Page 32 of Hope Entwined (Chronicles of Aldreda: Hope Rising)

T enacity poured through the bond as Rodric stepped into the gatehouse. Whatever Celina was bolstering herself to do had him wanting to break into a run. Had that same well of resolve filled her just before she’d faced the soldiers in town?

He paused to let his eyes adjust to the change in lighting and zeroed in on a shadow of movement unsteadily descending the stairs. Celina!

A large stone broke loose with a loud crack on her next step, pitching her forward.

He leapt for her, catching her around the waist and lifting her away from the stairs. Holding her tightly, he dropped his forehead to hers. “I thought I’d lost you.”

“Never.” Her voice broke on the whispered promise.

An unhealthy heat rose from her skin as he pressed his head to hers, shooting fear through him. They’d held her captive most of the day. “You’re burning up, love. What did they do to you?”

“I’m okay.” She gave a soft kiss and evaded answering. “Brenna needs you. She’s upstairs with Jed.”

Forcing down his need to question her about what she’d endured, he pressed a tender kiss at her temple and carried her a few feet outside. “Connor, take her. She’s dizzy and can barely walk.”

Setting her on her feet, Rodric transferred her to her brother and turned back to the gatehouse. Connor would protect her. He stepped carefully, not disturbing a single stone as he ascended the stairs, tuning his senses to the quiet building. No threats met him, so he continued to round the corner.

A ferocious Jed held the center of the small room, teeth and claws bared in warning.

Whipping around, he found Brenna standing to the hidden side of the doorway, back pressed to the wall in the least visible spot in the room. A large rock was raised in her shaking hands. Recognition hit just as she was about to release the weapon. She stumbled to a stop and dropped it instead.

With a wrenching sob, she jumped at him, trusting him to catch her just as he’d done a thousand times throughout her childhood. His heart exploded with emotions as he caught her, love, fear, and relief battering him as he held her safely.

“I’m sorry, Brenna. So, so sorry, sunshine.” He’d meant to say you’re safe, I’ve got you, it’s going to be okay . But all those reassurances transformed into murmured apologies as they passed his lips.

Her crying quieted and she released him to wipe her eyes. “Why do you keep apologizing?”

“It’s my fault. All of this. I’m so sorry, Brenna.”

“It’s not. I… I have magic. Will you still… do you hate me?”

“I love you so much, I thought I might die when I came home to find you taken. Magic or no magic, you’ll always be my sunshine. I could never, ever hate you.”

“I wanted to tell you, but Da wanted to wait.” More tears leaked from her eyes.

“It’s okay, sunshine.”

He pulled her back into a long hug, barely believing she was finally safe in his arms. Thank the stars for Celina. And Sev, Cass, Morgan, Daya, and Connor. He owed them all for putting his head on straight, forcing him to face his fears and make peace with his past.

“There’s a lot I should have told you, too,” he said. “But first, let’s get out of here.”

K eeping a hand on Brenna’s shoulder, Rodric hurried their group through the fortress, cutting a straight line from the gatehouse to the stable. Whoever was left would be hiding or trying to escape, and the captain had so far evaded their body count. Determining the second was more likely, they headed to the horses.

Celina jerked to a stop as they approached. “Someone’s in there.”

“How many?” Connor asked.

“Two, at least. Maybe more.”

Straining his ears produced a bare hint of familiar sound—someone saddling a horse. “How can you hear that?” Rodric asked.

“Bonyon fruit,” Celina said.

“Oh, so you could hear me. That makes more sense,” Brenna said, understanding dawning on her face. She took Celina’s hand, squeezing it. Celina blinked rapidly and smiled down at her.

The rage that had faded into relief once he’d found her relit with a vengeance. Every reason his mind conjured for why they would have given the Zamyran fruit to her in its most potent form was worse than the last.

Giving Brenna to his mate for safekeeping, he looked to Connor. “This ends now.”

“Carefully. They might have Opal with them,” Connor reminded him of the youngest child still in need of rescue.

They crept toward the barn with synced steps, movement and low voices becoming louder as they approached. One last obstacle and he could finally get his girls out of danger. Once again, he found himself waiting for a Calderran warrior’s signal to enter the fray.

At the first clash of metal, he spun from his hiding spot against the stable wall into the entryway, boxing in their opponents.

The stalls were mostly closed, forcing the battle into the open aisle of the stable. Connor was battling two soldiers with vehemence, clearly trying to force them toward the open end of the barn. Their third opponent stood in the farthest stall next to a black horse, where the tiny Opal sat with bound wrists.

One of the men Connor battled, the captain who’d recognized him in town, caught sight of him and changed course.

“Took you long enough.” The captain sneered as he brought his blade up and advanced. “Going to fight me this time?”

Rodric’s mind snapped into a violent space as he made the first move. He wouldn’t feel burdened by this kill. The rage pouring through him strengthened his thrusts as he fought the man who’d hurt his mate.

Their blades crossed, allowing the captain to lean closer to him before pushing away. “I bet your woman screams as pretty as she cries. I promised her I’d be back to find out after killing you.”

Contrary to its intent, the taunt honed Rodric in on his target with even more force. “She’s my mate, and I will kill you for harming her.”

He pushed the captain back, maneuvering them outside. Their movements intensified in the open space, causing Rodric some worry. The captain fought with quick, fluid movements and the confidence of a trained warrior, not an average soldier.

A fearful gasp from Brenna distracted the captain for a second, giving Rodric the opportunity to slice a line diagonally from his shoulder to his belt. The captain stumbled back and kept going a pace, making Rodric follow him or back off. A serious amount of blood seeped from his chest and abdomen.

Raising his unencumbered arm, the captain pulled something from his belt. A forward thrust pushed Rodric off, giving him the second of respite needed to throw the object. The glint of metal sparked in the night as it zinged past Rodric. His heart wrenched a second before pain slammed into him through the bond.

“No!” His shout mingled with Connor’s as the black horse thundered out of the barn carrying the third man and Opal.

The captain snapped his head toward the movement and let out a curse. Stepping forward, Rodric swept underneath his opponent’s raised sword and connected, driving his sword through his enemy’s heart. The man crashed to his knees, and Rodric gave him a kick to the chest that sent him all the way to the ground.

Dropping his bloodied weapon as Connor went after their escaped opponent, he turned toward the devastating sight of Celina on the ground, Brenna kneeling over her.

Rodric raced to his fallen mate, knees hitting the dirt hard as he bent over her. Celina, hold on! The drug still blocked her side of the connection, increasing the panic coursing through him.

“She stepped in front of me,” Brenna sobbed from his side, hand grasping Celina’s.

“It’s okay, it’s going to be okay.” He pulled the throwing knife from her abdomen and set it on the ground.

“My hunter.” Her whisper barely made it through his mental chaos. “Love you.”

“Hold on, love.” Rodric pressed his shaking hands over Celina’s wound to stem the blood. He pushed magic into her as forcefully as he could, but it felt like it was only making a slight difference. Shuddering, her breathing began to change, and she coughed as she tried to speak.

“No! Don’t you dare die on me. Fight, Celina! You are the strongest woman I’ve ever met. Fight for me.” What was he doing wrong? He had to save her. Avery, help me!

Quit fighting. Embrace it. Avery’s sweet, young voice filled his soul.

Sev’s guidance flowed back to him in the same instant. Stop blocking your instincts and hunt for her. She’s your mate.

Taking a precious second, he fought his panicked mind for control. Pushing the Hunter to the front of his mind, he let the honed instincts take charge of his magic. It was all he had.

His vision blurred and changed, sparkling with odd colors and shimmering magic. The hint of a shadow appeared below the colors. A braid, three strands entwined in a loose connection. The Hunter sent magic into the rope, brightening it from its barely visible state to a glowing, pulsing beam of light.

His mind rebelled, trying to redirect the magic, but the Hunter barely even registered the protest. Mate. Must be unbreakably bonded.

Trusting this part of himself, Rodric quieted his mind and directed both of his magics and the lingering essence of Celina’s magic into the bond instead of directly to the wound. He physically jerked as the rope pulled tight around his soul, changing the sensation of it in his body. It would never feel the same again, now completely entwined with Celina’s.

The Hunter approved, his conviction flooding Rodric with rich faith in his mate, in their fully formed soul-bond.

Calmly this time, he filled her wounds with the shimmer of their combined magics, imbuing Celina with a golden white light that saturated the injury. Over and over again, he poured magic into the deep gash that threatened to take his mate until the wound sealed fully and her breathing returned to normal.

Trying not to focus on the blood soaking Celina, he lay his fingers against her wrist and felt her strong heartbeat. Reaching to open the bond, he stopped short. It was missing.

The Hunter’s instinct rose, redirecting him. The bond wasn’t gone, just changed. Instead of a channel to open and close at will from either side, it was an open stream, winding around both their souls in a never-ending band.

Visualizing the joining bracelets tucked away in his pack, Rodric realized the striking similarity between the internal image of their soul-bond and the braided bands. With surety, he knew it was no coincidence.

Sitting upright, he found Brenna staring at him, jaw dropped and eyes wide with shock. “But… you hate magic.”

“I did, but I think I’ve changed my mind.”

“I’ll say.”

A laugh escaped him. “Yeah, we’ve got some things to talk about. But not tonight.”

“Alright.” Brenna slumped against him to rest her head on his shoulder.

Bone-tired exhaustion pricked his elevated senses and he cursed inwardly. His healing instincts needed a lot of improvement. Shifting, he pulled Brenna into a hug and sent magic into her. Strengthening her lifeforce and healing her cuts and scrapes until the weary tension disappeared.

“I knew you’d come.” Her soft words sank straight into his heart.

Blinking back tears, he kissed the top of her head and tightened his arms around her. “Always, sunshine.”

The earth vibrated under them as Connor rode into view, coming to an abrupt halt nearby. Opal was wrapped securely in his arms, seemingly unharmed. Connor’s eyes roved over his sister’s still form before meeting his gaze.

“She’s good,” Rodric confirmed.

“Thank you, Rodric.”

Rodric tipped his head in the direction the escaped lieutenant had ridden in silent question.

Connor’s jaw hardened and he nodded sharply. “Taken care of.”

Rodric frowned at the lack of detail but didn’t press further with Brenna present.

Red movement caught his eye as Jed settled next to Celina. Resting his head on her shoulder, the osa made soft sounds and snuggled closer to her. Rodric smiled as he watched her chest rise with steady breaths, grateful that everyone had survived the night.