Page 31 of Oath of Betrayal
I knew I was talking nonsense.
I searched her face for a hint of consciousness while the wild power inside me raged, thrashing with fear and anger in its cage. I wanted to protect her, but I couldn’t, and it drove meinsane. I was going to lose her; and my sanity—because I had never been so close to breaking, to going berserk. All because of her. ‘Fuck,’ I groaned, my arms pressing her hard to my chest. I hadfailed—failed to protect her.
I’ve failed my woman.
Vahin rumbled his approval at the term, and I felt his mental touch lessening the strain I was under.
Yes, ours. Keep talking. She likes the sound of your voice.
So I did.
‘You know, we have an impressive library in the stronghold. The place is so old that several archimages have frequented it, meeting with the dragons before they’d enter the Barren Lands. Some say the original spell that created the Barrier is hidden somewhere within those dusty tomes. I will show it to you; or if you don’t like books, I will take you to the summer falls. The lakeis too cold to swim in, but it is so beautiful there. I’ll show you my favourite place—a mountain peak that shimmers with mountain flowers. I will never force you again. I’ll burn the geas. Justlivefor me,please.’
Ani’s eyes flickered open, and I felt her hand tighten over mine.
‘Promise?’ she whispered, and I brushed away the hair that had been plastered to her forehead by the wind of our passing.
‘I promise, Nivale. Just don’t die on me and I promise I’ll set you free,’ I affirmed. I continued to tell her all about the fortress and the people who lived there while she held my hand as if her life depended on it. And maybe it did, because her skin kept growing hotter despite the buffeting wind.
I sighed with relief when, after what felt like an endless flight, I saw the sturdy walls of my home. Ani lost consciousness a few moments later, drifting into a delirium despite my best effort to keep her awake. I felt Vahin’s strength fading fast alongside hers, as if the broken connection was draining them both.
‘Go to the lair and feed, old friend. If I have to worry about you, too, I won’t be of any use to Ani. I’ll send extra provisions when we land,’ I said as we passed over the exterior wall, but Vahin rumbled in disagreement.
I won’t leave her.
‘I promise to stay with her. You can sense her through me, but you need to heal as well. You just withstood an attack that should have killed you. Alaric will help her. He has the best chance of understanding what is happening.’
He is not a dragon, and he knows nothing of dragon fire.
‘But heisa mage and knows about Anchoring. He’s studied Ani and conduit mages every day since he discovered her gift. Why, when you finally get your voice, do you have to argue with me?’ I asked with growing irritation. We still had to get Ani into the castle, and her breath had started coming in laboured pants.
She is not the only one who is changing because of the Anchor bond, and I don’t want to lose this feeling again … the awareness she awakened. I was asleep for too long; I have lost centuries, drifting in the streams of time. Fix it, Orm. Make sure she knows she won’t lose her Anchor again. I’ll fight for her. Tell her I didn’t abandon her, he said, landing heavily on the grass.
‘I will, and Alaric will find a way to connect you.’ Vahin nodded, looking at me with sadness in his intense blue eyes.
He must. Otherwise, we will both die.
1.Coruscating— bright and flashy beams; also a severe and intelligent action.
2.I give you Vahin.
3.Burn.
‘Hrae! What istaking them so long? They should be here by now.’
The impatience in my voice echoed through the empty library, mocking the calm I’d hoped to gain in the quiet chamber. The snarl I aimed at the mocking sound left me feeling childish. Orm had been gone for three long days, and despite trying to complete my research on the conduit mage, I’d spent the entire time pacing the library like a caged beast.
The squadron, with its precious cargo, had been due back hours ago, and the feeling of dread I’d had since luncheon refused to give me a moment’s peace.
A sudden surge of magic so powerful it made the sky turn crimson left me gaping. The silver marks responded, burning themselves deeper into my body. The moment I could breathe again, I rushed to the overfull shelves, dragging tome after dusty tome down, desperately seeking some insight into the phenomenon.
What the hell just happened?I wondered, still pacing between the shelves, worrying that something terrible had ruined all my plans. As I caught sight of my reflection in a darkened window, I stopped, taking the time to smooth away the frown marring my features.
After glancing at the finery I’d donned to impress the conduit mage, I brushed away an imagined speck of dust. My black damask outfit was embroidered with intricate silver patterns, most especially around the collar and sleeves. They complimented the simple silver earrings that accented my sharp, pointed ears, fully uncovered since I’d braided my hair.
Orm had likely told her I was dark fae, and if I couldn’t hide the fact, I wanted to show it off. During our brief meeting, she had given me the impression of a woman who refused to back down from danger, and I wanted to show her just how dangerous I was.
Annika Diavellar had dismissed me when I had tried to charm her, and I still felt the sting of failure. But from the information I’d gathered concerning her past, the mage respected strength and cherished intelligence. Both of her Anchors had been assertive men with potent magic, and only Annika had considered them kindhearted.
