“A life shackled to Lykor?” Serenna whispered, her voice barely audible. “A life where I’m simply used for my magic? Where I’m locked in a tower or dragged around the world?”
Dejection flashed across Fenn’s face before he withdrew. “Of course you’d wish for freedom and to have your magics back. I don’t fault you for that.” He looked on the verge of saying more.
“Would you want magic?” Serenna blurted, an idea suddenly wheeling like a swirling of snow. Fenn had mentioned it before, musing that he could use the power to help others. She couldn’t put him in a position that compromised his loyalty to Lykor, but…If I could offer him something to provide aid…
Fenn spun a ring in his brow, frowning as he watched a streak of cosmic light dart across the sky.
“What if…” Serenna began. Her voice tapered out, the pirouetting of her mind stealing her words.
She glanced over the frosty expanse, wondering if Vesryn would open a portal in the valley below.Even if he’s in Kyansari tonight, he’d travel here if he sensed me. He wouldn’t abandon me.She clung to a sliver of hope that she’d be able to inform the prince of his brother and the truth of the wraith.Vesryn would tear the capital down with his bare hands if he knew about Aesar. We could change everything.
“What if I gave you one of my abilities?” Serenna couldn’t think of a stronger incentive to encourage Fenn to remove the tether. “Like Lykor did for your father?”
Fenn’s eyes went as round as the moons.
“You could have defended yourself today,” Serenna rushed on, finding his claw to squeeze. “You could have defended me.”
She hated herself as soon those words flew from her mouth. Fenn flinched, tugging his fingers out of hers.
Heart wrenching for exploiting his protective nature, Serenna clutched Fenn’s arm. “I—I didn’t mean… I only meant…” Waging an inner war, nausea burned her stomach for leveraging his guilt, for being the cause of that shame curving his shoulders. “Magic would’ve made a difference.”
Fenn tensed, like he was ready to shake off the weight of her hand. His gaze blazed through the sleeve of her cloak, to whereLarek’s claws had scraped into her skin. A whirlwind of emotions flared in Fenn’s eyes when they slowly lifted to meet hers. Serenna wondered if he could hear the deception in her words—wondered if he could hear the pounding of her guilty heart.
Fenn’s voice was quiet. Disbelieving. “Why would you offer me such a thing?” He scanned her face, seeming to scour for what she withheld.
Because I’m manipulating you to get this tether off.Serenna tightened her fingers around his strained muscles, staring so deeply into the flaming depths of his eyes.This is the only way I know how. We could save lives by uniting Centarya and the wraith. We could end this war before it gets worse.
Conflict split Serenna’s chest, but she pushed forward, abusing Fenn’s devotion to his leader. “Can’t you see the advantages of helping Lykor protect the wraith or subduing the reavers if they rise? My power isn’t useful locked away.” She frantically considered which ability she could sacrifice and manage without. “I could give you my force talent and you could be the one who clears the snow from the lifts.” The joke hung in the air, silent like the moons, as hollow as her heart.
“I don’t even know if it’s possible,” Fenn eventually said. He retreated out of her grip, clasping the key hanging around his neck.
“There’s a way to find out.” Serenna hesitated before slowly presenting her wrist. “If Aesar is still out tonight, I can ask him how to draw out my power. And if he doesn’t agree or if he’s of the same mind as Lykor and doesn’t want me untethered, you can put it back on.”
“But what about you?” Fenn’s fingers curled around hers, searching Serenna’s eyes with a deep-rooted concern that tightened her chest. “You’d become more wraith if we do this.”
Serenna’s smile was fragile, threatening to shatter, her throattoo tight to form anything but hoarse words. “We’re not so different.”
Letting go, Fenn drew the chain over his neck, turning the key over and over in his palm. His brows pulled together, studying the tether on her arm. “Are you sure?”
Heart tumbling down her ribs, Serenna battled the raging hurricane of her doubt, tempted to tell him everything.I’m scared you’ll inform Lykor of the bond. So I’m taking that choice away from you and hoping I can live with myself after the prince appears.
Serenna managed a nod. Despite finally coming so close to having the gold removed, the expected excitement was nowhere to be found.If Vesryn portals to the base of the waterfall, I have to make sure he doesn’t rend Fenn.
Heart clenching with her deceit, Serenna trembled as Fenn unlocked the shackle. The manacle dropped between them, thudding against the ice, the sound clanging against her choice.
Serenna tensed as Aesar’s alarmed awareness flooded into her mind, his proximity shining like the sun. Breathing a sigh of relief for being spared from Lykor, Serenna hurriedly shoved thoughts down their bridge.After what happened with the reavers, I want to give Fenn one of my abilities.Can you show me how through the bond?
Aesar relaxed, but Serenna perceived his confusion. She hoped he assumed her nervousness was for surrendering a talent. Her attention flitted toward the dim connection to the prince, assuring herself that Vesryn was searching for her.
Conferring with Aesar while Fenn worriedly chewed on a lip ring, Serenna eventually convinced him that she’d made up her mind. Nerves buzzing like bees in a jar, she brought her focus back to Fenn.
Inhaling a shaky breath, she dove into her Well. Serenna’s fingers shook as she lifted them to her chest, stomach tipping like she stood at the edge of a cliff. Aesar informed her that the voluntary extraction of power wouldn’t be painful as he guidedher. Serenna plucked the fibers of her force talent, severing a portion of her magic.
Power surged, each loosened string firing a falling spark through Serenna’s body. Her skin prickled, tinting from sun-kissed bronze to a deeper shade. Mouth tingling, she had a suspicion her teeth might’ve altered too. Serenna didn’t bother cataloging the changes, now committed to the course.
Freed Essence flew into Serenna’s palm, an orb of radiant light. Hoping her offering to Fenn would be worth the time she’d bought, Serenna’s attention darted down the bond toward the prince. Realms still separated them.
Thoughts scattering in every direction, she pulled herself back to the frozen waterfall. Serenna met Fenn’s eyes as her ability hovered between them.
