Page 103 of Degradation

A throat cleared, and I saw Father standing near a grinning Darian.

“Kellen is my reserved daughter. Keep that in mind when you meet Eloise,” Father said before going inside.

Brandle gave me a quizzical look.

“He means thatI’mnot the shocking daughter.”

Brandle chuckled and stepped aside for Liam and Garron, who placed an array of roots and seeds on the table. The sun slowly descended as we worked together to fix a meal.

I never felt anyone’s approach until an older woman leading an enormous, familiar pig by a rope emerged from the forest. The pig I knew. The woman, I did not. She didn’t feel like Maeve, but she had power—more than any other caster I’d met—for when I opened myself to her energy, she had none. Not a drop.

“Dratted pig,” the woman grumbled. “Walk faster.”

I stood abruptly and focused all of my intent on my love for my family, sending out to surround them. Edmund cursed under his breath as I strode from the table and closed the distance between myself and the old woman.

“Kellen, let us free,” he yelled.

She watched me rather than the pig, who was cowering at the end of its rope.

“Speak the purpose of your presence here,” I said.

“My presence?” she looked up at the fading light in the sky. “I’m here to seek refuge from the beasts before nightfall. Are the men behind you so dangerous that you had to entrap them?”

“Don’t feign innocence you no longer possess,” I said.

The older woman barked out a laugh.

“You’re a blunt one.”

“So I’ve been told. Perhaps you will return the favor. Why are you here, caster?”

“Caster? Me?”

“Everything pulses with energy, even your pig, which isn’t truly a pig, by the way…everything, except foryou.”

The woman glanced at the pig. “He’s less of a pig than he was. That’s for certain.”

“I have no wish to harm you. If you do not speak your truth, I will find it myself.”

“Oh? And how will you do that?”

Keeping the lid on my well-sealed tightly, I braced myself and touched my energy to hers as she touched mine.

Her recent memory of Eloise flashed in my mind, and I immediately withdrew my energy as I stepped forward and took her hand.

“My sister. Is she truly well?”

Rose’s emotions vacillated between surprise, curiosity, and relief. Relief that I hadn’t looked any deeper than I had and relief I was Eloise’s twin who she’d come to find.

“You are not what I expected.”

“My sister. Please,” I begged.

“Eloise is well enough. She suffered much in your absence but does not hold you to blame. Those held to blame have been justly punished.”

“Maeve is gone then?” I asked, hoping I understood correctly.

“She is. I felt you in my mind. You could have looked for more and seen for yourself. Why didn’t you?”

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