Eyes of Ember (Imdalind Series #2)(80)

“Your heart will long for her, but she may not be yours to take.”

More sights, more visions of secret kisses, intimate moments when we sat with our arms around each other, as we laughed and joked. And finally, when he tried to teach me to Salsa dance. I couldn’t help but smile at the memory. Even though I didn’t want to accept all that was being shown, I couldn’t keep out the joy that tried to seep its way into me.

“You must find your strength to protect her, to be near her, for it is only by your side that she can find her true purpose, that she will find the strength to kill those that would end the magic of the world.”

The images in the water changed again, this time to show Ilyan standing by me as I fought, his presence strong as he supported me from a distance. I could tell what was happening. I was using his magic. The knowledge of that rocked through me and my jaw dropped. There were only two ways that that could happen, through a bonding, or through the ?tít. I clutched my hand to my shoulder. He had known.

I understood the look now, the look he gave me when he spoke of the ?tít for the first time. It was heartbreak. His heart had broken because he knew he could never have me and that the ?tít was the only way he could be close to me. And then, when I could hold his magic, all of it, he knew that a bonding was possible, but also that it would never happen.

I had come to love Ilyan, maybe more than I could ever fully accept. I felt my soul rent with the realization of his pain and heartbreak. I longed to help him, to protect him, to make it okay. But I knew I couldn’t. I was bonded to Ryland. And Ryland had protected me too. Ryland loved me too. And even though Ryland’s protection may end by a severing of our bond, I didn’t know if I could ever move beyond that.

“It is only when she is with you that she will be able to accomplish all that she must. And it is your place to protect her, until the day that she passes from this world and into the next."

“No.” Ilyan and I said together at the sight of him holding my body, his arms wrapped tightly around me as he howled and cried in agony, explosions filling the space surrounding us.

“This child is power.” Sain spoke alone, his voice loud and powerful. “Power that is strong enough for you.”

More flashes of my ability raced across the pillar. I couldn’t tear my eyes away from it. I couldn’t comprehend that I could be so strong.

“For you,” the Drak repeated together, “for you, for you.”

Their voices reverberated eerily as image after image of Ilyan and I together filled the space. Sights of intimate kisses, intertwined bodies, beach houses, and children flashed one right after another. They came faster and faster until they were a blur. The blur continued for a moment before the water went black, the pillar falling into the pool again. I ran to it, gasping at the smooth surface and the reflection of myself that was now staring back at me.

“You will love her,” Sain said with the deep deadpan voice of a sight. I looked up to him, unsurprised to see him standing, his eyes covered with blackness and lit only by the glowing embers the Black Water gave him.

“But you cannot have her.” The Drak spoke as one, each of their eyes also covered. They stared out, unseeing, the glossy blackness calling to me.

“You will protect her,” Sain said.

“But you will fail,” the Drak continued, their voices coming in quick succession.

“The one bred to change the world of magic,” Sain lifted his hands as if he was seeing something, but the hall stayed still.

“The one bred to die.” I froze at the words of the Drak.

“What?” I said aloud to the empty space, even though I knew no one could hear me.

“She is the only one who will come to this world,” they continued together, “the only one your heart can hold.”

“The only one?” Ilyan asked, my insides tightening to hear how defeated he sounded.

“She is here,” Sain announced, his voice deep and reverent.

“Do you feel her?” They all spoke together again, the addition of Sain’s voice doubling their intensity. “Do you see her?”

“I do.” Ilyan’s voice was right in my ear. His arms came around from behind me and pulled me into his newly scarred chest.





Twenty-Five


I froze at the contact so foreign and yet so welcome. My heart thumped in my chest at what I had heard. It screamed for Ryland. It screamed for me to run away from Ilyan. But even here, he comforted me.

Somehow I had crossed over from being inside of a memory to being a part of it.

Ilyan’s arms tightened as he pressed his cheek softly against mine. I did not lean into his touch, but neither did I shy away. I stayed still, trying to make sense of everything that had happened, everything I had heard.

“Do not be afraid, mi lasko.” I relaxed at Ilyan’s voice, so soft and familiar in my ear. “I know you have seen everything, and I know you are scared. But do not be. I can feel you inside of me; I can feel your soul inside of mine. Know that I am here to protect you, to save you, and to love you. Even if you will never love me, I will still be here, right by your side.”

He turned me in his arms, his hands pulling me gently around, his arms still holding me against him. I looked up to him, he was so different, and yet so much the same.

“You’re beautiful.” He sighed the words like a prayer, his fingers coming up to trace the lines of my face.