She balled her hands into fists, looking like she was about to swing one at his face. “Why did you force me to bond if you hate me so much?”
“Since you’ve failed to manifest illumination on your own,” Lykor dismissively snapped, harnessing Aesar’s chiding tone of offering an explanation, “a fully formed connection was the only way to access your power.” He sneered. “And since they clearly teach you nothing at that floating island, I’ll enlighten you that the bond doesn’t have anything to do with feelings.”
She glowered, curling her arms around her waist.
Why bother keeping her tethered if you drained her Well? Aesar asked, roaming the library, appearing to contemplate which aisle of bookcases to wander through.
I’M ALREADY FETTERED TO ONE UNWANTED PRESENCE. AT LEAST I CAN STIFLE THE CONNECTION WITH HER. Lykor rolled his shoulders, the attempt at relaxing his spine doing nothing to ease the brain-splitting headache pounding in his skull.
Striding to where the hallway used to be, Lykor inspected the fallen stone barricading them in the collapsed brig, hoping the damage to the rest of the keep was minimal. Their fortress had never quaked before, the volcano centuries extinct.
Lykor extended tendrils of Essence through the rockwork, avoiding the gold-threaded stones. Twisting his magic down the corridor, he analyzed how the ceiling had crumbled, determining the most efficient way to use his limited supply of power to burrow out.
Their predicament would turn dire if he couldn’t unearth them before his Well depleted or the shield deteriorated. Lykor plucked a stone from the rubble and flung the rock behind him. He’d resort to manually clearing the debris until he reached the point in the hallway that hadn’t collapsed.
Aesar meandered through the shelves in his library. Perhaps the girl could use her shaman powers to help.
Lykor rolled his eyes. YOUR CONFIDENCE IN HER ABILITIES IS CONCERNING.
Then I guess we’ll suffocate if you can’t get us out of here, Aesar muttered, extracting a tome from the meticulously filed books.
THAT’S THE PREFERABLE OPTION IF I’M DESTINED TO ENDURE YOUR ETERNAL,INSUFFERABLE COMMENTARY. Lykor cracked his neck, ignoring the throbbing in his burned palm as he continued to work.
“I want to talk to Aesar,” the girl demanded behind him.
Having half-forgotten about the elf, Lykor pivoted toward her. The audacity of this girl. And yet another person preferring Aesar—and she hadn’t even spoken to him.
You could be more approachable if you tried, Aesar grumbled, leafing through the book. You’re the one who won’t let anyone get close.
FUCK OFF.
Lykor might’ve let that slip out loud, judging from the way the elf’s eyes flashed in the whirling illumination.
Placing her hands on her hips, she said “Is Aesar also—”
Lykor stalked toward her, cutting her off. She scrambled away until her back collided with the rubble.
“I don’t think you understand how this works,” he snarled, leaning into her face. “You do not make demands of me. If I so much as hear a whisper of a command, I will sever your fucking tongue.” He would do it too, if it brought him a moment of peace.
Aesar slammed the book shut, the crack echoing in Lykor’s skull. You could try.
The girl’s nostrils flared. Her cerulean eyes iced over, but she didn’t lower her gaze. Lykor smirked, nearly amused by her stubbornness. That academy should be thanking him for removing this elven brat from their ranks.
Lykor pivoted back to the exit. He continued excavating the gold-laced stones one at a time. The blister from the burn she’d inflicted on him had ripped open, oozing all over the rocks. Suffering through the pain, Lykor gritted his fangs. Discomfort was nothing to him anymore.
“Get over here and do something useful,” he barked over his shoulder.
The elf pursed her lips but complied. “What are you going to do with me?” she asked, picking up stones and tossing them behind her. “Just use my magic as your spare Well?”
“Don’t flatter yourself. I piss more than your thimbleful of power.” Lykor readied a scathing threat, detailing how he could remove her vocal cords and braid them through her flapping mouth if she didn’t silence herself, but Aesar confined his words.
Let me talk to her. Aesar squared himself in the library’s atrium, apparently ready to bicker over something so trivial. I’ll explain everything. Since you won’t.
Shoulders sagging, Lykor blew out a breath before resting his head against the cool stone wall. If only he could take strength from the rocks.
He was going to die here. He’d survived an eternity of torture, had his magic ripped away over and over, but he was going to die in this vile crypt with an intolerable elf and Aesar’s endless prattling for company. It was a wonder Kal hadn’t begun talking to him telepathically. All three of them would make a perfect fucking clan, combining their efforts to wear him down like water eroding stone.
Not possessing the will to prevent Aesar from taking over, Lykor slackened his hold on their body. He hadn’t disappeared or faded into nothingness—like he’d feared would happen—when he’d relinquished control before.
Drifting toward the sea of unconsciousness, Lykor wondered if he’d ever be free from the king’s controlling magic, from Aesar’s influence, or from his worry about the future of the wraith.
THAT AMBER-EYED ELF LOOSENED THE MAGIC. THAT MUCH IS OBVIOUS, BUT COULD HE DO MORE?
Unsolicited, Aesar answered his thought. This girl might know.
AND I’M SURE YOU’LL DO US BOTH A FAVOR AND FIND OUT.
Perhaps when he resurfaced, this fucking nightmare would be at an end.
CHAPTER 26
JASSYN
“Iknow Thalaesyn can assist with untangling the coercion if your wraith captives are under telepathic influence,” Jassyn said, arguing with Vesryn on their way to the Infirmary—where he suspected the magister would be sleeping.
He’d spent the entire walk reasoning with his cousin before the prince had finally conceded to bring Thalaesyn with them to the Ranger Station. Rather than attempting to extract answers from the magister, Jassyn pleaded his case to involve his mentor with assessing the wraith for coercion.
“Thalaesyn is perhaps the only arch elf we can trust,” he continued. “We can’t depend on the capital since it’s possible that the king has also compelled Elashor’s soldiers.” Jassyn lowered his voice as they passed a patrol, tracking their vacant stares. “I agree with you, something isn’t right with their behavior.”
