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That explained the loss of our weapons.

“While Andrues and I were in Ithia, we were able to find a way to override this bond.” Landers glanced down at Cin as genuine joy filled his smile.

Her hand slid between the crook in his arm, her eyes glittering with so much love as she tilted her head up to look at him.

“There is an ancient soul tying ceremony the Yaldrin Elders can complete that will overpower this bond. This is a ceremony much like a wedding and I have asked Hyacinth to be my wife,our Queen—and she has accepted.”

A squeal erupted from Asrai and my eyes shot to her in horror. Never, in all my years, had I heard her make such a noise.

“What the fuck was that sound?” The words flew to my lips before I could stop them and I pulled my hand from Dukovich’s, slamming it over my mouth.

I truly could never keep my inside thoughts inside.

My eyes flickered to Wren and Cin, assessing the damage, looking for their annoyance or anger but found them staring at Asrai with the same bewildered look etched into their faces.

“Hush, child,” Asrai scolded, waving a hand in my direction. “I never thought I would live to see this day.”

A grin snapped onto Cin’s face at her words and I smiled to myself at the sentiment. She had probably never seen any of the students she’d raised since infancy make it to marriage.

Landers continued as he pulled his eyes from Cin. “The leaders of Ithia are preparing to complete the ceremony in five days. Once completed, there will be no rest until we see our way through this fight.”

“What information did Malik give you?” Dukovich asked Wren, pushing from his place beside me.

“It is not good,” Wren answered, his eyes flashing to Andrues. “Ammord has reopened Camp Bane. They are creating an army of the dead to fight alongside The Silliands.”

My eyes darted to Andrues to see all the color drain from his skin, his fists clenching at his sides.

“We need to free those children, and we need to do it now.” Andrues’s words were a growl as he turned to Landers. “Not only because of the horrors they will face, but if every one of them use their magic to raise the dead, Locdragoon and Ithia will be decimated in seconds.”

Landers took a step toward Andrues, placing a hand on his shoulder. “Then it seems, brother, you and I will be going back to where this all started.”

An overwhelming feeling of dread settled into the base of my spine as I watched them, the story Andrues told me of their beginnings playing back in my mind. That eerie feeling crept up higher and I knew in my bones that, soon, they would become the same men that had once tortured these realms.

Landers looked to the rest of the room, his fingers tightening around Andrues’s shoulder. “We have three days to plan, in four we leave for Ithia. Rest. Once we leave, the war for us has started.”

The room began to slowly disperse as Landers fell quiet, and my heart thundered in my chest as I watched Dukovich make his way toward Wren. I was so unprepared for what was coming. As my eyes locked with Cin from across the room, I knew I had to do something.

I was not going to be the weak link in this fight.

I stood, pushing from the stone and slipped out of the room as quickly as I could. If I had magic that could help, if I was truly a seer, I needed to learn to control it. I raced out of the mines, pulling my daggers from the chest and pushing them back into my belt as I tethered to Drathbain street.

My teeth clenched together as pain screamed against my ribs from the tether, but I had no time to waste if I was going to learn anything before we left Locdragoon.

My fist pounded on the door of Yenne’s shop, a sharp sting flaring up the side of my body each time my skin connected with the wood. A light glowed to life and I took a small step back to the door as it swung open.

“Ataliia,” Yenne hissed, pulling a robe tight around her body. “What’re ye doin’ ‘ere.”

“I’m sorry, I had to see you.”

She stayed silent for a long moment before opening the door a little wider and stepping to the side.

“Are ye ‘urt? I can sense pain on ye,” she said, closing the door at my back and locking it.

I turned to face her, my hands twisting together as I answered. “I’ll be okay. I-I’m sorry it’s late, I just—I didn’t know where else to go.”

Her face softened as her hands reached out for me, cupping my cheeks as she took a step closer. “Are ye ready ta learn, girl?”

“Yes,” I whispered.