Page 62 of Own To Obsess

Less than an hour later, fully dressed in her layers and furs, Shaya pulled out the potion she’d made at Rozalia’s hut. Shaking it thoroughly, she lifted it up to the light and then opened it to sniff its contents. It was exactly how she’d made it. She took a deep breath casting away all fears about what would happen to her if things went wrong. If this potion killed her, that was still better than staying here. If it dulled the bond between her and Kardos, she would be free. Anything else in between was a risk she was willing to take.

She tipped the potion in her mouth and swallowed it. A cold burn raced down her throat to her chest, and directly to the bond. A sudden burst of pain blazed within her. And then, everything faded, including the bond.

Shaya rubbed her chest at the emptiness. Kardos had been so potent within her for so long, it felt strange to be disconnected. But she was simply correcting a mistake.

She made her way to the backyard and to the kennels. The kennel master was busy working with one of the other packs, so she was able to slip in to see Kardos’ tobo pack. Yepa still acted like a madman, running and rolling around when he saw her, while the others eyed her cautiously and calmly as usual. Shaya knew it wasn’t wise to pet them. Both Kardos and the kennel master had said as much, but when she gave them treats, she let them lick her hand and they seem to settle and let her sit with them after that. So she followed the same behavior. Treat, lick, sit. And then she led them out of their kennel and to Kardos’ tobo and harnessed them.

Taking a last look at the hut, her heart aching at the loss of who she thought was her Alpha, she called out to the pack, and they smoothly pulled her away.

It was late afternoon by the time she reached the nearest edge of Nyek Island. If she didn’t hurry, or if something didn’t work, she’d have to go back to the hut in the dark, if she wanted to go back at all.

Climbing off the tobo, she trudged as close to the shoreline as she should, looking out over the ocean. It was beautiful; deep blue, frothy waves, and that sharp distinctive scent impossible to find anywhere else. Tears came to her eyes as she remembered her time watching it with Kardos, but she pushed them aside. It was all a manipulation.

Take a deep breath, she half-sang, half-spoke the rhyme she remembered, hoping it would Kyus would feel the beacon.

“Torr fran eth vey, onya onya

Eran zoya, onya onya

Corynof rene dyen jay

Eran oth monay, onya onya”

Nothing changed. Kyus hadn’t magically appeared. There were no signs of movement out on the ocean. How did the beacon work? Would it transport Kyus here or Shaya to her? Kyus was a highly trained magical spy—surely she would be using a boat?

Shaya took a breath to sing it again, when a sheen of light over the water away caught her eye.

Rippling, multi-colored streams of light twisted, writhed, and weaved together to form an oval doorway and small platform in the middle of the air over the water.

Shaya watched, transfixed, as it came together, her heart pounding. She held her breath, her gaze locked, until a familiar figure stepped through the doorway and on the magical platform. Kyus! It had worked.

Shaya exhaled heavily at the sight of her sister. She looked exactly the same; rich, red hair, deep brown skin, sophisticated clothing, and that unique sway in the way she moved. She stood on the ledge looking around, confused, and Shaya realized she couldn’t see her.

“Kyus!” she called, but suddenly wondered if her sister could hear her. Would the magic protecting the island also create a sound barrier? It seemed likely it would. And yet she couldn’t swim out to her, she would freeze in that water.

“Shaya!” Kyus yelled, turning around on her ledge. “Shaya!”

If she couldn’t see or hear her, there was only one more thing she could use.

“Torr fran eth vey, onya onya

Eran zoya, onya onya

Corynof rene dyen jay

Eran oth monay, onya onya”

Kyus’ attention snapped to Shaya’s direction after she sang again, and slowly the platform she stood extended and widened to a long bridge over the ocean.

As soon as it touched the shore, Shaya stepped on it and ran toward her sister.

“Shaya!” Kyus exclaimed, when Shaya was half-way along. “How did you…?”

Shaya didn’t hear anything else as she ran into her sister’s arms and burst into tears, thankful that she was finally free.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

KARDOS

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