“Whenwas the first time you conducted magic,Tori?”Pallasasked.
“Itwas inTenebraeForestwithAbraxasandOryx.Itouched them, and the magic channeled through me.”
“Andwas this after you accepted your mating bond?”
“Whatdo you mean?Ididn’t knowIwas his mate until he changed.”
Pallasshook her head. “Youdidn’t understand what it was, but that doesn’t mean you hadn’t accepted it.”
Ithought back to the night he let me go.Hetold me he loved me, in not so many words, by setting me free.Ieventually returned to him, no longer afraid or resisting my heart.Thatgolden magic had finally connected us.Ihadn’t known what it was, butPallaswas right.Ihad accepted it.
“Yes,Ihad.Justbefore we left for the forest.”
Pallassighed, “Soyou had his heart.”
“Whatare you talking about?”
Shefinally looked at me again. “It’scomplicated.”Igave her a withering look. “I’llexplain later, butIthink we should focus on the commander right now.”
Ilooked back atAvlyn, who still sat in the soft waves; their bright tail was so at odds with the black sand beneath them.Inodded.Pallassquatted beside them, andJunandIkneeled in the sand next to her.
“Alright.Tori, you are going to channel intoAvlynagain.Thisisn’t their natural form, and they seem willing to change back so—”
“Sofucking willing!Canwe do this?”Avlyn’sface was tight with fear, soIreached out to put a comforting hand on their shoulder.Pallasdid the same, which surprised me.
“Soit should be, in theory, easy to return to their natural state.Junwill help.”Ifelt him shrink into himself.
“Itwill be just like we practiced inKoron,Jun,”Pallasencouraged softly.
Hewas shaking. “Ican’t…”
“It’salright.Youdon’t have to,”Ireassured him, butIheard an almost imperceptible whimper fromAvlynat my words.Iwas caught like, well, a fish in a net and tugged in two directions.
“Ican do this.Ichanged them withoutJun;Ican change them back.”IgavePallasa stern look, but she didn’t flinch.
“Toundo this will require fine control and precision with the magic.Youdon’t have that,Tori.You’reluckyAvlyndidn’t explode.”Anothersoft whimper came from the commander. “You’rea sledgehammer when we need a quill.”Shelooked atJun. “Youcan do this.”
Hecontinued to shake.Iwanted nothing more than to throw myself on top of my brother to shield and hide him away.AllIsaw was the little boy who needed my protection more than anything.
IwishIwas more like you,Tori.Whathad my protection done for him?HadIever really been able to keep him safe?Wewere brother and sister, twins bonded in more than blood.Ihad always been his protector, but maybeIhad done more harm than good.
Iplaced a tentative hand on his shoulder.IfIloved him,Icould let him stand beside me. “She’sright.Ibelieve in you.”
Hiseyes shone as he shook his head. “Ican’t sing, not anymore.”Myheart clenched to hear him voice those words, even ifIknew they were true.
Pallasshook her head. “Youdon’t need to.Justlike on the boat and the other night, letTorichannel the magic.Youjust need to tellAvlynwhat to do.”Shenodded at me, andIfocused.Verygently,Ipulled magic from the earth.Junmay not have been able to sing, butIremembered his song.Ilet the magic twirl through my heart; its thumping became the beat, and the magic’s motion was the melody.Isent it toJunand let it settle in his throat.
Fora few moments, allIheard was the beating of our hearts, and then, in a voice both incredibly soft and infinitely piercing,Juncommanded, “TRANSFORM.”
Icould feel more power being pulled through me like his word had fractured a dam.Myheart raced, andIworried we would both be swept away.ButPallaswas right; it was differentfrom before.Jun’spersonal magic, combined with the magic of the earth, guided the power with a gentle hand.Turquoiselight surroundedAvlyn’stail, swirling gently like the caress of a lover.Scalesreceded back into dark skin as their legs gradually split into two.Theflow of magic slowed like a stream flowing into a pond and finally stopped completely.Avlynsat naked but completely fae on the beach once more.Pallasshrugged the cloak off her shoulders, draping it around the commander.
Weheld our breath asAvlynwiggled their toes.Butthe silence was broken violently with their loud yelp, “I’mme again!”Theyswung their arms aroundPallas, pulling her into a tight embrace.Shegrunted awkwardly, andAvlynimmediately released her.Bothrefused to look at the other, andIwas just going to ignore that for now.
Iturned toJun. “Youalways were the one with more finesse.”Ismiled, and it grew whenIsaw it mirrored on his face.Idared a small peek at his heart, and the shadows seemed to be just a bit weaker.
Chapter 20
Pallas
