Scorched Treachery (Imdalind, #3)(79)

I looked back to the battered girl. My soul felt like it was being ripped in two by seeing her there; the giant rent began in my toes and moved through me in an earthquake of regret and fear, ripping my heart into pieces.

She looked at me with her silver eyes, the confidence I had watched her develop over the last few months so weak I could barely see it. Her power had been beaten out of her. As I watched her, I could see a shadow of that power return, the strength of her gaze growing as I stared into her, as I felt her memory click fully back into place.

My eyes darted back and forth from the girl I sat over to the ghostly apparition in front of me, my heart unwilling to accept the horrors I was seeing. My eyes had only returned to hers for a moment before I felt the shadow girl’s hands hard against my chest, pushing me off the living girl’s body. I fell to the floor, just as the hands of both girls rose in preparation to attack.

I yelled at the same time as Joclyn’s broken body, her mouth moving as she spoke to someone that my vision would not allow me to see. No sound escaped her lips, even though I knew she was speaking. Her strength seeped back into her eyes as she screamed at whoever had been attacking her, as once again, she prepared to fight back.

There was barely a warning before Joclyn’s hands exploded with energy, the magic soaring into the physical realm from the hands of the girl who lay sleeping on the faded upholstery.

My magic wrapped her in a heavy shield, her attack impacting with it, my soul acting on its own in response to her need. The attack disappeared as quickly as it had come, leaving us in silence once again. I watched for only a minute, waiting to see if more was to come, watching as both girls dropped their hands. I was up in an instant, my heart fighting over which Joclyn to run to, yelling at me to find a way to bring the battered Joclyn home.

I had only made it a few steps before her weak voice met my ears, the sweet sound sending my heart into a frantic strum.

“Goodbye.”

“No!” It was then I knew who I was running to, who needed me more. I ran to Joclyn’s ghostly body, wrapping my arms around her as I surged my magic into both of them through the ?tít. The shadow of her body was so cold, so small, compared to what she really was. I could feel her, the same way I had when the sight was first given to me. I could feel her gritty skin, the grease on her hair. Somehow, she was right there in my arms.

The Black Water had bridged the gap between us again, but this time I knew how to use that magic to bring her back. I could still feel the water burning through my veins, and hers, and even though I didn’t want to, I forced its movement through me, through the ?tít, and right to my heart. I felt the water burn alongside my magic, Joclyn’s magic coming to the edge of the ?tít as my power called to her. It was there that our magic mingled for the second time. The deep strength of it rocked through me with such an impact I was sure I would never be able to let her go again.

Her strong magic raged through me, my muscles tensed at the tingling ecstasy that washed over my nerve endings. The water continued its blissful movement, until it began to pull away. Her magic seeped back into her –bringing her with it.

Without even knowing how, I felt her arms around me, warm and whole. I felt her presence leave mine, her mind whole again.

I pulled away from the warmth of her arms, scared about what I would see, my heart swelling at the unscathed, healthy face looking back at me.

“Ilyan.” Her voice moved through me with the strength of a tidal wave. It crashed into my soul and took the breath out of my chest.

I looked into the silver sheen of her eyes, my soul undeniably lost to her, my heart belonging to her more than it ever had. Just as her sight had said. She wrapped her hands around my neck and brought my forehead down onto hers, the contact of her skin igniting my blood. I could feel the fire of the Black Water speed up in my veins, its burn deep and yet so pleasant.

I would have gladly stayed there for hours, staring into her eyes, her skin against mine, but I could feel them coming. My magic had been so focused on Joclyn that I didn’t feel their pulses until they were right on top of us.

I turned toward them as the door opened, stepping away from her in a panic, unsure as to how Joclyn would react at seeing Ryland.

He was the first one in the door, his blue eyes blazing as he searched for her. I looked toward Joclyn, expecting to see the heart-stopping joy I had seen light up her face before, but it was not there. The look of pain and fear that I had seen on the haggard girl’s face had taken over Joclyn’s beautiful features. Panic and fear ravaged her before her hands raised toward him, a pulse shooting through the air with more power than even I could conjure.

The glowing mass exploded from her hands with enough energy that the air rippled behind it, the deep earth magic reacting to Joclyn and strengthening the attack.

Time slowed as I watched the flame burn through the air, everyone slowly registering what was happening. Joclyn’s response to seeing Ryland was the exact opposite of what I had been expecting to happen.

Ryland pulled up his shield as a reflex reaction, although his confused face opened in a plea I barely heard above the panicked noise that had filled my suite.

I shielded Ryland quickly, knowing that even with both of our barriers her energy pulse would burn right through. The mass barreled toward Ryland’s chest faster than a bullet. I could tell by the look on Joclyn’s face that this wouldn’t be the last attack. She was angry and terrified. Her eyes held more hatred then I had ever seen. I surged my magic through the ?tít and into her tense and frantic body, my magic soothing her mind to sleep as quickly as I could, just as Joclyn’s attack made contact.