Page 115 of Unbound

“In time, you will reveal yourself.”

“And then be hunted.”I know from reading the book that unbound weren’t just hunted for the potential to manifest unique and deadly powers. There was something else. Something else I have tried desperately not to think too much about because…

“Because it makes you feel like a monster,”Typhon says softly in my mind, finishing the thought.

I tense, eyes falling to the floor while Voss still scratches down notes on his parchment."It's just a book, Typhon. I can't believe everything it says. Maybe I can’t really… do that."

"Then allow me to confirm the contents, because I witnessed unbound myself. As the book says, unbound have the ability to tether not just elementals, but humans as well. Just as it was with me, you can require your oaths to be sworn by a human and accept their tether. This joining will also increase your power and grant them a shadow of your own. This was the secret Lorkan Grace and Milena Grace discovered. It was the secret that ignited everything and led to the destruction of your kind."

"I'm not going to tether people,"I bite back. From the moment I read it in the book, I tried to forget I'd seen it. The idea felt... wrong. Twisted. Dark.

"Whether you use your full potential or not is of no consequence. They will call you dangerous because they will fear what you could become, should you choose. With the desire, you could reshape this world of yours as you see fit."

"I don't want to reshape the world, Typhon. I just want to fix my own little corner of it. I want my mom and sister to forgive me. I want to survive this place."

There's a heavy shock of protective instinct through the tether. I feel it flood into me so strongly that it takes my breath away."And you shall survive, because I will protect you. No matter the cost."

I spare a small smile for Typhon who lays in the corner, his serpentine body coiled around as his head rests on his scaled torso. His deep blue eyes gleam, somehow seeming as bottomless as oceans.

I glance at Voss’ paper and see he has drawn four sectors—one for each element. He's taking notes in each, as if keeping separate track of my progression with each discipline.

"In any case, even if you refuse to use your full potential by tethering others,”Typhon continues.“You demonstrated a unique gift when you stripped away my madness. If you could restore me to my senses, then you could free the other ancients as well. You could also free the elder elementals who have lost themselves. This alone would send shockwaves through both your world and mine. If those elementals chose to tether to your people, it would dramatically increase the power at your kind's disposal. If not... it would make my kind far more powerful in our own right."

"Do you really think I should do that? Try to free more elementals from madness?"The weight of the possibility settles heavy on my shoulders.

"The answer isn't simple. The other ancients... they are not perfect."

"Unlike you?"I tease.

"Precisely,"he replies, completely missing my sarcasm."We must consider carefully before deciding if healing them is wise. And we need you significantly stronger first. I could have easily destroyed you in the lake or on the elemental plane. We can't risk exposing you again until you're properly prepared."

"How have you been feeling?" Voss asks abruptly, yanking me from my internal conversation with Typhon.

"Fine, I guess?" The words come out more a question than a statement.

"Your powers. Do you feel they're progressing?"

My fingers flex unconsciously. "I'm improving some, but it doesn't feel like enough." A heaviness settles in my chest as I think about my limitations. "Sure, I can manipulate small amounts of elemental energy without drawing power directly from someone. A stone rising from the floor. A sudden gust of wind. A needle of water materializing from nothing. A flare of heat dancing across my palm. But my classmates—" My eyebrows draw together. "My classmates are becoming devastating now that they've tethered. Malakai crafts shapeshifting weapons from water. Mireen can summon entire waves of water from nothing. I can barely?—"

"You can do far more than them," Voss interrupts, his half-smile knowing. "Your powers are different, Nessa. Subtle. You're discounting that when you draw from someone, you can temporarily surpass their abilities. And you have access to all four elements, even if in limited quantities."

Memories from last night flash through my mind—draining enough water magic to blast people away like dust in a hurricane. But it required physical contact, and my enemies won't always stand still while I reach for them. It also exposes me.

The memory of last night also includes what happened with Raith afterwards. It's not an unpleasant thought, but it feels too private to have here with Voss staring at me. Heat rises to my cheeks as I recall Raith's touch, his intensity, the way he made me feel...

"And me subjected to your mating-obsessed brain. Let the scarred human dock with you, place a baby inside your body, and be done with it. All this time spent imagining the act is time wasted. You could be thinking of your training, of?—"

"Typhon?"

"Yes?"

"Shut up."

Voss perches on the edge of his desk, long legs crossed and arms folded as he watches me. His silver hair is swept back from his face, revealing shrewd eyes that see too much.

"I should mention I heard about yesterday's confrontation," Voss says slowly, his gaze never leaving mine. "Veeni arrived at the healers missing an arm. She won't identify her attacker, of course. The stories we've gathered make at least one thing clear. It was Serena, two fires, and the waters against you and Raith Hollow with the rest of the fires. And Bastian, of all people, showed up in time to stop the fighting from getting worse, from what I understand."

I shift uncomfortably. "Something like that."

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