Page 22 of Savage Crown
“She didn’tthinkyou would not be worthy enough to wield her. Sheknew. It’s part of her gift. Just as she knew when I walked into the binding hall that I would be the one to wield her.”
Pain flickered across his face, but instead of pulling away, he squeezed tighter, as if he were borrowing strength from me. The way his thumb brushed the inside of my wrist was instinctive, like he couldn’t not do it, like some part of him still believed we belonged to each other.
A soft pulse came from Valkaryn.
‘I want to try something I think might work. It will take energy from you, but you are not in danger, so you can go and rest after. Would that be okay?’
‘Yes.’
The moment I agreed, she warmed. That quiet hum of her power settled low in my arm.
‘Put your fingers on his temples. I am going to try to speak into his mind for a short moment. You will hear it, too, but it will be nice for him to hear my voice.’
My throat tightened unexpectedly. This felt so intimate.
I smiled despite myself, and Kaelric cocked his head slightly, confused by the sudden shift.
“She wants to try something,” I whispered, releasing his hands so I could lift mine to his face.
His lips parted, breath catching. His eyes bled to bright yellow as I cupped his jaw and let my fingers settle at his temples. His skin was warm. So warm.
‘Close your eyes and try to make your mind go blank,’Val told me.
Right. Easy. Sure.
I closed my eyes and instantly lost focus. The rushing water was suddenly so loud. Constant. My brain decided that was the perfect moment to obsess about fish, whether any were swimming near us, whether bears lived in this region, and?—
‘Brynn,’Val scolded, exasperated.
I winced and forced myself to picture a black night sky, empty and still. One star. Then none. Just dark. I breathed into the quiet, and slowly thoughts drifted away like leaves carried downstream.
After a moment, when my mind finally stilled, I felt Val stir.
A presence slid through me like cool air.
‘Hello, son.’
Kaelric gasped.
His fingers twitched against his knees, but he didn’t break the connection. I tried not to react either, keeping my breathing even, my focus on the black sky in my thoughts.
‘Brynn is the only one of your generation worthy to wield my power, chosen by the Creator himself. It was at my request that she decline magic for her family and keep me instead, for I knew if she forfeited my power, you would not wield it, and it would be lost for another hundred years at least.’
My heart lurched.
I heard him whimper. Kaelric Morvain, who could command armies and split stone with his bare hands, made a small, broken sound.
‘But how do I save our people without risking Brynn? I never wanted her to keep you because I don’t want to put her in danger, but your power is the only thing that can stop Harrow.’
His voice echoed in my mind, raw and terrified. It felt wrong to listen. But Val kept us connected, so I stayed.
‘You have no control over that, son. But we will find a way. You have to have faith.’
He let out a shaking breath. His posture softened, the tension spilling out of him.
‘I missed your voice, Mama.’
He sounded like a little boy. My eyes burned, and tears slipped out beneath my lids. I didn’t wipe them away.
