“Is that a challenge?” Thom said, standing up as if Dramin hadn’t even spoken. “Ilyan and I can beat you!”
“I’m not joining in on this,” Ilyan said, but no one seemed to hear him. I locked eyes with Thom, trying to determine why he had gotten so upset, before shaking my head and turning away from him.
“Maybe tomorrow,” I said.
“Tomorrow? I say now!”
I jumped a bit at Thom’s tone, Ilyan jumping into Protector position automatically. Thom was obviously a little too cooped up in here.
“I’ll spar you tomorrow, Thom,” I said from behind, Ilyan. “I’m too weak today.”
Ilyan turned, his body dropping to my level, his face instantly concerned.
“Is it too much? We can do it today.” I smiled at how he instantly knew what I was talking about and at his willingness to fix it. I felt his magic surge as he tried to repair any current damage that was being done to my body.
“Not today,” I cringed. “I can wait one more day.”
“Are you sure? It’s already been two days.” Ilyan asked, his finger tracing down my neck. I jumped involuntarily when the shock sped down my spine at Ilyan’s contact with my mark.
“Yes,” I said somewhat breathlessly. Ilyan smiled at my reaction.
“Let me know if you change your mind.”
“Ugh!” Thom groaned loudly as he flailed around on his couch in obvious discomfort. “Will you two get a room? With a door?”
I blushed and looked away, suddenly feeling very uncomfortable. Ilyan stood and moved away from me to stand before Thom, the two beginning to fist fight each other playfully. Dramin took a long drink of his Black Water and I did the same, sighing and sinking into the chair.
I watched the two men fight, their odd banter bouncing back and forth as they jumped around the large space. Dramin chuckled at their play. I sunk back further and before I knew it, I had fallen asleep.
My eyes opened to Ryland standing alone in the middle of the clearing.
“Jos.” He whispered my name before running to me, his body strangely strong and whole again. His dark curls bounced as he came to me, his bright blue eyes cutting into my soul.
“Ryland?” I didn’t dare hope, but right then I was so happy to see him, after everything that he had said before, and I needed to know.
I opened my mouth to ask if it was really him, but never even got one word out. His lips covered mine as he pressed into me, his hands and mouth encompassing me with a kiss I could have never imagined would come from him. It was deep and needy in a way that made my toes shake. I sighed as a spot deep inside my belly spun with joy.
He pulled away, his eyes looking deep into mine. His look was suddenly desperate and panicked.
“Ryland?” I asked, growing worried.
“You know I love you, right?” he asked, his eyes darting frantically over my face. “More than anything?”
“Yes,” I answered breathlessly.
“And you know I would do anything to save you, to protect you. Right?” My veins turned to ice. I didn’t like where this was going.
“Ryland?” I asked, not willing to give him the answer to his question.
“Break the connection, Joclyn. Now. Have Ilyan show you how. Do it the second you wake up.” He grabbed my hands tightly and pulled me down to the forest floor, my knees crunching against the dead leaves.
“Ryland, why are you asking me to do this?” I could barely get the words out, my throat felt so tight.
“It’s the only way to keep you safe, Jos. I should have never completed the Z?lství. I thought I was strong enough, I thought I could…” He shook his head and looked away from me.
“I can’t. Ryland... I can’t.” I clung to his hands tighter, pulling him into me. “I need you.”
“No you don’t!” he yelled loudly, his voice reverberating off of the trees. “I can’t save you. I can’t protect you. Not anymore!”
“Ryland,” my voice was a squeak, my heart thumping wildly in my chest.
“You have to break...” He stopped and his eyes went wide, his gaze was beyond me, the panic evident on his face. I went to turn, terrified at what I might see, but Ryland forced me back to look at him. Quick footsteps were coming up behind me; a hand grabbed my hair and pulled me to standing.
“Break the connection, and don’t go in...” Ryland’s voice was silenced in my ears as I felt a body behind me, a knife against my throat, and heard Cail’s wicked laugh before I woke up clutching my neck. My breathing came in sharp panicked spurts, but I did not scream.
I stared at the roof of the bunk as I waited for my breathing to calm, my mind playing Ilyan’s song for me inside my head. I listened to it until the panic was gone, most of the vivid images of the nightmare fading into the netherworld that exists between sleep and waking. I curled into Ilyan’s chest, partially wondering why he was already in my bed before I drifted off to sleep again.
Thirty