Contain it.
Contain it.
The rage.
The hurt.
The pain.
The destiny you know will take him from you.
And you scream.
You scream as though your soul is being rent in twain.
From you bursts cataclysm. Divine retribution. The world swells with the sound—rain hissing, wind howling, the sky thundering in mournful echo. The magic comes, white and silver, pouring from you in a roaring blast. Grass flattens for miles in all directions. Rain freezes for half a breath before crashing down again.
Astenos doesn’t flinch.
He waits.
You turn, and miles behind you is your Silari. The horse beneath him rears in terror. He grips it with his knees and hands, grounding the beast with nothing but raw power and a single, sharp command.
No time to soothe. No time for fear. With single-minded purpose, he turns the steed and drives it to a blind gallop.
Faster.
Faster still.
His Silari blood knows the truth of that scream. Of the pain behind it. Knows that the version of you he treasures is fading intoME.
26
Will Not
When he reached her, she was still as stone. Astenos walked at a measured pace that was unnatural and strange. Resh called her name. She did not respond. He rode closer, but both Auryn and his horse acted as though he wasn’t there. He lifted his hands to his mouth and signaled the steed to stop.
Astenos obeyed.
Auryn dismounted with a grace he hadn’t seen her show in days. Then—without a single look behind her—kept walking. Through the mud, undaunted. Moving as though the knee-deep filth didn’t touch her as she passed.
Resh stumbled to her through the swampland. Kept moving, his thoughts running empty. Until he finally caught up. Touched her shoulder. Whirled her around.
His heart leapt into his throat.
Because the girl in front of himwasn’this Auryn.
Somethingotherlooked back at him through her familiar silver eyes.
“Silari,”her voice whispered, and behind it echoed a thousand more.“My poor, foolish Bonded. Lost to time with no memory of your true shape. Lost to a cause even you do not believe in. And now, lost to a love you are doomed never to fulfill.”
“Auryn,” Resh rasped, his voice tight. “Auryn, come back to me.”
“I am here. In front of you. And you should kneel.”
“What are you?” he demanded, his runes flaring to life, responding to his rising anger. “Are you the thing burning her alive?”
“I am myself. And because of you, I am dying.”
