From Spirit and Binding

by Carrie Ann Ryan

  I looked over at him then, followed the line of his jaw, the way his nose tilted up regally, just slightly.

  “You two knew each other before, and not just while searching for me?”

  He looked over at me then, his eyes meeting mine. I swallowed hard.

  “We did. This war has gone on for centuries. It hasn’t only been us trying to keep our people alive despite the misuse of the crystals. We’ve had actual battles and skirmishes, much like there was against the Lord of Water recently. We traveled through the Spirit territories many times to fight on either side, though most of the fighting happened on our end.”

  My brows rose. “What do you mean?”

  “Although Lore tried, my mother wasn’t really keen on traveling to fight a king that she knew would never fight face-to-face. Brokk was never on the battlefield, though my mother and I were. The King of Lumière would send out his brother and his nephew. Never his son. I don’t really know Eitri, or how he fights.”

  “The true prince of the Lumière?”

  “Yep. Rhodes was never a true prince, though it’s what others called him because he was the figurehead of the battles. I fought him with my Wielding, Luken with his sword.

  “And usually on our own soil. The actual battles where we fought face-to-face have become few and far between. Most of our fighting became insular as we tried to protect our own.” He looked at me then, his gaze intent. “And in our search for you.”

  I looked away then, letting out a shuddering breath.

  “You quit looking. You gave up on the prophecy.”

  He reached out, sliding his fingers through mine.

  I froze, looking down at our clasped hands. I wanted to touch him. Wanted to hold him. I was so afraid.

  “I didn’t stop searching because I didn’t believe. I stopped because I knew that Rhodes was out there. And someone needed to stay back for the people. Rhodes had his grandmother and his sister helping. He had others trying to keep his kingdom together. His territories didn’t have Lore. Mine did.”

  I looked up at Easton, the growl in his tone warning me.

  “No, they didn’t have Lore. They had Rhodes’ father, who ultimately killed his mother. And they have Brokk. The King of Lumière. And we don’t know where his allegiances lay.”

  “Well, I’d like to say he’s going to be on the wrong side of destiny, mostly because he’s tried to kill me my entire life. Maybe he’ll get his head out of his ass and want to protect us, though. Save us. And actually want to be on your side.”

  “That would make things easier—if we were all fighting as one.”

  “You mean against The Gray? If we were all fighting against him and trying to fix your prophecy so you could protect us all?”

  I didn’t slide my hand into his, even though I wanted to.

  “That would be good, wouldn’t it? If we could work together to save the realm.”

  He didn’t remove his hand from mine. Instead, he gave my fingers a squeeze. I licked my lips, wanting this touch to mean something more than it did.

  “I don’t know, Lyric. I don’t know what I can believe anymore. It’s hard to want to believe something when I don’t even have full control over what I am allowed to feel.”

  We looked at each other then, and I tried to swallow what was in my heart, attempted to just breathe.

  “What are we going to do, Easton?”

  “I don’t know. And it’s killing me.” And then he leaned forward, and his mouth was on mine. I sucked in a breath, my lips parting.

  I closed my eyes, moaning as he took his free hand to cup my face, deepening the kiss. My tongue tangled with his, my breath coming in choppy pants as my heart sped up.

  And then he pulled away, resting his forehead on mine.

  I opened my eyes, wanting to see something that I knew couldn’t be there.

  Because there was nothing between us, there couldn’t be.

  “I hate this curse,” he growled. “I can’t have you. I can’t love you. But I still want you.”

  I was the one who pulled away fully then, just looking at him.

  Something broke inside of me—if I had anything left to break.

  “We’ll fix this.” I whispered the words, not knowing where they came from. They seemed like the right thing to say.

  “The realm? Or what I can’t have?” Easton asked.

  I didn’t have an answer for that.

  I wanted it to be both. I needed it to be both.

  Though I had a horrible feeling it wouldn’t be. We would have to choose.

  And there was only one answer.

  It had to be everything that wasn’t what my heart wanted.

  It couldn’t be the curse.

  It had to be everyone else.

  And, honestly, I knew we wouldn’t choose any other way.

  No matter what it did to my soul in the end.

  Chapter Sixteen

  Lyric

  * * *

  “We’re almost there,” Wyn said from my side as we made our way through the Earth territory and toward the Obscurité Court.

  There had been no pirates this time, no attacks from unseen forces. I didn’t know if it was because we were traveling with the King of Obscurité, or if we just hadn’t been seen. Maybe it was because everyone else was dealing with their own issues. Their own battles and skirmishes. Because I could feel it in the air, the magic. I hadn’t really noticed it when I was here before. However, as soon as I left the Obscurité kingdom and then came back, I could feel the difference in the air. It was as if the magic were being siphoned away, and there was nothing we could do to stop it. I knew it was the crystal. I realized that if we didn’t figure out how to revive it or patch some of its shattered pieces, there wouldn’t be a people left to save. The way to save the realm and the crystal had to be untangled within that prophecy. There had to be an answer.

  “It’ll be good to sleep in a bed for a day,” I said wryly, pushing away thoughts of what couldn’t be. I had been doing that enough lately, though I knew it likely wasn’t going to stop anytime soon.

  Wyn nodded. “That will be nice. Even though camping is nothing new to me since that’s sort of what I do almost all the time these days. Still, there’s nothing like the feel of my bed.”

  Teagan came over, leaning down and winking, and Wyn just rolled her eyes. “Okay, do you need me to make the feel of my bed jokes, will that make you feel better?”

  Wyn shrugged and Teagan kissed her temple before going back over to Luken to sit with him. They were in a deep conversation about something or other. I wasn’t really paying attention. The two had a lot in common, so it was nice that they were becoming friends even though they were on different sides of a war. Or, at least, they had been.

  “There’s so much history between everybody,” I whispered. “Lately, I feel like I’m always behind,” I said, looking over at Wyn.

  She just shrugged. “You’re not behind when it comes to me and Teagan. We’re just friends now. We have the ability to live countless centuries and that counts for too many years to remain alone. And I would rather not be alone all the time. Teagan and I are good friends, and we comfort each other sometimes when we need to. Though that hasn’t been the case in a while. We’re much better as friends.”

  “So, he’s not your soulmate?” I asked, ignoring the little clutch in my belly at the thought. Because I knew who my soulmate was, though that didn’t mean I was actually going to have him in my life. At least not in the way I wanted.

  “No. I knew that going in. You can just tell.” She gave me a look that spoke loads. I didn’t take the bait. Because we all knew who my soulmate was, and we also knew that wasn’t going to happen. I didn’t want to talk about it. Not right then. I didn’t think I could.

  “Well, I’m glad you have someone to lean on because I have a feeling we’re all going to need someone to rely on in the coming days.”

  “You’re right about that.” Wyn shook her head. “It’s getti
ng scary out there, and the fact that we’re still trying to figure out exactly what this prophecy means isn’t helping.”

  “I hate when things are in riddles. Why can’t they just tell us?”

  “Because then everybody would be able to do it. It would be easy. And, as the lady kept saying, nothing worth having would be worth it—or whatever the hell she said.” Wyn blew her bangs from her eyes and glared. “I need to cut my hair.”

  I snorted at that non-sequitur, shaking my head.

  “I like it.”

  “Well, it’s getting annoying. I lost a few inches during that last battle, Teagan’s Fire got a little too close, if you know what I mean.”

  My eyes widened. “He singed off part of your hair?” I asked, trying not to laugh.

  Wyn glared. “Just a bit. And he apologized. I can’t forgive him. Not entirely. It’s the principle of the thing. My hair.” She winked, and I didn’t know if she was serious or not about the forgiveness.

  I looked down at the Fire dancing along my fingers and winced, trying to rein it in.

  “I hope I never do that. I really hope.”

  Wyn gave me a sad look. “I don’t think you will. You’re still having issues?” she asked, blunt as ever. That was why I liked Wyn. She was straightforward; though she was never cruel. Unlike Emory, who happened to be in my thoughts today, someone I needed to ensure was okay.

  “I don’t know. I’ve never really thought about what I was supposed to do with five elements. Four right now seems like too much.”

  “And they’re all fighting inside you.”

  It wasn’t a question. I nodded anyway. “Yeah, as if they’re trying to talk to one another and see which one needs to be my main one.”

  “That’s not how it’s supposed to work,” Easton said as he walked up beside me. I sighed.

  I glared over at him. “I realize that.” He raised a brow at my tone. “Just because that’s not how it’s supposed to work, doesn’t mean I’m actually getting things done correctly. You don’t have to deal with your Earth and Fire trying to see who can win inside you. I am dealing with that. And I have four of them. So, excuse me for a minute while I try to figure out how to fix that before I have to go and fix everything else.”

  Wyn whistled.

  She took a couple of steps back so she was standing next to Rhodes and Rosamond, leaving me alone with Easton. Oh, good. Exactly what I needed.

  Everyone else was trying really hard to look as if they weren’t listening. They were. I had shouted. And it wasn’t as if I weren’t used to everyone looking at me to make sure I was okay. I was the weak one in this. And I knew it. Didn’t mean I had to like it.

  “It’s not supposed to be easy,” Easton whispered, and I looked over at him.

  “I know it’s not. I never expected it to be. I just wish I had more time to figure things out.”

  I had wasted a year of my life trying to get my thoughts in order and pretend I was normal. A whole year. And I didn’t think I would ever forgive myself for that. Maybe if I had stayed in the realm after losing Braelynn and Emory and part of myself, I’d have been stronger at this point.

  I couldn’t go back in time and change that, though. So now, I had to figure things out on my own. I had to learn how to use my elements without losing control.

  “I’ve had centuries to figure out how to control my Fire. My Earth is always steady,” Easton said. “Sometimes, it wants to take over and rumble beneath my feet. It’s always a force there, waiting to catch you if you fall.”

  I frowned.

  “Really?”

  “Yes. That’s how it’s always been. The Fire constantly churns, wanting to control, wanting to take over. Maybe not in the same way as yours because it’s not fighting three other elements. But it still does that. I’ve just had more time to learn how to control it. And I bet Rhodes back there has issues with Air and Water. Just like everyone with a single element sometimes has issues. Yours is just complicated because you have more. Soon to be five. You’ll figure it out, Lyric. You always do. You’re far stronger than you think you are.”

  I just shook my head as he reached out and tucked a piece of hair behind my ear. I hated the fact that I wanted to move closer, to lean in to that touch. I loathed that confusion swept over his face as he touched me, as if he hadn’t realized he was doing it and wasn’t sure what to make of it.

  I broke myself out of my thoughts and looked around. We were at the border between the Earth territory and the Obscurité Court, and I knew we had at least another hour of walking ahead of us. I wanted to sleep, to pretend that my powers were working like they were supposed to. I wasn’t sure that was ever going to happen.

  “Lyric, look,” Easton whispered, reaching out to grip my hand. I froze as the others came to a stop around us. I ignored the feeling of his warm fingers on mine and looked to where he pointed.

  “Is that a…? What is it?” I looked at the little ball of Fire dancing along the ground.

  “It’s a firedrake. A young one.”

  It bounced around on the ground just a little bit, flames wisping off its body as if it were hopping like a little bunny rabbit. I had seen two firedrakes before when Rhodes and I walked through the borderlands between the Fire and Earth territories.

  They had been adorable, dancing and playing. And then they had left us. Here was a single one, and it looked smaller than the other two I had seen before.

  “Kneel down and hold your palm out. See what happens,” Easton said, a smile in his voice. I gave him a weird look, though did as he asked, mostly because I wanted to see what happened. And somewhat because I felt like the drake was calling to me. My Fire licked out, dancing across my fingertips before it faded away. I held my breath. The firedrake moved closer, one bounce and then another, and then it almost sniffed at my hands, tickling my fingertips as it moved closer.

  It gave one hesitant hop before nuzzling itself into my palm. I froze.

  “What am I supposed to do?” I whispered, and everyone slowly moved around so they circled me completely.

  “I think you’re supposed to cuddle it,” Wyn said. “It’s so cute. Although, I’ve never really seen one out on its own before.”

  She looked off into the distance, maybe looking for another drake, and I moved my palm closer to my face. The firedrake nuzzled my cheek, tickling my skin, though not burning me. The Fire within me reached out as if to envelop it in a hug, and I sighed out a breath of relief. It felt as if it were the one time that my Fire Wielding actually did what I needed it to. Nurturing, protecting. As if it weren’t dangerous.

  Braelynn took that exact moment to hop off Luken’s shoulder and come to my side. I looked down at my friend who was now a cat with bat wings, as she purred at the drake. The drake froze for just a moment before leaning forward and nuzzling its head against Braelynn’s. The fire didn’t burn her fur. Instead, the two just purred at one another, the firedrake making little purping sounds. I froze, transfixed.

  “He was drawn to your Fire, to your power.”

  I looked up at Easton, swallowing hard. And then he continued.

  “You can control so much, Lyric. You just have to take the time to believe in yourself. Little Drake here seems to like you. He trusts you.”

  “What am I supposed to do with him?”

  “Make sure he has a home. Love him. Just like you do Braelynn. The two seem fast friends.”

  I looked down at my hands, at the fact that the two were now nuzzling each other, even as they brushed against my palm.

  I didn’t really understand what all of this meant, didn’t know what I should be doing. I nodded at Easton, knowing we were close to home, so near to a bed where we could sleep and try to let some of our worries seep away. All I could think about was the little life in my hands, they were filled with magic and light and could be hurt so easily by those who were careless or didn’t understand. I needed to protect him. Just like I needed to save all of those around me.

  I woul
d have to learn control. It was within me to do so. It had to be. And even as I thought that, I knew there were parts of me I needed to close off and resist before I could take that next step.

  Things I had pushed to the side because it had been hard.

  And the person I had ignored because I was scared.

  I held the drake close as Braelynn hopped onto my lap. I sighed.

  We were missing someone. And I knew it would hurt, but we had to go back for her. I had to fix things, even if I couldn’t fix anything else, I needed to fix this.

  I had to find Emory.

  Chapter Seventeen

  Lyric

  * * *

  We made it to the Obscurité Court without any issues. Ridley and Justise were waiting for us as we made our way towards the castle, each searching our faces for answers. I wasn’t sure what we were supposed to say. It was hard to give someone answers when the words on your lips weren’t truths, only more questions.

  “Your friend Garrik is in his room,” Justise said with no preamble.

  Easton’s brows rose as I looked between the two of them. I had no idea what Easton was thinking…not that I’d ever known.

  “Locked in there then?” Easton asked, though it was more of a statement than a question.

  “He’s free to leave, if that’s what he desires,” Justise said, none too kindly.

  Ridley shook his head. “If he does, then people follow him. I know he might’ve saved your life. But we don’t know why, and we don’t entirely trust him.”

  “No, we don’t. I don’t want him walking around alone.” Easton frowned a bit, looking down at his hands. A single spark of flame touched his fingertips, and Drake bounced from my palm to his. Easton seemed surprised for a moment before a small smile played on his lips as he reached out to rub Drake’s head.

  Drake had been in my palm for the entire trip from where we first found him, all the way back to court. Braelynn had alternated from resting on my shoulder to Luken’s.