Page 146 of Thorns & Fire
‘How is it that it still exists?’Wren wondered aloud as the sparks danced between her fingers.
‘I don’t know,’ Torj replied, sounding equally mystified.‘I tore it in two with my bare hands.I truly thought it was gone for ever...What does the book say?’
Wren reluctantly peeled herself away from the warrior and retrieved the tome from her room.Dropping it on the mattress beside Torj, she turned to the relevant chapter.She had read it a dozen times over, and there was no mention of severing a soul bond.
‘Try the index,’ Torj said softly, drawing circles on her bare thigh as she scanned the text.
‘Since when are you the scholar out of the two of us?’she quipped.
‘Since you’re distracted by my wandering fingers...’
Wren hid her smile and turned to the back of the book, where the major topics and events were listed in alphabetical order.
Breaking of bonds.Page 476.
Wren hurriedly found the page.It wasn’t in the chapter on soul bonds, which was why she hadn’t found it.She skimmed the paragraphs for the relevant phrase.
‘Certain magical bonds, like familial connections, end in death.Others, such as soul bonds, can only truly be severed if both parties agree,’ she read aloud.‘While a soul bond can be broken temporarily, it will repair in time if the love between the pair remains...’
‘That was why I could still see it...’Torj murmured.‘Even though I tore it apart, I still loved you...I never stopped.’
‘Neither did I...Even when I was furious with you.’Wren reread the pages.‘That’s it.That’s the only mention of it.’
Torj peered over her shoulder.‘Then we have our answer...’
‘Perhaps when this fight is done, we can sink into some deep research of the phenomena, maybe even pen our own contribution about our experience, but for now...’Wren closed the volume.
‘For now?’Torj continued to draw patterns across her naked skin.
Wren smiled.‘For now, I say we just enjoy the benefits.’
‘I can get on board with that.’The Bear Slayer kissed her soundly.‘Let’s stay in this room for ever,’ he murmured against her damp skin.
Even now, the huskiness in his voice curled her toes.‘For ever?’
‘Mmm...’The sound rumbled beneath her and she smiled against his chest, admiring the ink there.Besides where his lightning scars broke the design, it was a beautiful piece – a canvas of golden skin and dark whorls that extended from the tops of his shoulders and down over his pectoral muscles.
She traced the lines with her fingertips, relishing the rush of goosebumps that washed over him, his nipples hardening at her touch.
‘When did you get this?’she asked, continuing to trail her fingers over the swirls of ink.
Torj tucked a hand beneath his head and glanced down, his muscled abdomen rippling with the movement.‘After I became a Warsword,’ he replied.‘I’d always wanted some sort of tattoo, but knew I’d fill out a lot more if I passed the Great Rite, so I waited.’
‘You were confident,’ she said with a laugh.
‘You don’t pass the Great Rite by being humble, Embers,’ he replied, his mouth quirking to the side.
‘What does it mean, then?’
‘Something about the shifting sands of time...’
‘Really?’
Torj snorted.‘No.I wish I could tell you there’s some deeper meaning.But I’m a simple man, Embers.I just liked the design.’
Wren burst out laughing.‘You justlikedthe design?’
‘Yep.’
