Total pages in book: 241
Estimated words: 229266 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1146(@200wpm)___ 917(@250wpm)___ 764(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 229266 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1146(@200wpm)___ 917(@250wpm)___ 764(@300wpm)
“I shouldn’t be surprised by how incredibly random that was, but I am.”
“You’re welcome,” I quipped.
He closed the book. “I can’t read Casteel’s thoughts, nor can he read mine.”
Thank the gods.
“I can sense his emotions, probably in a way similar to how you can read others. And he can sense mine,” he continued. “If something were to happen to him, if he were weakened severely, the bond would allow him to pull energy from me.”
I tipped forward. “And when he was held captive?”
Kieran didn’t answer for a long moment. “When he left Atlantia, I had no idea what he was about. He didn’t want me to go, expressly forbade it, actually.”
“And you listened?”
“He forbade it as my Prince. Even I have to obey at times.” He grinned. “I wish I hadn’t—hell, if I’d known what he was going to do, I would’ve done everything I could to make him understand how idiotic it was. And if that hadn’t worked...” Kieran drew a leg off the coffee table. “I knew he’d been injured when I suddenly fell sick, without any warning. I knew it was no simple injury when the sickness robbed me of all my strength. I knew he’d been captured when I could no longer walk, and no amount of food or water could ease the hunger or keep the weight on me.”
“My gods,” I whispered. “He was held for—”
“Five decades,” Kieran said.
“And you were…you were ill that entire time?”
He nodded.
“Is his brother…is Prince Malik bonded?”
Kieran’s features hardened and then smoothed out. “The wolven he was bonded to died while attempting to free him.”
Sitting back, I dragged my hands down my face. “What would happen if he were to die? If you died?”
“If either of us were to die, the other would be weakened but would eventually recover.”
“So, what does the bond really do? Passes energy between you if you need it?”
He nodded. “The bond is an oath that requires that I obey him and protect him, even at the cost of my own life. Nothing alive today supersedes those bonds.”
“And will he do the same for you?”
“He would. It’s not required, but all elementals who are bonded would.”
Thinking that over, I carefully closed the record book. “How did the bonds get started?”
“The gods,” he answered. “When their children—the deities—were first born in this land, they summoned the once wild kiyou wolves and gave them mortal forms so they could serve as their protectors and guides in a world that was unknown to them. They were the first wolven. Eventually, as the elementals began to outnumber the deities, the bonds shifted to them.” He leaned forward, resting his arms on his knees. “Not all elementals are bonded. Delano isn’t bonded to an elemental.”
“What of Casteel’s parents?”
“Their wolven died in the war.”
“Gods,” I whispered. “And Alastir? Is he not bonded?”
“He was until the war,” he said, and that was all he needed to say for me to know that whoever he had been bonded to had not survived. “The bonding doesn’t often occur now. It’s not required of a wolven, and many have simply chosen not to. And if it were still required, there are simply not enough wolven for that to occur widely.”
“Because of the war?”
Kieran nodded.
I let my head fall back against the chair. “Is that why the wolven are the most vocal about taking back the land?”
“It is.”
“They don’t want war.” I stared at the ceiling. “They want retribution.”
There was no reply. There didn’t need to be. I already knew the answer.
“What about you?” I asked. “What do you want?”
“I want what Casteel wants.”
“Because of the bond?” I arched a brow.
“Because war should only be a last resort,” he answered. “And like Casteel, if it comes to that, I will have to pick up my sword, but I hope it does not.”
“Same,” I whispered, letting my thoughts drift. “You’ve seen the blood tree?”
“I have.”
“Casteel said the others are saying it’s an omen of great change. Alastir said it probably has to do with my marriage to Casteel.” I thought of his first reaction. “Do you think it’s a warning?”
His eyes met mine. “I think he’s right. Your marriage will bring change to both kingdoms, one way or another.”
One way or another. Whether we succeeded and prevented a war or failed. I shivered. Neither of us spoke after that. Not until I rose what felt like a small eternity later. “There’s something I want to do.”
Kieran eyed me and then stood. “Lead the way.”
He followed me outside the library and through the hall. Those we passed on the way to the common area gave us a wide berth, and I could feel their stares—some brief, others longer. I didn’t need to open my senses to know that some gazes were those of distrust. Word of what I’d done earlier must’ve made its rounds.