Page 47 of Between Soul and Vessel
Frustration because I couldn’t help her right now.
Urgency to get to her.
Relief because she was alive.
My mate was . . .alive.
The black fog lifted from my vision.
I’m coming, Sage, I promised through the bond, taking my hand from Soren’s arm—who was still unconscious and unfortunately,stillbreathing. To my dismay.
“Your horns are gone,” Folkoln said from behind me, voice groggy. “And your skin is back to normal.”
I examined my hand—the black bolts had disappeared. My head felt lighter, too.
From her spot on the settee, Ezra was slumped forward, arthritic fingers covering her mouth as she cackled to herself, the sound full of disbelief, astonishment, and joy.
“Well?” Kaleb asked as he moved around me, eyes huge. Pleading.
“She draws breath in another realm,” I said, leaning into the truth of those words, feeling the weight of them, like kindling to my starved fire.
My mate was alive.
Kaleb swayed, and then he crumpled onto his knees, one at a time. “Alive,” he whispered, sitting down on the backs of his heels, his eyes filling with tears. He began to wipe at them with the back of his hand, unable to stop himself from smiling.
“She is!” Ezra exclaimed. “Our girl is not lost to us!”
Not lost.
Found.
And now I just needed to get to her.
Eyes darting to Ezra, I asked, “Do you know whatrealm she is in?”
“No, but I will,” Ezra said, holding up her hand, her thumb and forefinger nearly touching, but in between was the smallest piece of . . . sand. As if she were speaking to a baby, she asked it softly, “What is the name of your home, little one?”
Folkoln and I side-eyed one another.
Ezra moved her hand beside her ear, listening. “Aha. I don’t know that one. Another. Oh, wait. Say that again. One more time. No, doesn’t ring a bell. Try another. Uh-uh. Uh-uh. Wait! I’ve heard of that one!” She lowered her hand into her lap, and then said to us, “This sweet little dear spoke a great deal of names to me. The last one I recognize.”
“What is the name?” I demanded, my patience long gone.
“The Ancient Lands,” Ezra answered. “That is where Sage is.”
“What do you know of them?” I asked, crossing my arms over my chest. I tilted my head to the side, waiting for her answer.
“Very little, only whispers here and there. It’s hard to know which ones are true.” The skin crinkled between Ezra’s drawn brows as she contemplated something. Then, her lips twisted into a grin. “But I knowsomeonewho came from them, as do you.”
“Who?” Kaleb asked, face red and soaked with tears.
Ezra pointed to the ground.
I glanced down, and realization dawned. She didn’t mean anyone in this castle or even the other seven tiersbeneath it.
She was talking way,waydown—as far as you could go in the Spirit Realm.
I sighed. “Getting her to talk isn’t going to be easy.”
