Page 127 of Severed Heir

Damien raised his hands in mock surrender. “Then bond with me. Strengthen the connection so you can hear my thoughts.”

Archer’s expression darkened. “Strengthen thebond?” His voice cracked like a whip. “What did you do?” He lunged, seizing Damien by the throat. “I swear to the gods, if you touched her I’ll kill you.”

Damien choked, shoving back. “Go ahead. Kill me. Let’s see how that ends when Father’s allies come for you. You’ve got no shield. No dragon.” He bared his teeth. “I won.”

“Archer.” I touched his shoulder, gently. “Let him go.”

Reluctantly, Archer released him. Damien dropped to his knees, one hand pressed into the sand as he caught his breath.

“She wants answers,” he rasped. “Her mother is the only one who can give them. Andri knew the truth when he agreed to the marriage bargain. He knew she wasn’t his. That’s all he knew.”

I hesitated, the weight of it all clawing through me. “A ward,” I said at last. “Just that.”

Archer turned toward me, pain written across his face. “No. His quell is dangerous, Sev. We don’t know what he’s capable of.”

“I need to know, Archer. And I can’t exactly summon my mother with a whisper.”

Damien smirked. “I don’t bite, Sev.”

I wanted to bond with him for two reasons now. First, to find my mother. Second, to hear a single, unfiltered thought from his mind. Damien had tiptoed the edge of our friendship until the rope frayed. There was no pulling it back. And if he truly believed I’d never forgive him, I needed to know why.

I stepped forward and raised my shaded palm. “A ward. That’s it. One I can break if I need to. But I want your shields down.”

He nodded and slid his fingers through mine. “A simple ward.”

Dust stirred around our boots as our relics met. A soft shimmer pulsed between us, faint and colorless. His eyes glowed with a pale, ashen light.

His voice echoed in my mind once again.“She loves him. She loves him.”

I staggered back, fist tightening around my gown. “Very well. Now tell me what you heard my mother say.”

“Bonds work both ways, Sev. Yours seems... strained.”

“You had your chance,” I said coldly. “I’d rather bleed ash than let you hear my thoughts again.”

He rolled his eyes. “You’re dramatic. Your motherwashere. Find her voice.”

Archer stepped forward, fists clenched, but I brushed his arm. “Don’t,” I said, lifting my chin. “Can you track her voice?”

“It’s similar to yours. I could share what I hear. Maybe you’ll recognize it.” He glanced at Archer. “You don’t mind, right? Letting Severyn listen? Not like you ever let her hear what you truly think.”

Archer crossed his arms, jaw clenched. “I care. I fucking care. Hurt her, and I will end you.”

“Just do it,” I snapped. “She’s probably already gone.”

Damien stepped closer, but before he could speak, a hundred voices screamed at once. The sound tore through my skull. I stumbled back, gasping as the air was ripped from my lungs. “Close it,” I choked out, clutching my head. “Please, close it.”

“This is what I hear,” Damien said calmly. “Always. This is my mind.”

“It’s too much,” I whispered.

“No. Find her voice. She’s in here.”

So I reached again, letting myself sink into the whirlwind of noise.

“…A muddled bloodline. Never knew her father. Shameful…”

“…Poor girl. She looks so frightened…”

---