Page 212 of The Demon Tide

Wordlessly, I accept.

CHAPTER FIVE

REBORN

Elloren

Northern Forest

I hang in the darkness at the center of the Great Tree as a tingling energy suffuses my wand hand. A rush of consolidated power flies through my rootlines, filling them with a breathtaking wholeness, my five elemental affinities not only balanced now but rooted to III. I draw in a long breath, my lungs filling with sweet air and sheer power.

The Power of III.

Invigorated, I close my eyes as a dazzling light flashes through my eyelids. I’m abruptly aware of a hard, rough surface behind my back, of ground beneath my hands and body, thrumming with the energy of life. I open my eyes and blink into the golden light of dawn, my vision no longer grayed but resplendently clear. Clearer and sharper than it’s ever been before.

“Elloren.”

Yvan’s rough, deep voice prompts the rise of passionate emotion through my breast as I meet his stare, a flash of heat blazing between us. I push myself into a sitting position as he rises to his feet across the clearing, muscles flexing, wings fanning. I realize, in the space of a breath, that his wings are healed, the fiery scars gone.

The Dryads are gaping at me, wide-eyed and motionless, from where they stand in an arc at the clearing’s edge, the dawn-lit Forest surrounding us washed in glorious, vivid color.

My heartbeat quickens as I’m flooded with a heart-wrenching ecstasy. The green of the rustling, sun-dappled leaves is so intense. Scarlet birds dart through branches. The jade grass of the clearing flecked with sky blue and cloud-white flowers.

The life-pulse of the Great Tree sounds through me.

I reach behind me to touch my palms against III, pulling in a fulsome, stunned breath as the rooted lines within me thicken, my magic strengthening and branching down and out, the shimmering sap of Forest magic running warm through it. A residual tingle along the edge of my ears has me reaching up to find them curved higher with subtle points.

Thrown, I glance around, blinking into the nourishing sunlight, then meet Yvan’s eyes with ardent intensity. Eyes I thought I’d never see again.

My heart expands with emotion. I can sense the shock of the Forest, the rustle of its leaves stilling as the Dryads continue to stare at me, moon-eyed and uncomprehending. A branch falls from III’s canopy and lands on my lap.

Surprised, I clamp my wand hand around the wood and read the reassuring, controlled power of the Great Tree coursing through it.

A living wand.

I hug the branch to my chest as bittersweet euphoria and heartache swell within me and III’s power pulses toward the Forest in all directions. A great pause engulfs the Ironwood trees and the Forest beyond, as if all of Erthia has momentarily halted on its axis.

And then...an answering rush of power. Flowing from the entire Forest toward me.

I gasp as I’m engulfed by it, the Forest’s aura no longer suffused with hatred...

...but with kindred, bolstering power, flowing into my rootlines. I close my eyes and arch back against III as I open myself to the Forest’s magic, reflexively binding my lines to it.

“No! This can’t be!”

My eyes flick open to find Vicious pointing her oak staff at me, the shoulder I slashed through miraculously healed, only a tear in her leafy garb remaining. Her fern-hued face is twisted with urgency as the wolverine by her side emits a low growl. Yvan darts toward me in a blur, his fire aura rearing as he sets himself between me and the Dryads.

“She’s enthralled the Forest!” Vicious snarls to the other Dryad soldiers. “We need to slay her! Before she can wield the branch!”

Yvan’s fire silently coils, readying itself to strike. I stare at Vicious in amazement, able to perfectly comprehend the language of the Dryads.

“No,” Pine counters, his intense gaze fixed on me. “III has accepted her.”

Overwhelmed, I rise, bracing myself against III, my transformed magic pulsing through me. I press my feet into the loamy ground, quickly gaining my footing, and find my limbs sturdier than ever before.

Rooted.

“Elloren, your fastlines...” Yvan says, clearly astonished. I meet his intent gaze and my fire aura leaps between us. Whole fire. Uncorrupted fire. Luminous green with a trace of crimson sparking through it.Raz’zor’s fire. Our horde-bond restored.

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