Page 157 of Salt in the Seas
This time Iris let out a small laugh. “Not just any kiss will work. The kiss needs to have love behind it. An emotion stronger and deeper than what the bonds already hold. Otherwise it wouldn’t be strongenough to break it. So yes, a simple kiss can break it. But not just any kiss.”
Iris’ words made something in Aeliana burn, a dull pain that turned to a roar that held the heat of embarrassment and horror. Did everyone think she and Gaeren had had some sort of clandestine meeting in the woods the night before?
She felt sick knowing the hints of attraction she’d felt were exposed before the entire group as something much bigger than she was even ready to admit. She hadn’t considered her feelings could be stronger than a bond, but now, without her bond to Lukai to cause confusion, her body seemed to react to the possibility without her permission, letting a sense of desire unfurl inside her. Except instead of growing into something beautiful, it seemed to wither with the vulnerable truth that everyone knew how she felt.
Including Gaeren.
Clearly he had known how the kiss worked. Had her interest been obvious enough that he’d known it would break the bond? Or had it been his way of testing her, and now he had proof that he was right? Her embarrassment shifted to anger as she let the memory of the moment unfold in her mind. He should have explained it before their kiss, given her a chance to change her mind.
“Your palm is bleeding, like it’s a fresh wound.” Iris clucked her disapproval, then placed a new poultice on her palm.
Aeliana flinched, hating the way the cuts on her palms reminded her of how Arvid and Vera had bled her for magic. The consistent unexplained cuts she continued finding left a niggling doubt in her mind that made her squirm.
Iris misinterpreted her movements. “I’m sorry, love. The pain should get better in another day or so.”
“It already has,” Aeliana mumbled. “I mostly only feel it on my palm.” Even though the words were true, they felt like a lie as the pain in her heart threatened to engulf her.
“I suggest you get a little more rest,” Iris said. “Once Kendalyhn clears you, Sylmar plans to take you out for a bit of training, and he won’t go easy on you.”
“Finally.” Aeliana rolled on her side, not because she was tired, but to hide the tears she blinked away.
When Aeliana woke again, the Sun’s light streamed through the western window, the only hint at the time that had passed. She felt no more rested than she had when she’d closed her eyes. The creak of steps on wood clued her in to the fact that someone else’s presence had woken her.
She turned, wincing at the way the movement stirred up the familiar aches and pains, then froze as Kendalyhn’s petite frame stood hesitantly at her bedside. Aeliana glanced at the closed door, sensing a moment of panic that they were alone.
But then Kendalyhn dropped to the chair beside her bed, her face crumpling. “I’m so sorry,” she whispered, tears trickling down her cheeks.
Aeliana fought to sit up, ignoring the way her palm turned to fire as she placed her weight on it. “You’resorry? Whatever for?”
Kendalyhn shook her head, then placed shaking fingers over her face. “It was wrong of me to interfere with your bond.”
“I always found the bond suffocating. You know that.” Aeliana reached for the other woman’s hand, hoping to comfort her, but Kendalyhn winced, and Aeliana let her hand drop. “I never would have held him to our bond. It didn’t feel right.”
“Still,” Kendalyhn said, “you don’t know everything.”
Aeliana stilled. “What do you mean?”
“Do you remember when Gaeren joined us, and Sylmar had me sift his soul?”
“Yes.” Aeliana drew the word out warily, not sure how that had anything to do with their discussion.
“His motives were mixed,” Kendalyhn said. “He wanted to rescue you, but in his past, there was also a deep desire to rid Rhystahn of the Wyndren family line. It had been ingrained in him as a youth. Instead of protecting you, I told him you’re a Wyndren. It changed something inside him, put him at war with himself. Just like I wanted it to.”
Aeliana winced, imagining how perfectly that had played out. How her anger at Gaeren’s attitude toward Durriken had probably fed the misconceptions Kendalyhn had planted.
“I thought he might rid me of your presence, of the problem of your existence.” Kendalyhn’s voice broke with the admission.
“It’s all right, Kendalyhn. Things have changed since then. We’re not the enemies we once?—”
“No.” Kendalyhn’s face blanched. “You need to understand. I wanted you dead. Before I shot Marnok, I had my arrow pointed at you.” She squeezed her eyes shut and whispered, “I wouldn’t have really done it.”
The half confession made a fresh wave of pain flutter through Aeliana’s chest.
“In the moment, I let my arrow train on you. I wondered how it would change things if my finger slipped, but I swear I never would have done it. And then when he pounced on you, I was quick to let it loose on him out of remorse.”
Aeliana gave a short nod, blinking away the sudden rush of loneliness the full truth brought on. Kendalyhn had hated her far more than she’d realized, but that was in the past.
“I’m sorry,” Kendalyhn whispered.
