Soul of Flame (Imdalind Series #4)(65)

I couldn’t.

In the sights, I had seen the amazing things that were expected of me, but it wasn’t until Ilyan held me—until Ilyan supported me—that I had felt even a sliver of possibility of being the girl I had seen. If Ilyan had taught me anything, it was to do what was right.

I couldn’t deny that.

“You must let her become who she is, not who you saw, Tatínek. The rest will come,” Dramin said with the deep parental wisdom I had expected from him.

“I have never believed in such trifles, my son. I expect more of those who hold my blood.”

“I know this, Tati, but she does not. Perhaps it is time that you think of what needs she has of you,” Dramin said softly as his hand reached toward mine, pulling me to him. “I have seen her overcome amazing trials, accept herself for who she is, and accept her title…”

“But it is not enough,” Sain interrupted him with a growl. His words made everything feel like such an oppressive weight against my heart that I could barely breathe.

I looked toward Ilyan, his eyes soft as he looked into me, the pride I had sought for during the past few minutes so strong within him that it caught in my chest, my heart swelling comfortably as Ilyan gave me what I had so desperately been looking for.

A family.

My body seemed to swell in a white light at the realization, the fight that raged around me meaning nothing now.

“Stop, Tatínek,” Dramin rumbled, his harsh words making his own father stop in his tracks. “You are speaking like an old man kept too long in the dark. Do not let Edmund’s poison infiltrate your soul. Even you know that your sight told us—that only her Protector can make her strong enough. It is only Ilyan who can make her who she needs to be.”

I saw Ryland flinch out of the corner of my eye at the use of Ilyan’s name in connection to me, yet I couldn’t look away from Ilyan. Dramin’s strong grip on my hand was the only thing keeping me from running to him.

“Ilyan has been with her through all, training her, protecting her, keeping her safe even at night when the nightmares plagued her. When Cail stole her mind, he held her,” Dramin said as he pleaded with our father, begging him to see what everyone else had seen all along.

“Is this true?”

“Yes. It is my birthright, my desire, to protect her, and I will do all in my power to see that happen,” Ilyan said, the royal tone in his voice catching me off guard after the gentle look I had just seen in his eyes. He broke the spell he had trapped me under as he looked toward my father.

“You have held her through all of it?” Sain asked, his voice strangely soft and accepting after the rejection I had been plagued with.

“Always,” Ilyan’s voice was so soft, so calm, as he walked up to me, his body so close I could feel the heat of his skin against my bare arms.

I looked toward him, sure that the message was more to me than to Sain. My hands shook with need as I reached toward him, desperate to feel the pulse of his magic, the warmth of his skin, and to have our souls move back to where they belonged.

Ilyan’s eyes captured me as he answered my call, his hand pulling me into him as his magic plunged into me at the touch. I pulled his magic into me, our souls relaxing as they moved together. I sighed at the contact, my head moving to rest against his chest.

“Get your hands off her!” Ryland’s rabid scream broke the peace that had consumed me. The walls rocked as his magic exploded along with my own fear and anger.

The room filled with the loud crack of wood as the mugs full of Black Water on the shelf behind us tumbled from the now broken shelf. I clung to Ilyan on instinct, a shield erupting from me as Black Water rained down on us, the strong barrier keeping the acidic water away from Ilyan.

“Don’t tell him what to do!” I roared as my magic crackled between my fingers, the silver sparks casting long shadows through the dim room.

I stepped toward him in a fury, my hands raising just as Ilyan wrapped his arms around me, pulling me into his chest. I fought the hold as my anger sparked, my magic erupting from me as the room began to shift beneath our feet.

“No, my love,” he whispered into my ear as he tried to calm me, the warmth of his magic tunneling through me in desperation.

I tried to move past his tight hold as Wyn pushed Ryland to the ground, Sain and Thom rushing to her aide. His howls of anger lessoned, whereas mine only grew. My soul ached as I kept Ilyan away from me, the anger growing.

“I am safe, my love, you saved me,” Ilyan whispered, the gentle reminder rumbling through my fury.

He was safe.

I pressed myself into Ilyan while I kept the shield strong, his arms keeping me against him as I steadied my breathing, as I pushed the anger away.

“I’m sorry, Ilyan. I didn’t mean…I just lost track…” Ryland whimpered as he calmed. His body relaxed as he leaned against the wall with Wyn and Sain surrounding him.

“It is all right, brother,” Ilyan said as he loosened his tight grip. “I understand.”

Ryland only nodded as he looked away, his curls bobbing as he hit his head against the wall in pained desperation.

“I’m sorry,” I whispered as Ilyan moved me into the darkened corner of the room, not knowing who my words were meant for.

“Are you all right?” Ilyan whispered down to me as his fingers trailed over my skin.