Page 139 of A Baron of Bonds
We squinted into the mist, Rauca at my side, her tongue lolling out of her mouth in indifference. Confused, I pointed to Rauca and Karus shook her head, biting her lip and staring back out into the black abyss.
We waited for what felt like forever, but I knew was only a few minutes as Parvus’s brown and black form bounded back over the thick branches, something hanging from his mouth.
He spat it out after clearing the last bit of thorns and returned to Karus’s side, panting and looking to her for praise.
We stepped back, both of us staring at what he had brought.
A red rose, so dark the tips of its petals were black, lay on the earth, its thorny stem a deep green.
Philius shook his head. “Looks like the Blightress sends her regards.”
Chapter 59
Karus
We rode backto the lumen den in silence.
I’d failed Parvus and Rauca. That was obvious to me. When I had allowed her to help me heal them, the Blightress had used her power to influence their bodies and minds.
I knew she called him, and I knew she chose my lumen specifically. The moment we landed at the entrance to the lumen den, I gave Parvus a squeeze and left. Anything Philius wanted to ask would have to wait.
“Karus!” Philius yelled, dismounting from his lumen.
“Later,” Revich responded. “She’s got somewhere to be.”
I’m sure he knew where I was headed—straight up the winding staircase to my old room in the tallest tower. I didn’t know if I needed to be there to speak to her, looking out across the tops of the trees toward the north, but I wasn’t going to do this twice.
I stood atop my old chair and pulled the pin to my window, slamming it open along with the place in my mind where our connection held by a thread.
“What thefuckwas that?” I called wordlessly, the strong wind pulling my hair to play across my face.
“Just a peace offering of no hard feelings after that show in Viridis.”
“How long have you been able to command the lumens?”
“Why do you ask questions you already know the answer to?”
I scoffed aloud. “Parvus is mine. Rauca’s is Revich’s. You cannot have them.”
“Though, it seems as if I do, Little Sprout.”
No one, not one single soul on the isle was able to enrage me like her. “I’ll find a way to break your connection. Just like we saved the Overseer, we will find a way.” I exhaled into the warm wind, then took a deep breath, searching for patience. “I’m here,” I continued. “Speak. This is your weekly chat.”
“We’ll have our chat tonight, Karus. I’m busy at the moment.”
“Stealing babies, I presume.”
“Not at all.”
The connection broke. She was gone, and I stormed off the chair, shoving it back to the vanity desk.
I pulled my hair over my shoulder, catching a glimpse of my reflection in the dusty mirror. Dammit. I was looking more and more like her with each exhausting moment of my life. White streaks bloomed abundant not just at the top of my head as they had for years, but now more on the sides and the nape of my neck. My original chestnut color was still there, but I missed all of it, refusing to get used to this new reminder of what I continued to lose.
I yanked the door open, and Rev stood there, leaning against the wall opposite, hands in his pockets of course, emitting an air of protection and general reverence in my presence.
He quirked a brow at me, and I sighed. “She wouldn’t tell me. I don’t know how to break their connection, but I told her I’d find it.”
“Do you think that counted? As one of your weekly chats?”
