around me in a new way. I could sense the flow of the river through the mountain, the heat of the walls around me, the power of the storm outside. It was almost overwhelming.
I needed some air so I slowly slid out from Rykers embrace, careful not to wake him, and headed for the mouth of the cave.
I walked through the chamber and into the tunnel, the padding of my bare feet echoed off the walls and the air felt cooler the closer I got to the cave opening.
Snow piled on the ledge of the cave mouth and even in the darkness of the storm I could still see flurries of snow drifting past through the mountains where I had learned to fly. Where Odarum had taught me.
With a shaky exhale, I reached for him through the bond.
“Odarum?”
Silence.
A tear rolled down my cheek.
“Odarum… I’m so sorry.”
I pressed my side to the wall and slid down to the floor, hugging my legs to my chest. I rested my head on my knees and watched the storm pass by, replaying the night before over and over in my head.
The people’s screams of terror, Ryker scrambling to save everyone, Nikan being pulled from darkness with his sunken eyes and bruised face, Odarum standing between me and Daegel.
I hung on to every word that the bastard had said, watched in my mind every moment as if it were in slow motion until the slightest bit of light from the sun made the white clouds of the storm glow.
The vibrations of soft steps pulsed through the rock as I felt the approaching figure come to a stop a ways behind me, as if hesitant to come any closer.
“I can feel you standing there, you know.”
“I forgot that you had a special kind of terbis. That’s an amazing ability,” Mavris said from behind, coming up to the mouth of the cave.
“Yeah I suppose.”
He handed me a blanket, which I accepted with a grateful nod and wrapped it around myself. He was barefoot and in nothing but a thin shirt and pants. His loose hair was a mess and there were dark circles around his silver eyes. He sat beside me with his arms resting on his thighs.
“Aren’t you cold?” I asked, turning my head to face him.
“No. I can control my blood flow and when I increase it, it warms my body,” he said with a shrug.
“You can control your own blood?”
He nodded with a small grin. “I can. It’s very helpful in stressful situations when I need to remain calm. I think it’s one of the reasons I can handle being Ryker’s advisor and function under all the pressure.”
“Now that’s an amazing ability.”
He chuckled. “I’m certainly grateful for it. Sometimes I have to rely on it to keep me from snapping under the stress of it all. I don’t know how Ryker does it all the time.”
“I don’t either. I certainly don’t know how I will.” I shook my head. There was already so much going on, and I wasn’t even a Lady yet.
“I think it’ll be easier because you two will do it together.”
I smiled at that, and we were quiet for a few moments.
“Thank you for what you did. For saving me. I hope it wasn’t too exhaustive for you.”
“Of course, I’m just glad I was able to get it all before it was too late. I’ve only ever had to do that a handful of times, and it does take a lot out of me but it was worth it.” He paused for a moment. “I could feel it though.” He gestured to me.
“Feel what?”
“Your power. It fought against me.”
“It did?” So much had happened in so little time that I hadn’t had the chance to take the time to truly understand my gift. I felt guilty for having it.
“Yeah.”
“I’m sorry it fought you. I don’t even know what it is.”
“Energy,” Ryker’s spoke through the bond, and I couldn’t help but smile at the sound of his voice.
A moment later, I felt him walking up to us and I turned my head to look at him from over my shoulder.
He wore nothing but loose pants. He sat behind me, his legs on either side, and kissed the top of my head.
I leaned back against him, grateful for his warmth and his presence.
He wrapped his arms around my chest with a contented sigh.
I felt him harden against me. I turned my head around and gave him a stare. Now was not the time.
“I can’t always help it when you’re around,” he laughed. “I’m happy you’re awake. How are you feeling?” he said softly against my hair.
“Like I was shot with a poisoned arrow,” I huffed. His chuckle rumbled against my back. “So what about energy?”
“Your magic, the gift you received from Odarum, is energy.”
My brows creased. “How do you know?”
“Theron told me. One of Odarum’s abilities was raw energy. He called it Waalu.”
“Energy? But Deres said—”
“I know. I thought the same thing.”
“Do you two want to fill me in? What does Deres have to do with energy magic?” Mavris asked, rubbing his eyes with his palms.
“Essentially, what he said is that magic is energy. So if Kya has energy—” Ryker started.
“What, she has all magic?” Mavris balked. He leaned into me and whispered, “Can you make me read minds too?”
I giggled.
“Mav! You really want two forbidden abilities? One isn’t enough?” Ryker shoved him in the shoulder playfully.
Mavris crossed his arms and shrugged. “I would just like to know who keeps stealing the sweets from my desk when I’m not around. I still think it’s you, Ryk.”
“I’m the Lord of Oryn . You honestly think I would need to steal sweets and from you of all people? Besides, I told you already, my coin’s on Arra.” Ryker leaned in to whisper against my ear, “She’s the sneaky one of the group anyway. It’s just logical. ”
“Says the male who sleeps in the same building,” Mavris grumbled.
I snorted a laugh. Their interaction reminded me of Nikan and Malina.
“Sorry Mav. I don’t think I can give you mind abilities. All I have is this green stuff.” I lifted my hand and pulled that energy from within me.
Swirls of glowing green tendrils streamed from my hand, snaking down my arm.
Not having had the time to study it before, I observed my new magic.
I had never seen Odarum use this ability before yesterday, and I didn’t understand what it did, what it was capable of.
Now that I had used it, it came so naturally to me.
But it felt different from the magic I had from Kleio.
And it felt more…powerful. I could feel it thrumming with vibrancy as it danced along my skin. It was warm and bright like li—
“Wait… I need the book. We need to go back to the palace.” My words were rushed and I quickly stood.
“Hold on.” Ryker stood also and put up his hands. “I already got the book and brought it back here while you were asleep.”
“You left?” I blinked.
“I didn’t leave you alone. Mav stayed here while I helped the warriors with some of the cleanup of the palace.”
“The palace?” We weren’t anywhere near the palace.
Ryker glanced to the ground and his shoulders slumped before meeting Mavris’s stare, then back to mine. “The palace was destroyed.”
I felt the blood drain from my face. “But the people inside. Mal—”
“They’re fine. No one was crushed in the palace. The terbis wielders there were able to hold up certain areas long enough to get everyone out. When I got there, Hakoa already had wielders working to sort through the wreckage. And Malina had been helping those from the city.”
“And Voara? Did everyone get out?” I dreaded the answer.
“No. Hundreds were lost. But the Glaev stopped when Daegel left.” He spat his name. “His magic isn’t from our realm. It’s why no one can counter it, and it’s throwing off the balance. But we still don’t know why he’s doing this or why he wants you specifically.”
I shook my head slowly. “We have to get Nikan back. Daegel has to be stopped.”
“He will be. I promise you that. And…I think you might be the one who can do it,” Ryker said with a sigh.
I looked at him skeptically. “You do?”
He nodded and stood, extending a hand to lead me back inside the cave. I followed him back to the alcove where we slept. He gestured to the corner where he had left the book when he returned last night. I walked over to pick it up and noticed other books piled with it as well.
“What are these?” I asked. He was putting on a shirt he pulled from the wardrobe.
“Oh. Um, books. For you. I know you said that you like love stories, and I found a few while I was sorting through the rubble and thought you might like them for when we stay here.” He smiled as I started to flip through the pages.
They were indeed stories filled with romance and adventure, just what I loved. I looked back to him with a wide grin. The small notion of picking out books for me in the destruction of his home made my heart flutter.
“Thank you, Ryker. I really appreciate this and yes, this is exactly what I like.”
His chest puffed out slightly. I placed the novels down and brought the dark book to the bed and crossed my legs underneath me with the book between Ryker and I as he climbed on the bed as well.
I opened the book and was surprised to find that all of the notes from me and Rolim were still safely tucked within the pages. We delved into my notes and continued some additional translations.