The fact that my Lyric could still laugh warmed me. She hadn’t laughed as much lately.
She wasn’t the same girl I met in the borderlands. Neither was I the same prince or king.
We had both changed, and I wasn’t sure if it was for the better.
Braelynn nudged at Lyric’s chin, and she smiled again, and then I just grinned at her. People were still milling about, doing what they needed to, yet I felt as if we were the only two people in the world.
Braelynn chirped.
Okay, two people and their cat.
“You did amazing, baby,” I said softly.
“You weren’t too bad yourself. We can do this. We are doing this. We can defeat The Gray. I know it.”
And even as she said the words, something slithered over my skin, and my jaw tightened. I knew that sensation. I’d felt it every day I had the curse.
Something pulled at me, and Lyric’s eyes widened.
The shadows descended along the borders and within their camps. People screamed, their voices stopping in an instant as the shadows enveloped them. Then the darkness skittered past, leaving them whole yet shaken. I threw myself in front of Lyric. I wasn’t fast enough.
Lyric reached out to me, and I turned again, trying to hold her.
It was as if we were in a vacuum, as if something was dampening the sound, making everything disorienting, and pulsating within my ears.
It took too long for me to move my body, to speak, to do anything.
It was if I were a half-step behind, trying to come to terms with what was happening.
Finally, I was able to hold Lyric with Braelynn between us. Both of them had their eyes open, their mouths wide. Blood poured from Lyric’s eyes and mouth and ears, and I could hear her scream in my head. Only I knew she wasn’t actually making any sound.
I tried to keep her close, attempted to stop what was happening. Then, it was too late. I was holding air, and Lyric and Braelynn were gone.
And then the realm descended into silence.
THE END
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Lyric’s journey and the Elements of Five series continues in FROM SHADOW AND SILENCE
A Note from Carrie Ann Ryan
Thank you so much for reading FROM SPIRIT AND BINDING! I do hope if you liked this story, that you would please leave a review! Reviews help authors and readers.
This series is EVERYTHING to me. I’m honored with how many of you love it along with me and are following Lyric’s journey. Thanks are intense and the world is breaking, and I cannot wait for you to read the next installment!
If you want to make sure you know what’s coming next from me, you can sign up for my newsletter at www.CarrieAnnRyan.com; follow me on twitter at @CarrieAnnRyan, or like my Facebook page. I also have a Facebook Fan Club where we have trivia, chats, and other goodies. You guys are the reason I get to do what I do and I thank you.
Make sure you’re signed up for my MAILING LIST so you can know when the next releases are available as well as find giveaways and FREE READS.
Happy Reading!
* * *
The Elements of Five Series:
Book 1: From Breath and Ruin
Book 2: From Flame and Ash
Book 3: From Spirit and Binding
Book 4: From Shadow and Silence
About the Author
Carrie Ann Ryan is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of contemporary, paranormal, and young adult romance. Her works include the Montgomery Ink, Redwood Pack, Fractured Connections, and Elements of Five series, which have sold over 3.0 million books worldwide. She started writing while in graduate school for her advanced degree in chemistry and hasn’t stopped since. Carrie Ann has written over seventy-five novels and novellas with more in the works. When she’s not losing herself in her emotional and action-packed worlds, she’s reading as much as she can while wrangling her clowder of cats who have more followers than she does.
* * *
www.CarrieAnnRyan.com
More from the Author
The Montgomery Ink: Boulder Series:
Book 1: Wrapped in Ink
Book 2: Sated in Ink
Book 3: Embraced in Ink
Book 4: Seduced in Ink
Book 4.5: Captured in Ink
* * *
The Montgomery Ink: Fort Collins Series:
Book 1: Inked Persuasion
* * *
The Less Than Series:
Book 1: Breathless With Her
Book 2: Reckless With You
Book 3: Shameless With Him
* * *
The Elements of Five Series:
Book 1: From Breath and Ruin
Book 2: From Flame and Ash
Book 3: From Spirit and Binding
Book 4: From Shadow and Silence
* * *
The Promise Me Series:
Book 1: Forever Only Once
Book 2: From That Moment
Book 3: Far From Destined
Book 4: From Our First
* * *
The Fractured Connections Series:
Book 1: Breaking Without You
Book 2: Shouldn’t Have You
Book 3: Falling With You
Book 4: Taken With You
* * *
Montgomery Ink: Colorado Springs
Book 1: Fallen Ink
Book 2: Restless Ink
Book 2.5: Ashes to Ink
Book 3: Jagged Ink
Book 3.5: Ink by Numbers
* * *
Montgomery Ink:
Book 0.5: Ink Inspired
Book 0.6: Ink Reunited
Book 1: Delicate Ink
Book 1.5: Forever Ink
Book 2: Tempting Boundaries
Book 3: Harder than Words
Book 4: Written in Ink
Book 4.5: Hidden Ink
Book 5: Ink Enduring
Book 6: Ink Exposed
Book 6.5: Adoring Ink
Book 6.6: Love, Honor, & Ink
Book 7: Inked Expressions
Book 7.3: Dropout
Book 7.5: Executive Ink
Book 8: Inked Memories
Book 8.5: Inked Nights
Book 8.7: Second Chance Ink
* * *
The Gallagher Brothers Series:
Book 1: Love Restored
Book 2: Passion Restored
Book 3: Hope Restored
* * *
The Whiskey and Lies Series:
Book 1: Whiskey Secrets
Book 2: Whiskey Reveals
Book 3: Whiskey Undone
* * *
The Talon Pack:
Book 1: Tattered Loyalties
Book 2: An Alpha’s Choice
Book 3: Mated in Mist
Book 4: Wolf Betrayed
Book 5: Fractured Silence
Book 6: Destiny Disgraced
Book 7: Eternal Mourning
Book 8: Strength Enduring
Book 9: Forever Broken
* * *
Redwood Pack Series:
Book 1: An Alpha’s Path
Book 2: A Taste for a Mate
Book 3: Trinity Bound
Book 3.5: A Night Away
Book 4: Enforcer’s Redemption
Book 4.5: Blurred Expectations
Book 4.7: Forgiveness
Book 5: Shattered Emotions
Book 6: Hidden Destiny
Book 6.5: A Beta’s Haven
Book 7: Fighting Fate
Book 7.5: Loving the Omega
Book 7.7: The Hunted Heart
Book 8: Wicked Wolf
* * *
The Branded Pack Series:
(Written with Alexandra Ivy)
Book 1: Stolen and Forgiven
Book 2: Abandoned and Unseen
Book 3: Buried and Shadowed
* * *
Dante’s Circle Series:
Book 1: Dust of My Wings
Book 2: Her Warriors’ Three Wishes
Book 3.5: His Choice
Book 4: Tangled Innocence
Book 5: Fierce Enchantment
Book 6: An Immortal’s Song
Book 7: Prowled Darkness
Book 8: Dante’s Circle Reborn
* * *
Holiday, Montana Series:
Book 1: Charmed Spirits
Book 2: Santa’s Executive
Book 3: Finding Abigail
Book 4: Her Lucky Love
Book 5: Dreams of Ivory
* * *
The Happy Ever After Series:
Flame and Ink
Ink Ever After
* * *
Single Title:
Finally Found You
From Spirit and Binding Page 32