The Bound (Ascension #2)(16)

Ceis’f grasped Avoca’s arm. “You can’t actually mean to do this.”

“I mean for you not to interfere.” She withdrew from his grasp.

Queen Shira brought them into a giant domed library that made Cyrene smile with fond memories of Byern and Albion. It sent a pang through her chest as she thought about her best friend, Rhea, who had insisted on staying behind.

The Queen removed a book from a shelf and shuffled through the pages. “Here it is. Just as I thought, the magic is particular and requires three parts—acceptance of the ritual, a test of loyalty to check for compatibility, and an elemental binding.”

“A test of loyalty?” Cyrene asked. Why does that sound so familiar?

“Yes. Not every person can be bound. In fact, even before the War of the Light, few did so.”

“Why?” Avoca asked.

“Only magical users can be officially bound, and it is even rarer for people between races to be bound, for our magic differs slightly. Leif magic relies solely on the elements. We draw from things around us to increase our powers. Doma magic is able to do this as well, but there is always a component inherent to the user. You produce magic from within as well as draw from the outside world, which is why you need more training. But, to answer your question, some people feared sharing their powers and learning new abilities. They believed that it could weaken them.”

“You mean, it could weaken your own daughter?” Ceis’f growled.

“It makes you weak in that you are loyal to someone other than yourself, Ceis’f. It takes a certain kind of person to share yourself and your magic with another. I, myself, do not think that is weakness but strength. Now, are you willing to try to see if you are compatible?”

“I am,” Avoca said immediately.

Cyrene mulled over the situation. Avoca was her best bet of getting out of here. As far as Cyrene saw it though, her gift had already been paid. Cyrene had saved Avoca from the Indres, but someone had had to bring her back to Eldora to be healed. Cyrene could have easily died out there, alone in the woods.

Just that thought alone dredged up feelings of gratitude and loyalty to Avoca. And, while the thought of sharing her powers terrified her, it also excited her. She didn’t feel the same fears that the Queen had discussed. She wasn’t afraid to weaken herself. Having someone to guide her, to share her frustrations, to maybe even tap into the floodgates would be a comfort.

“What happens if we’re not compatible?” Cyrene asked finally.

“The loyalty portion can effect people in different ways. Some have felt nothing, some have felt a lingering feeling of attachment to the person, and some have died.”

Cyrene sucked in a breath.

“Think on it. I am going to mix the ingredients required in the instructions, and then I will need your answer.”

The Queen stepped out of the library, leaving the three of them alone. Cyrene paced as she thought about how she had gotten herself into this mess. Avoca and Ceis’f argued quietly across the room. Ceis’f was likely trying to talk Avoca out of this foolishness.

The thing was, if Avoca wanted to follow her around on her mission, she could do that, and there wasn’t much Cyrene could do to stop her. She couldn’t even touch her powers. She liked to believe that she was a good judge of character and that she followed her gut when it told her to believe in people. Ahlvie had seemed like a dirty, drunk scoundrel, but she had put her faith in him when no one else would. And he had helped her, blind of her reasons. This had the same nagging tug.

She should trust Avoca.

She should be loyal to these people.

She should be bound.

“I’ll do it,” Cyrene said.

Avoca nodded in satisfaction, but Ceis’f seethed next to her.

“Neither of you has any idea what you’re getting into. It’s reckless. Avoca. Will you not see reason? You are risking your life and the safety of all Leifs by abandoning us to run away with it.”

“I’ve had about enough of you,” Cyrene cried. “You were out there yesterday. You saw the Indres. I saved your life, too. At best, you would have run away as a coward. At worst, you would be dead. If you had any honor, you would allow the Princess to make decisions for herself. Certainly, she is capable of doing something without you breathing down her neck.”

“You are mistaken,” he growled. “I have no honor. Your kind robbed me of it.”

“Ceis’f,” Avoca whispered. She placed her hand on his arm. “That is a tale for another day.”

“I will not idly sit by and watch you throw your life away,” he said, wrenching his arm free and storming toward the door.

The Queen returned at that moment. She raised a questioning eye at Ceis’f as he hurried past her but did not object when he left the room. “Have we come to a decision?”

“Let’s do it,” Cyrene said.

Cyrene and Avoca each took a glass that Queen Shira had handed to them. Cyrene had a sense of déjà vu settle over her, but she couldn’t place it exactly. She glanced over at Avoca, who seemed entirely resolute about her decision.

“Please grasp arms.” The Queen clutched the book in her hand and faced the girls.

They looked at each other. Cyrene swallowed back her fear. She stretched out her right hand, and they locked forearms in a tight embrace.