Page 143
The world shifted underneath her.
I was older and stood across from Nellith in the magic room.
“What are the three principles again?” she asked.
“Always have a tether, never panic, and never strike a bargain you can’t uphold,” I said grinning, pleased with myself for remembering.
Nellith nodded. “Good. And why should you fetch one rather than just summoning?”
“Because the bond will be stronger,” I said. Nellith nodded again. “Will I get to try soon?”
“No.” Nellith’s tone was firm.
The memory blurred, splintering. Idonea’s head reeled.
Idonea’s body convulsed in the circle, a raw cry tearing her throat. The memories cut and blurred like shards of broken glass.
Lysander caught her against him, his grip tightening as she gasped for air. “Stay with me.” His voice was the only clear thing.
She slumped forward, chest heaving, her head pillowed against Lysander’s shoulder. His arms were solid around her, too solid. The relief annoyed her immediately.
“That’s enough,” Kitsa said.
Idonea swallowed hard. “Those memories were not from the airship. Those were from when I was a child.”
Kitsa stood, wiping sweat from her brow. “They too were concealed from you.”
Idonea had shared with them what Alcaeus had told her of Nellith, even if she couldn’t fully reconcile it.
Kitsa gave a smile before leaving the cottage. The Templars would surely notice if she stayed too long.
Idonea’s body still trembled. She wanted to collapse, to vanish into the floorboards. But Lysander’s arms were still around her, and when she tried to pull away, his grip only hardened.
“Don’t,” he said.
Her throat closed. “You shouldn’t be this close.”
“Why? Because it scares you?” His voice was threaded with heat.
Her head tilted back instinctively, her eyes meeting his in the flickering candlelight. His face was so near, her pulse stuttered.
She pushed against his chest, weakly. “I’m fine.”
“No,” he said. He shifted, and the movement dragged her cloak loose from her shoulders. She didn’t notice until the cold bit at her skin.
And Lysander froze, his gaze dropping to her back.
Idonea stiffened.
Lysander’s jaw clenched, his eyes locked on the tattoos lining her spine.
“Idonea…” He swallowed. “Why do you have Thaalrun tattooed on you?”
She had thought that was what Nellith had put upon her back when she found that book, but for it to be confirmed stirred something uneasy within her.
Idonea tried to tug the cloak back over herself, but he caught her wrist gently, stopping her.
“Don’t hide it. Do you know what it says?”
