Page 93 of The Prince's Fealty

It hadn’t occurred to him that they might need a healer, which was incredibly short-sighted of him. Would Tama have come if he’d asked?

Only then Stronex was nodding at one of the guards who’d remained in the room, a tall woman with pale skin and black hair who looked to be about Tor’s age.

“Tekilona is a healer. Please come see what you can do.”

Stronex thought of everything. Tor never wanted to wind up in a situation like this ever again, but if hedid, he definitely wanted Stronex by his side.

Maybe he at least offered advice?

Tekilona knelt down above Ada’s head, reaching out to lay her hands on either side of Ada’s face. Her eyes fluttered closed, and a look of intense concentration appeared. She grimaced, but when she opened her eyes again and removed her hands, she looked more serene.

“Her magic was badly unbalanced. I have given her a boost of my own magic, which should help.”

They all looked down again as Ada stirred a little. Tor’s breath caught as her eyes flickered open. Her brow furrowed, and then tears welled up.

“Am I dead?” she whispered.

“No, Ada,” Tor said, swallowing thickly. “Rumors of my demise were just a bit exaggerated. Hey, there, little sis.”

She reached for him with arms that didn’t seem to work quite right, and he pulled her into a hug. He cradled her to his chest, rocking her back and forth, patting her back and assuring her that everything was going to be all right.

“I’m fine and you’re fine and Var’s fine and Cala’s fine and Fernila’s fine. Everyone is fine. It’s going to be totally fine.”

She pulled out of his embrace enough to see Var, Cala, and Fernila for herself. Tears were still leaking down her cheeks. And then she caught sight of Stronex. Her face twisted,and she burst into tears, huge, wrenching sobs that were so much worse than the more regular crying that she’d been doing a moment ago.

Tor was at a loss, and in his moment of hesitation, Stronex opened his arms. Ada cast herself into them, clutching at him tightly. Stronex’s arms came around her, and he rocked her back and forth and murmured softly to her.

Slowly, the noise level in the room diminished, and Tor became aware that Ada was muttering, “He’s dead, he’s dead, he’s dead, he’s dead,” over and over again into Stronex’s chest.

Stronex’s eyes closed for a moment, and then they opened again. “You survived the bond snapping. It’s going to hurt, but you’ll get through this, I promise.”

But Ada was shaking her head, and Tor’s breath caught. Pel rubbed his back soothingly. What further torture could be waiting for them? If they all made it through this only to have Ada killed because ofThurnil, Tor wouldn’t be responsible for his actions.

(He should feel worse about his brother-in-law’s death, probably. Maybe one day he would.)

“It was awful having the magic ripped out.” Ada sniffled, and she was silent for so long that Tor thought maybe that was it.

Stronex was gently stroking her hair, careful of the tangles. Gently, he said, “A breaking bond is incredibly painful. But it gets better with time.”

Only Ada was shaking her head. “You don’t understand.” Another sniff. “It doesn’t hurt at all anymore. I forgot what it felt like to not be in pain.”

Tor stared at his sister with utter horror and realized that everyone else was doing the same, gaping at her. Her face was buried in Stronex’s chest still, which was probably for the best.

It was Stronex who said, “It hurt when you were bonded?”

Ada sniffed again. She sounded exhausted. “Every moment of every day. Like there was something deep inside that I desperately needed to get away from. But couldn’t, because it was inside me.” She huffed a little laugh that didn’t sound very amused. “Thurnil said I was the worst kind of irritation.”

Stronex tightened his hold and kissed Ada on the top of the head. “He was a fool.”

She sniffed again, and her voice sounded as though it was filled with more tears. “He was your son.”

“He hurt you,” Stronex said, like that put him in a different category.

Tor had already respected Stronex, but now he was certain he genuinely liked the man.

Quietly, Ada said, “Not anymore.”

Tor grimaced, and Var winced visibly. Tor met his brother’s eyes and saw regret and guilt and pain in them. He didn’t want his brother to suffer, but he really hoped this taught him what Tor had been trying to say all along.