Shivering, Serenna shrank back, wrapping her arms across her chest. She’d thought the extent of Vesryn’s Well was vast, but the Essence at the prince’s disposal was a lake compared to Lykor’s sea.
“You should save us both the trouble and infuse me with athimblefulof your power,” Serenna snipped through her chattering teeth. “It seemed easy enough when you dragged my magic out through the bond. You wouldn’t even notice,” she railed on, joining Lykor at the ledge. “I’ve never felt anyone—”
“And how do you expect to expand your Well if you don’t do it yourself?” Lykor snarled, his irritation snapping through their link like a whip. “Maybe if you had to fight for your survival, you’d be able to hold more Essence than a fucking spoon.”
Serenna’s teeth clicked shut, barricading any retort as her frozen muscles convulsed. Pinching her lips, she turned her back, gazing out across the frozen expanse.
Something heavy crashed onto her shoulders. Stumbling forward, Serenna caught herself on the balcony’s icy balustrade. Stunned by bewilderment, she drew Lykor’s fur-lined cloak under her chin, stomach turning over from the lingering heat. She risked a glance at her captor, wondering if Aesar had anything to do with her comfort.
“Will you fucking regenerate?” Lykor’s patience cracked like ice, the frigid breeze thrashing his unbound hair. “Dawn is approaching.”
The mist from Serenna’s annoyed huff coiled above her head. Conceding, she acknowledged that the only way to return indoors was to comply. Letting her awareness drift to the galaxies, a foreign array of constellations winked down on their mountainous perch.
Serenna searched for the blue spiral galaxy that Vesryn had pointed out weeks ago, claiming it was the Aelfyn homeworld. Unable to locate that particular celestial light, Serenna focused on the unfamiliar blanket of stars. A strange loneliness from the empty expanse encompassed her like the quiet light from the moons.
“I don’t see why I need to restore my magic if you’re keeping me tethered,” Serenna said, testing the waters as she fished for his intentions.
Lykor clenched his fist, the metal in his gauntlet squealing. Serenna eyed the armor in the corner of her vision, ensuring he wasn’t about to lunge for her throat. “I won’t squander any advantage—no matter how meager.” Seemingly unaffected bythe freezing temperature, Lykor rolled his shoulders, the spikes on his black leathers glinting in the moonlight. “Even if your puddle of power is next to useless.”
Serenna’s cheeks reddened further, the flush rising without the aid of the breeze slapping her face. “So you’re simply going to snatch my magic for yourself whenever it suits you?” A new thought wandered through the darkness of night as she curled Lykor’s cloak further under her chin. “Why don’t you just take my elemental power while you’re at it?”
“I can’t use that magic. Those abilities are bound to your human blood.” He grunted an unamused noise, eyes fixed on the jagged horizon. “But would that I could, and I’d free myself from this shackle to you.”
You’d be doing us both a favor,Serenna nearly told him, rubbing her bare wrist. Her heart screeched to a halt and then rallied into a gallop.
I’m untethered. Does Vesryn sense me?Frantic and desperate, Serenna launched her awareness down the dim silver cord. The prince was somewhere to the east, half the world away.If he realizes where I am, he can come get me!
Serenna’s breath snagged at the sudden realization.I can’t have Vesryn travel here—the coercion would force Lykor to kill him.Tears pricked the corners of her eyes, freezing to her lashes. Rapidly blinking, Serenna battled the emotions swirling in her chest.
I’m on my own then. How am I going to get out of this?Serenna swallowed her despair, now hoping Vesryn was asleep and didn’t notice her abrupt appearance. Another noxious notion rooted like a weed.And I hope that flame-haired vixen isn’t in his bed. He owes me an explanation.
Serenna hurried to enter a shallow meditative state, somehow replenishing her power with Lykor breathing down her neck. She shoved her wrist at him, anxious to block her location from the prince.
Lykor’s eyes suspiciously probed hers. A shard of fear lodged in Serenna’s spine—she appeared too compliant. And now he’d probably detected her panic through the bond. Drawing her arm back, she searched for a diversion.
Serenna sensed the agony in the burn she’d given him, even more agitated by his armor. “Will you allow me to mend you yet?” She cleared her throat, hoping that Lykor would interpret the offer as the source of her unease. “It’ll be easier to heal your palm before an infection sets in.”
Lykor’s lip curled around his fangs. His shoulders twitched, a horse irritably dislodging a fly. Muttering under his breath, he removed his gauntlet.
Serenna shoved her shock away, thinking better about making a comment. Her fingers trembled as she hesitantly cupped his claw, the frosty air nearly crystalizing her bones. She flinched when her power leaped in response, slithering through her veins.
At the same time, Lykor’s talons snapped closed, digging into the blistered flesh. With an exasperated sigh that bordered a growl, he allowed her to pry his fingers open to inspect the ghastly wound.
Serenna ignited her power. Lykor stiffened. His magic roared to life, shadows rearing behind him, likely ready to strike if she so much as breathed in the wrong direction. Serenna rolled her eyes, weaving a ruby healing lattice around his palm.
Lykor yanked his claw out of her hands as soon as the sores smoothed back to mended skin. He released his magic well after she’d let go of hers.
Serenna speared a sarcastic thought in his direction.You’re welcome.
Get the fuck out of my mind,Lykor snarled, cramming his gauntlet back on.
Not expecting to hear his voice blasting in her head, Serenna recoiled, rapidly assembling her mental barricades. “Neither ofus have telepathy. How could…” Her stomach rolled like a snowball, icing into alarm.We can communicate through the accepted bond.
Lykor snatched the manacle out of his cloak—that she was still wearing—and roughly clamped the metal back around her wrist, severing their connection. Serenna rushed indoors and retreated to the far end of the sitting room, away from Lykor and the cold.
Slamming the door shut, Lykor’s indiscernible grumble could’ve been words of gratitude. It sounded more like someone stabbed him in the gut.
Serenna shed the enormous coat, placing the furs on a couch. Pursing her lips, she nearly thanked Lykor for the cloak before deciding to not say anything to him at all. Eager to warm up with a bath and find a bed after, Serenna hurried to the staircase winding up the center of the chamber.
