Jassyn whirled back to Serenna, gently tapping into her mind. What happened? Did Vesryn do this? He kept half of his attention on his cousin as they silently had a conversation before Vesryn noticed.

The prince, Serenna scathingly replied, glacial eyes flashing toward Vesryn, insisted on training in the dungeons. He unleashed one of those mindless wraith on me!

Jassyn gaped like a fish nicked from water. He what?

She silently displayed her arms. But I can’t feel anything—he’s absorbing the pain through the bond.

That doesn’t excuse him. Jassyn clenched his fists as something furious seared him like a hot iron, stoking his ire. Can you bind him with rending?

Serenna startled through the telepathic link. Why?

Just help me. This behaviorof his ends now.

Jassyn launched in Vesryn’s direction, rolling one of his daggers to his fingers as soon as he moved. Shadows raced across the floor, twisting around the prince. For half a heartbeat, Jassyn feared the magic would strike him until he sensed that the pulse of Essence emanated behind him from Serenna. He jammed the golden blade against his cousin’s throat before Vesryn’s eyes finished widening.

Serenna sucked in a sharp breath. Looking back at her, Jassyn saw her wincing before she glanced at him for guidance. She cradled her arm, continuing to spin her rending across the room. Since he’d negated their bond by tethering the prince, it was obvious she could now feel her wounds. He hadn’t considered that.

Vesryn’s gaze volleyed between them, eyes glinting with a sadistic delight. “Well, this evening is proving to be more interesting than I expected.” Unphased by the blood welling around the dagger’s edge, he arched a brow. “I can’t say I’ve ever been magically restrained and tethered before. You’ve outdone yourself with this added touch of knife play—”

Fuming at his cousin, Jassyn shoved his knife further into Vesryn’s neck, if only to shut him up and get his attention. And maybe because it was a little satisfying to dominate the prince for once.

“You said you would keep her safe,” Jassyn hissed, leaning into Vesryn’s face, recalling the prince’s words when he’d disclosed the bond with Serenna.

Vesryn tossed what little part of his head he could move, shaking silvery fringes of hair out of his eyes. “Compared to a day in the Combat Yard, she isn’t any worse for wear.”

Serenna scoffed her disagreement. “The magus don’t release wraith on us!”

“Maybe I’ll have them start.” Vesryn didn’t bother muzzling his unapologetic smirk. “How else are you going to master your fear?”

“I’m sure Jassyn would’ve had a better solution.” With a dismissive sniff, Serenna crossed her shredded arms, grimaced, and then unfolded them. “He would’ve shown me how to protect myself instead of throwing a wraith at me until I figured it out.”

Why am I not surprised by this? A braid of exhaustion and irritation had Jassyn rubbing his forehead with his free hand. He was amazed that a headache hadn’t rallied in his skull while they started to bicker.

Interrupting their argument before they got carried away, Jassyn addressed the prince with a savage stillness. “You do not get to summon me every time Serenna gets hurt and expect me to clean up your mess.”

“I’m not doing anything wrong,” Vesryn fired back, his humor ebbing slightly. “She couldn’t even feel her injuries until you intervened.”

“That’s not an excuse.” Glancing back at Serenna, Jassyn’s eyes pinned on the cut across her neck that appeared to be caused by a blade, not talons. Her cheeks flushed before she averted her gaze, clearing her throat. Jassyn turned back to the prince, his eroding patience with his cousin transmuting to determination. “I won’t allow this to continue.”

“You won’t…allow…” Voice pitched low, Vesryn’s jaw worked as if he was slowly comprehending the word. “You won’t allow Serenna’s training to continue?”

“No, I won’t allow you to exploit me for magic while you’re a capable arch elf.” Jassyn applied more pressure at the end of his knife, marrow boiling with a newfound resolve. “What if I’m not there to heal her every time you snap your fingers?” He snapped in front of Vesryn’s face to drive the point. A tendon strained in the prince’s neck. “If you’re putting Serenna in situations where she’s getting hurt, then it’s going to be you healing her. I can’t fathom why you think this is acceptable.”

Vesryn’s muscles trembled as he fought against Serenna’s shadows. “You don’t get to—”

“Since you want everyone to train so badly,” Jassyn interrupted, silencing the prince. “It’s your turn to practice.”

Throat tensing, looking to be on the verge of arguing further, Vesryn’s nostrils flared as they wrestled each other with their stares. Heartbeats passed in the expanding silence, shrinking the room.

Displeasure simmering in the air, Jassyn gritted teeth, his voice deadly quiet. He punctuated his next word like a hammer hitting a nail. “Now.”

“Fine,” the prince snapped, his conceding growl cutting the thickening tension. “Since you’re obviously taking lessons in defiance from Serenna now.” Vesryn’s gaze flicked to her. His words came out rough, sounding like someone forcibly pried them out. “Show me how.”

Relaxing at the surrender, Jassyn withdrew his dagger and wiped the blade on Vesryn’s leathers. Sparked by petty triumph, he impulsively took advantage of the body bind and patted his cousin on the cheek. Serenna snorted a laugh as Vesryn’s mouth went slack. Stepping back, Jassyn nodded at her, bidding her to free him from the rending.

“Are you sure?” Serenna’s eyes darted to the prince, likely gauging if he’d retaliate.

Jassyn shrugged. He twirled the knife across his fingertips, offering her the hilt. “Unless you want to stab him a few times first to make it even.”

Vesryn released a low chuckle wrapped in darkness. “While you’re at it, you can slap me around because I must be dreaming. I think I’m falling in love with this new Jassyn.”

Not dignifying the prince with a response, Jassyn rolled his eyes. He shoved past Vesryn, clipping his shoulder. Serenna’s shadows receded when she extinguished her power.

Jassyn tucked his blade back into a hidden seam, gesturing to one of the leather couches. “Serenna, you might as well get comfortable.” He glanced out the windows to the stars blossoming across the darkening sky. “I have a feeling this will take a while.”

Serenna complied, stiff-backed, with a hand braced on the armrest. Jassyn didn’t fault her unease. Vesryn wielded his magic with brutal blows rather than a refined weaving. It was no surprise that the prince’s historical attempts at mending did more harm than good.

Pursing his lips, Jassyn studied the single bruise next to the cut on Serenna’s throat. Vesryn’s obnoxious mouth had obviously wrought that one. A question nearly scorched his tongue, demanding to know what exactly had happened in the dungeons before he concluded that he didn’t really want to know.

Instead, Jassyn shot his cousin a disapproving scowl. As if sensing his attention, Vesryn ripped his eyes away from the points of Serenna’s ears. Jassyn had half a mind to cuff the prince upside the head but resisted the urge, unsure how much further his luck would hold if he continued pushing the prince.

“I’ll form a telepathic link to show you the healing lattices,” Jassyn said. He reluctantly cast out a wave of telepathy toward the prince, skin crawling at the disturbing way their minds seamlessly fused. He blew out a breath, releasing the tension pinching his shoulders. “Unfolding my knowledge into that thick skull of yours will be the fastest way for you to learn.”

Vesryn smirked as Essence streamed from his fingertips. Pulling from his Well, Jassyn’s own power sprang to life, surrounding him in a shimmering wave. Summoning his mending talent, a ruby ray of magic cascaded down his arms, pooling into his palms.

“Are you ready?” Jassyn asked Serenna. Vesryn joined him at her side. Picking at one of her nails, she divided a glance between them before nodding.

Touch her shoulder, Jassyn instructed. It’s easier for novices if there’s physical contact.

The prince shot him a look at the slight but complied, resting a glowing hand on Serenna, fingers skimming the bare skin of her neckline. Jassyn considered slapping him away when he noted the way Vesryn’s mouth quirked as she shuddered.

Jassyn speared a thought at the prince. If you’re quite finished fondling her, can we get on with it?

Vesryn’s protest was scandalized. You told me to.

Wasting a withering look on his cousin, Jassyn directed the prince’s attention toward Serenna’s less serious injuries. He fabricated the most efficient mending lattices in Vesryn’s mind to demonstrate how to heal her split lip and shallow scrapes. He hoped the prince would catch on.

Vesryn didn’t.

Their progress slowed to a crawl while the moons rose in the sky. Stars, you’re going to give her a scar if you knit her vessels backward like that. Jassyn hurriedly sent out a thread of mending to correct Vesryn’s attempt before the prince caused permanent damage.

Take away the swelling with this simple lattice I keep showing you. It’s not that hard. Jassyn cast out the same wisp of power for the third time. And I don’t even want to know about this knife wound.

She tried to kiss me, Vesryn sent back, a pathetic attempt to defend himself. Your annoyance is completely unjustified. I couldn’t let her take advantage of me in the dungeons in front of a wraith. You really should reprimand her instead.

I’m sure it’s still your fault, Jassyn snapped. Focus. Could you stop rubbing her shoulder like that for a scorching second?

Vesryn halted the motion of his fingers, muttering several curses under his breath. He wiped the sweat away from his brow with the back of his arm.