“Shit,” I cursed. “Why didn’t you tell us this before?”
“Honestly, I forgot about it. A lot happened after you left. The King kinda went crazy.”
“You should stay behind, prince,” Dovelyn said to Sie. “If you can’t use your compulsion, you won’t be of use to us.”
“I can teleport,” he said. “If you plan to use her as bait, I’ll watch her. If Athler or Arcane get too close, I’ll teleport her away.” He met my gaze before he added, “We both don’t like the idea of using her as a distraction, and with the plan you have now, you’re leaving her vulnerable. You need me.”
Scottie’s eyes widened at the realization he would still choose to protect her even after she picked me. Hell, I was surprised by it. He met her shocked stare for a moment before looking back at me.
“You need me,” he said again, and I did.
“Fine,” I said, ignoring the shock from Scotlind next to me. If he was going to offer her any kind of protection while I was going to be on the other side of the city, I’d take it.
TWENTY-FIVE
SCOTLIND
“This plan has a lot of flaws,”Tezya said to me. “If anything goes wrong, I want to know immediately.” He kissed me thoroughly before leaving the tent. We didn’t know when the King would be leaving Lux, so we had to be ready. We were trying to figure out how far our communication could go. Every day, we tested our bond, but we weren’t any closer to figuring it out.
Neither of us fully understood it, and we had no comparison. Blood bonds had been a forbidden practice for centuries now, ever since King Arcane the Third brought our kind to Earth. They didn’t want it known that Advenians of different ranks could be together. That the Goddesses would bless a union from someone who was strong and weak—not when they were implementing same rank marriages. And they especially didn’t want us to know a bonded couple could be from both kingdoms.
Tennebris also abandoned the tradition since coming here. From what we could tell, we were the first bonded pair on Earth.
Everything was trial and error. I couldn’t read Tezya’s thoughts consciously anymore. It was only in the initialmoments of opening the bond that everything was fully open. Now, I could sense a tangible divide. It was thin, but I knew it was there.
When our emotions were high, the small line that separated our minds severed, and only then would our thoughts flow from one another without our control. It left us sporadically and randomly knowing the other’s feelings.
The only thing that seemed to stay consistent was we could intentionally speak to one another like a telepathic user, but it took a lot of concentration.
Do you think our connection will fade?I asked him. I was sitting by the entrance of the camp as he walked further and further away from me.
I don’t know,he admitted. I could hear his voice growing fainter the further he walked.Telepathy is a rumored blood bond trait, so I think we’ll always be able to talk like this.
What about emotion sharing?I asked.Do you think there’s a chance that will stay too?
Maybe. It’s only happened when our scars touch,he answered.I don’t know if our hands are now a point of contact or if it’s just from our blood mixing from when we first created the bond.He was quiet for a moment.It could also just be something we have to train.
I nodded, even though he couldn’t see me, before looking down at my palm. It was still scabbed over from reopening it. As soon as it healed, we’d get our answer—
I’m at the far side of the camp by the fields,Tezya said, breaking my train of thought.This should be enough distance. The locations Dovelyn picked aren’t further than this.
So what now?I asked back.
Now, we just wait until Kallon hears word the King left. She has a few spies in Lux—select people she trusts. It shouldn’t be long. Supposedly he set up a meeting with Synder.His voice was growing clearer in my head, and I knew he was making his way back to me.The rebellion is picking up again, and since they can’t send me to lead theLuxian army to eliminate them, they’re going to want to talk about it. Both kingdoms will want it dealt with and quickly. A lot of citizens in Tennebris aren’t happy with Sie’s imprisonment. Ever since you came to Lux, Synder’s been changing the laws over there. It hasn’t been pretty for rank zeroes. The people in Lux aren’t happy either. There’s talk going on about our disappearances. A lot of Advenians think the two events are related. And without me leading the Luxian army, the King is struggling to demolish the rumors.
Isn’t this the rebellion?
Yes, the Advenians here were once part of the rebellion. They still technically are, but more are forming every day. All it takes is a few people to band together to spread word. Most people, from both kingdoms, aren’t happy with the way things are. They want change. The only issue is, we don’t know where they’re located now. If the King sends the army to fight them, they’ll be slaughtered. The Luxian soldiers are ruthless. They’ve been trained and bred to be. Unless we can find the rebellion first and tell them about this place, it won’t be pretty.
Can we do that? Can we find them?
“Hopefully.” It took me a second to realize he said it out loud as he closed the distance between us and pulled me into a hug. “Once we return, it’ll be another thing for us to do. I think more Advenians will join us once they see what we’ve started. Many people aren’t rising up because they don’t believe they stand a chance. It’s a known fact that if you’re caught in the rebellion, your entire family line will be killed. I’m hoping once they see everyone’s still alive, it’ll change things. I honestly think we can do this, Rumor. We can change everything.”
I nodded but couldn’t find my voice. All I kept thinking about was the cost.
He will die.Those three words haunted me. I couldn’t stop replaying Dovelyn’s voice as she chanted it over and over again. Her milky eyes transformed in my mind, and I saw flashes of Tezya’s lifeless body instead.
Tezya noticed my mood shift. His callused hands cupped my cheeks, forcing me to look at him. “I’m going to be fine.”
