You’re right. Jassyn’s nose wrinkled in disgust, smelling his cousin’s manipulation radiating from the top of the tower. I had to straighten that last mess after you “mended” her finger into a useless hook. Blowing out a sigh, Jassyn rose and gathered Fynlas’ research, returning indoors. His watery legs already dreaded ascending the Spire. I’m on my way. Driving his hands through his curls, he shoved the prince out of his mind.
Tucking the tome away in a bookcase, Jassyn wondered how he’d manage to clandestinely exercise his new power. Since Vesryn was intent on ensuring he didn’t relapse, Jassyn could only assume that his cousin wouldn’t permit him to have any significant time alone.
A wave shimmered in the middle of Jassyn’s sitting room, unfolding into a portal. He rolled his eyes to the ceiling, pleading to the stars for strength. I see Vesryn made himself familiar enough with my living quarters. At some point in the past few days, the prince had taken it upon himself to root around in Jassyn’s belongings and dispose of his Stardust supply.
Lips thinning, Jassyn stomped through the rift. He could concede that the gateway was a convenience, but he didn’t have to tolerate Vesryn's unsolicited intrusion into his chambers whenever he pleased.
Half blinded by the glaring angle of the descending sun in the prince’s apartment, Jassyn detected his cousin outside on his balcony, his silhouette framed by the flowing waterfall. Vesryn wandered into the sitting room, leaving the sliding glass door open to permit the evening breeze.
Unwilling to cultivate the prince’s gesture into a habit, Jassyn withheld his gratitude for the portal that’d spared him the daunting climb. “I don’t appreciate you slithering through my mind or helping yourself to my quarters,” he announced as the rift disappeared. Jassyn surveyed the apartment. “Where’s Serenna?”
As if summoned, the bathing chamber door banged open. Freshly showered, mahogany hair hanging loose and damp down her back, Serenna glided into the opulent sitting room. Nose in the air, she clearly was making it a point to ignore the prince as she weaved around the couches, avoiding him.
Instead of her leathers, she wore loungewear of that cashmere material Vesryn favored. Jassyn frowned between her and his cousin, disregarding the unsettling fact that she had a set of nightwear in the prince’s rooms.
After he processed Serenna’s outfit, Jassyn’s eyes darted across her, assessing her split lip and the trenches gouged down her arms. He blinked. Discolored skin peeked out from under her clothes, concealing further injuries.
“Scrapes and bruises?” Turning to the prince, Jassyn’s question came out strangled. “Scrapes and bruises?” He flung an arm out toward her. “She’s more mangled now than she was after the assault!”
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.”
