Page 235 of Of Nine So Bold

“We buffered the impact,” I said, turning back to them. “But the tree, the ley lines, the nexus…” My gaze rose, and a breath escaped me at the shimmer clinging to the stone walls. “Even the castle… They’re part of me. They took it too.”

Eyeing the tree, Niko reached out, resting his fingertips on it too.

The chiming in my mind changed. Grew richer, like another layer of sound had joined what I heard.

His wide eyes darted to me. “You feel that?”

I nodded.

Behind us, the others rose, coming closer, reaching out too.

Note by note, the chiming turned to a harmony that stole my breath with its beauty.

“We’re connected to it.” Wonder filled Lars’s voice.

Byron made a noise of agreement. “Not simply a mirror of the world anymore.”

“Our energy and it are the same,” Casimir said.

“But what does that mean?” Clay asked. “For, you know,us?”

Casimir chuckled softly, as if his power had told him something about the diamond trees that the rest of us couldn’t yet perceive. “I suspect we will have many,manycenturies to figure that out.”

His gaze met mine.

“Our…” I wetted my lips, fear and hope fluttering in me at the words. “Our bonds will sustain them?” I twitched my head toward the giants.

He nodded. “We and this world are connected. We survive, it survives. And vice versa.”

A shaky breath escaped me, so much joy filling my chest it was hard to speak.

But my giants simply grinned. “Guess you’ll have to put up with us for a while longer,” Clay teased.

I choked on a laugh. “Forever.”

His smile broadened.

Groaning came from the courtyard. Alarmed, we turned.

On the flagstones, the monsters were stirring.

“Oh, shit.” Clay reached for his sword.

Dex and Lars did the same, while the demon growled.

“Wait.” Niko put a hand to Clay’s arm, his eyes on the monsters.

For a moment, the creatures only blinked as if they were dazed. But when they spotted one another, cries of relief and pain and joy rose. Green-skinned men and shifters shoved to their feet, grabbing one another in hugs, while harpies wailed and huddled together, winged arms around each other.

A smile tugged at Niko’s lips. “I think it’s okay.”

“What?” Clay gave him an incredulous look.

“Their kind can survive possession,” Niko said. “I saw it. And the Voidborn left when the portal opened.” His grin broadened. “They’re not possessed anymore.”

The monsters caught sight of us. The cries of relief and joy subsided as they tensed, pulling back as if bracing for us to attack.

Hands raised, Niko took a step toward them.

---