Page 22

CHAPTER 22

Innes was trying to weave a wreath for the summoning, but the Ever was so hard to pull from it was taking her twice as long as normal.

She paused, sweat dripping down her brow, and tried to focus.

Ever was always sluggish this far from a well, but this was different, this felt like there wasn’t any Ever to pull from.

She pushed the threads of panic at bay, and tried to ignore the thoughts that grew like ivy, choking her rationality until she was left with the mantra: the shields will fall – Remi – the shields will fall – Remi —

Stop it , she scolded herself.

Briony was counting on her.

Briony, who had been weaving wreaths for the border with fading magic for months.

Innes could create one wreath for one summoning without getting distracted, couldn’t she?

Remi.

Briony and Tabita and her baby niece and all the witches she called kin were counting on her.

Remi.

If she didn’t succeed in her Passage she wasn’t just going to get demoted – she was sentencing her entire race to an Ending worse than death, an Ending that would wipe another first being from the world, resulting in Caius and the gods having unfettered power over the lands.

Regardless of the rumours surrounding Tassos, losing the danann had already caused the balance in the Ever to shift once.

She couldn’t begin to fathom what it would mean to lose the witches and the only safeguarded well of magic.

Remi.

She threw the wreath on the table and stood up, pacing the room as she finally gave over to the thoughts she was dying to think about.

How the hell was it supposed to work out for them?

Remi spent her time travelling between Vincentia and Anfa to defend the border, and Innes spent her time in Telorne, never spending longer than a week in a single town beyond the border for fear of discovery.

And that was assuming Remi would be okay with her twinsoul being a witch.

Was there a way to reject the bond without one of them dying?

She’d never heard of such a thing, but that didn’t mean it wasn’t possible.

The thought of rejecting the bond made Innes’ stomach curdle.

Needing something to do other than obsess over a woman she barely knew, she threw open her doors to go explore the city and ran headfirst into her guard stationed outside.

‘Ow – what are you doing here?’

Remi’s grin was hesitant as she looked Innes up and down, taking in the green dress which billowed at the sleeves and hid her inkings.

The warrior wore loose pants and a navy shirt, her standard uniform.

‘I subbed in for Kella as your guard today,’ Remi said, taking a step back.

‘I wanted to thank you for the knife.’

A blush rose to Innes’ cheeks.

She’d tried to forget that impulse purchase.

‘I didn’t mean to interrupt,’ Remi said.

‘No, no, I was just going for a walk.’ Innes closed the door behind her so she could have a moment free of piercing eye contact.

She didn’t recognise herself around this woman.

‘Where are you headed?’ Remi asked.

‘I was going to head to the docks, unless you have another idea?’

‘I do, actually.’ Remi turned and began walking slowly down the hallway, allowing Innes to catch up.

‘But I need to stop by the infirmary first, if that’s okay?

’

Innes nodded and followed.

Anything Remi suggested sounded more than okay.

The air was warm, and a gentle breeze made the bougainvillea vines flutter in waves of green and budding pink.

They passed through the palace gate and rounded a corner, the bowl of Vincentia on display before them.

To her left the sea was a wash of vibrant blues, and small boats dotted the waters, as if painted by an artist.

There were puffs of white clouds hanging in the sky, which made the terracotta roofs glow in hues of orange.

Innes couldn’t help a low whistle escape her lips as she took in the view.

It didn’t matter how many times she saw it – Vincentia was stunning.

Olive trees lined the streets, and an array of vines, flowers and citrus trees were placed on people’s balconies so at every vantage point there was greenery tumbling down onto the street; city and nature cohabitating on this incredible coastal shoreline.

‘Beautiful.’

Innes turned to find Remi staring directly at her.

She couldn’t help but laugh.

Remi cracked a grin and shrugged, her eyes sparkling with amusement before she looked away.

‘Yes, it is very, very beautiful,’ Innes said, quieter.

‘I came here years ago with my cousin, Briony, but I don’t remember it being this vibrant, and that was before the blight.

’

‘When Queen Una came into power she changed the tithing systems, council and infrastructure. The blight is here, but we’re as prepared as we can be.

The whole city knows we’re in this together.

’

‘How does everyone feel about the treaty between Vettona and Clochain?’

Remi pursed her lips.

‘I think they’re happy the war is over.

’

Innes kept walking, enjoying the beautiful day around her.

‘I thought the warriors didn’t marry, though?

’

‘Traditionally we don’t.

But between the blight and the war.

.

.

I think Elva said yes to ease the burden of suffering.

’

‘I can’t imagine she would have been too happy about it.

’

Remi smiled sadly and pulled a leaf from an overhanging vine, then twirled it in her fingers.

‘She wasn’t.

’

‘Were you close?’

Remi tore the leaf in two before answering.

‘She’s, uh, actually my ex.

’

Innes felt the sensation of shifting sands.

She didn’t know what to say, or how to respond.

‘I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to pry.

’

‘No – it’s fine.

I would have told you sooner or later.

It’s just.

.

.

everything about this is backwards,’ Remi said, her hands gesturing between them.

‘There’s still so much we don’t know about each other.

It’s weird, and cool.

But mostly strange for you to be so enigmatic and mysterious when my soul feels like it knows you.

’

‘Enigmatic and mysterious, huh?’ Innes replied, forcing levity so she didn’t let her true emotions escape.

‘And beautiful.’

She laughed, the sound at odds with her pounding heartbeat.

Tell her.

She met Remi’s gaze.

Heat pooled between her legs when their eyes met, and she clenched her teeth to stop herself from panting at the yearning which flooded her.

Remi’s pupils dilated, and a flash of something warm echoed through the bond.

Tell her right now—

Remi looked away first and pointed to a green door with a small cross painted on the portico.

‘We’re here.

’

Innes closed her eyes and took a breath, forcing down the unruly tempest inside her.

‘Why are we here again?’ she asked when she’d garnered a semblance of control.

‘I have to drop this off.’ Remi pulled a calico bundle from her pocket as they passed through the door.

Innes nodded, and when a medic came to greet them, she found herself tuning out of the conversation to look at the wall of herbs and tonics on the other side of the healers’ centre.

It was a big space, with long wooden floorboards and curtains placed at intervals to allow privacy for patients.

Some were drawn while others were open, and she was surprised at the serenity in the space.

She wandered to the medicinal wall, her eyes scanning the half-empty jars.

Even the queen’s medics were running low on necessities.

A moan from behind a white curtain brought her attention back.

A medic rounded the corner, her face taut with worry as she scanned the wall, pulling down various jars and bottles.

The moan sounded behind the curtain again, and the medic moved faster.

Innes looked at the combination of bottles in the medic’s hands.

‘Another Ever Blessed poisoning?’

The medic turned to her in surprise, but after a moment she nodded, her expression tensing as the patient moaned louder.

Innes didn’t know how common these kinds of poisonings were in Vettona, but to come across two in such close succession sent a tremor of fear through her.

A moment later an echoing boom resounded in the space and the patient’s curtain ripped from its rail, the white fabric tearing to reveal a young man in flowing golden robes standing next to the patient’s bed.

Innes’ blood ran cold as she took in the demigod.

She fumbled backwards, fear racing through her veins as she crashed into the wall of jars next to her.

The smash of glass faded under the roar in her head, and she scrambled away, ducking underneath the desk as she slammed the dampeners on her Ever, folding her magic inside of herself.

It didn’t matter that a demigod couldn’t detect if someone was Ever Blessed, self-preservation hummed through her, and all she could think was hide.

The medical centre was chaotic as people shouted, and she took the opportunity to conceal herself more, breathing shallowly as the demigod’s gaze swept the room, skipping over her hiding place.

‘This man has been confirmed to have stolen the powers of the gods. Under the Seacht’s ordained rule, he is to meet his Ending and return his Ever to its holy origins.

’ The demigod turned to the patient, his hand outstretched as a bolt of something white shot from his hand, straight into the man.

The patient screamed, his voice a guttural death rattle before he collapsed, unmoving.

‘The Bridge of Endings awaits your arrival. Blessed by the glory of the Seacht, in the shadow of Caius we follow.’ A second later the demigod vanished, Everting into the ether with another bang.