Far below, another wraith darts towards the ground. Lightning drives it back for only a moment. Even with one wing half-shattered, it circles into another assault.
Sei can’t see Marek from this far away. He can’t do anything to help, except hold on for dear life as Loska circles with the nearby wraith.
Loska’s mental voice rings out.Marek Helra Idiot Dire, if you don’t take your mate’s magic, I willeat you.
There’s a moment of nothingness. Of empty, waiting terror.
Then Marek’s soul embraces Sei’s, and power awakens inside him. Giddy relief surges with each pulse of magic. Like a downpour finally released upon the drought-parched earth.
It’s unlike every other time a mage has taken his magic. Sei thought practicing with Marek felt good. He even found some small delight in their mid-flight accident—the proof of their compatibility.
But Marek always touched Sei’s magic with such restraint before. Now, their union is desperate. It’s necessary. Marek needs what only Sei can give him, and Sei has so much power to give.
The sky explodes in glorious light.
?
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
Marek
The second wraith shrieks in pain. Veering sharply north, it races half-melting into the fog. The first wraith is simply gone. Marek and Sei’s combined magic overcomes the wraith’s inherent power, erasing it from the sky.
Sinking to his knees, Marek severs his grasp on Sei’s magic. His own strength exhausted, the storm above begins to unravel.
For once, Marek isn’t worried about burning Sei out. Sei’s magic isn’t a well—it’s a vast ocean inside him. Killing the wraith barely touched the surface of it. Marek would need totryto even come close to depleting Sei.
He would never be able to burn Sei out by accident.
Marek shudders as his own magic settles behind his ribs. Every part of him aches, the pain strange and euphoric with adrenaline. Blood congeals where he scraped against rocks, and his shirt sticks uncomfortably to his back with blood, sweat, and grime. He lost his helmet at some point in the scuffle, and his hair is soaked with sweat.
Could have been worse. Lighting and cold fire left black scars on the hilltop surrounding him.
Marek would like to nap for about a week. Instead, he forces himself to his feet, driven by the urgent need to reunite with the other pieces of his soul.
Loska circles aloft, a reassuring shadow in the brightening sky.All good down there? You look like an ant. A tiny baby ant.
“I’m good,” Marek says, too tired to project through thought alone. “How is Sei?”
How is Sei? I see how it is. No concern for your beloved Loska.
Marek laughs—which hurts his ribs. He needs a blood healer at some point. “You would be insulted if I asked if you were okay.”
Of course I would. You are supposed to ask anyway. Loska circles lower, still watching the northern horizon.Loska and Sei are both just fine.
Loska doesn’t touch down on the hilltop until he decides the wraith is really gone. Sei has only freed his arms by the time Marek climbs up the harness. Sitting backwards in front of the saddle, Marek grabs his claim in a desperate kiss.
Sei kisses back with equal fervor, yanking against the remaining straps in his need to get closer. Marek can’t stop touching Sei, hands wandering from Sei’s face to his arms, from his waist to his shoulders. Every touch is proof they’re alive.
Marek tugs the straps around Sei’s thighs, but he’s too clumsy to unbuckle them. Sei’s helmet presses uncomfortably against Marek’s forehead. He doesn’t care, until Sei manages to unclasp it. The helmet tumbles down Loska’s side and clatters down the hill.
“Need to replace that,” Marek mumbles against Sei’s lips. “Impact ruins the shock absorption.”
“Sorry.” Sei kisses the corner of Marek’s mouth. Then his cheek. “Really sorry. Marek, I was so worried about you.”
Marek laughs breathlessly, trying not to strain his ribs. “Can’t believe you fucking flew here.”
“I had to get to you.”
