The Bound (Ascension #2)(19)

“Why must you torment me?” Cyrene grasped Avoca’s hand, and a current of magic coursed between them. “The Creator is alive and well in Byern. She breathes through me, through you, through the land.”

“Yes,” she finally agreed. “Your desert drains me. It is harder to feel the connection to the land with it pressing in on all sides. If it continues, it will drain your river and take over the city as well.”

“But not today.”

Avoca stared out at the road as they approached the formidable gate and nodded. “Do you love the other one, too?”

“I don’t know who you mean.” But Cyrene did.

“Prince Kael,” Avoca breathed.

Cyrene didn’t respond.

“How can you feel this compulsion to both of them?”

Their eyes met across the short distance. Cyrene had no answers for her. She had always been like this with them. It wasn’t…love but something different. She didn’t understand it.

“And will you marry the Prince and then become the Crown Princess of Byern, Duchess of Albion, Doma? For you know, he will ask. Perhaps that is why we’re here.”

Cyrene was saved from answering as their carriage rumbled to a stop. She stepped out onto the castle grounds. They were escorted into the throne room where Edric sat with Queen Kaliana, Consort Daufina, and Prince Kael.

Cyrene’s eyes swept to Edric. A pull greater than the source of her magic tugged at her, as she was lost in the depths of those blue-gray eyes. With great difficulty, she averted her eyes and found she was instantly swept up in Kael. The desire was clearly written on his face. He had never masked it, and the same compulsion hit her fresh.

She didn’t want either of them, yet she couldn’t stop this obsession either.

“Leave us,” Edric barked.

The Queen and Consort looked at him, appalled, but they could not refuse a direct request. Kaliana bit out a smart remark to him, which he ignored, and then she sauntered out.

Kael never moved.

“You, too, brother.”

Kael sent him an icy glare. He walked directly to Cyrene, grasped one of her hands, and whispered none too quietly, “Find me after,” before he kissed her hand.

Cyrene never took her eyes from the throne as he passed her.

“Are you going to release her?” Edric asked, gesturing to Avoca.

“She is not mine to release, and anything you have to say may be said in front of her.”

His eyebrows rose at her defiance.

“You knew this day might come, Affiliate. You swore fealty to the throne and loyalty to Byern. Dissension has been brewing ever since these…Leifs were introduced into our society. I thought I was doing the right thing by making you an Affiliate Ambassador to their people, but that time is over.” His eyes slid to Avoca with a deep-set hatred in them before returning to Cyrene. “You need to come home and sever ties with their…kind.”

Cyrene gasped at the insinuation, and Avoca straightened at the insult.

“Excuse me? Do you find something wrong with diplomacy between our two races?” Avoca spat.

“I didn’t ask her to bring you, Leif. You may speak when spoken to.”

“I am the Crown Princess of Eldora,” Avoca said. “You will learn propriety, or I will be happy to teach it to you.”

Cyrene grasped her arm before she could send the wave of energy building inside of her. She didn’t like this any more than Avoca, but giving away the fact that they harbored magic was the worst thing they could do.

“Edric, please. You’re mistaken. Their people are good. We should want them as allies.”

“I’ve made my decision, Cyrene. Come home. Take your seat at my side.”

“You already have a queen, Edric.” Cyrene rushed forward. “Do not make me choose between my country and what I know is right.”

“That should not be a choice you have to make. Byern is where you belong.”

Cyrene shook her head. “I am sorry. Are you sure you cannot reconsider?”

“The decision is made.”

Cyrene swallowed hard, unable to believe what she was about to do. “So is mine.”

She turned on her heels and strode from the ballroom with Avoca on her heels. Avoca clasped her hand in Cyrene’s as they exited.

Cyrene heard Edric call her name behind her, but she didn’t stop, and she didn’t look back.



Cyrene kept walking until she felt Avoca pull her to a standstill. She had just walked out on Edric. On Byern. All of this, for her loyalty to Avoca. Giving up her homeland was something she had never considered, never been willing to consider. Byern was her real love, and now, she had to leave…forever.

“You’re back!” a voice called from down the hall.

Cyrene brushed the tears from her face. A whisper of regret fluttered through her mind and then was gone. She didn’t know why she had been thinking about leaving her country. Byern was not her present concern. She and Avoca had been too busy with traveling the countryside, looking for others who might be like her.

“Ceis’f,” Avoca whispered when he rounded the corner.

“They said you weren’t coming back, Ava,” Ceis’f said. He jogged down to meet them, never taking his eyes from Avoca.

“I never said that I wasn’t.”