Page 41 of Bound Paths
Andie searched the waters. It did look calm. She wasn’t sure what to ask.
“It’s not torture for the spirits—as you can see, it’s quite peaceful. It’s just a different kind of existence than those that continue on in the cities.”
“If it’s not bad, why do you help the spirits cross the river?”Andie asked.
Orion sighed in a way that only a feline could. “The river has gotten harder to cross in recent years. And more spirits have been crossing from the continent. The mismanagement there is slipping into this realm with those who are perishing from it.”One of the other cats growled as if urging the leader to share more information. Orion’s tail twitched in response.“Too many were ending up here. The water level is too high—near overflowing. We seek to return to the proper balance.”
“What happens if too many spirits end up here?”Cee asked.
“The spirit’s energy fuels the magic of this realm. With too many, we have an excess. We don’t want to benefit from spirits being sent to the wrong resting place.”
Andie’s gaze turned to Cee. She couldn’t read her as well in her feline form, but she feared what was going through her mind—an excess of magic was hard to ignore. The lake was full but not overflowing. It seemed the cats had done well helping more spirits across. There may be excess, but it didn’t feel extreme.
Andie knew that wasn’t what Cee would see.
She remembered the original tests that got them into this situation—the spirit, the bushes. They were past wondering if the energy of the spirits could grow food for their people. As the cats had pointed out, famine was a symptom of a more significant problem. They needed to focus on the heart of it.
Cee would only see the excess as a means to protect her people from the imbalance on the continent.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Aknock sounded on the lakeside door as Rose and Aurora returned to the house. “Go ahead, Aurora, I’ll just be a moment.” Aurora dipped her head and went toward the kitchen.
Rose ran into Walter as she approached the front door. A blush touched her cheeks as she realized this wasn’t her responsibility here. She smiled weakly and shrugged at Walter, who carried on as if the lady of the house weren’t standing in the entryway with him.
A disheveled Aaron stood at the door. His usually tidy clothes were wrinkled, and the glasses he wore sat atop his head. She had a feeling he’d be wondering where they were later. He held a stack of books in his arms and immediately glanced around Walter’s shoulder to where Rose stood. “I found some helpful texts at the house, though the one we really need isn’t here.”
“You didn’t have to stay up all night to look into it,” Rose replied.
“I’ll leave you to it,” Walter said, welcoming Aaron in and closing the door behind him.
“Thank you, Walter,” Rose said.
Aaron narrowed his eyes at her once the butler departed. “Yes, I’m sure you got a full night’s rest as well,” he said dryly.
Rose rolled her eyes and led him to the library. His gaze roamed the room, focusing on the blanket that still held the shape of her legs over the chair. He was right that she hadn’t slept per se, but her night had been very different than his.
Familiar magic surged through her.
“You know what you’re feeling. Trust in yourself.”The words were Luc’s. Rose knew that. She felt them inside her heart and her mind. They were dizzying as she struggled to determine if they were a present connection or an echo of their conversation in the heart of her magic.
Either way, she knew what they asked of her. She’d said the words aloud in the deepest part of her—and the relief had been immediate. Could she say them aloud in the light of day?
Luc’s brother might be a good test. He hadn’t questioned the last set of unique truths she’d shared.
Aaron’s look of smug satisfaction proved too much for her—like he knew she was working up to some revelation that had left her as exhausted as he looked. The confession stuck on her tongue. They were bound, yes, but what did that mean? What could this connection do? The power flooding her receded as she let the moment pass. She rubbed her chest out of habit.
“I was testing something with my magic last night. I’m still trying to sort out the results.”
Aaron turned to look at her. “What did you do?” He took a deep breath and added, “It smells of pine and cinnamon in here.”
Rose sucked in a breath. It really shouldn’t surprise her this time. Luc may not have been physically present last night, but his magic was. It had wrapped around her skin, and it flooded in with her declaration. What was surprising was thatthe physicality of the heart of her magic was strengthening if his scent followed her here.
Her tongue stuck to the roof of her mouth as she searched for the words again. Aaron would probably believe her. But he’d want to know what the connection meant. Rose didn’t have answers about that yet. Her gaze darted to the hallway leading to the kitchen and the soft conversation emanating from there. Arie and Aurora. If anyone could tell her more about bound fae, it would be their creators.
“I wouldn’t even know where to begin, Aaron. I’ll tell you as soon as it proves useful in returning your brother.” She didn’t want to get his hopes up until she knew more about what this connection could do. She gestured to his books. “You found something on the Lady of the Veil or that period at least?”
He sighed, seeming to accept her response as he sat at the table and started unstacking and opening books to marked pages. “I can’t believe no one talks about this history,” he said. “You were seeking information on why the Lady of the Veil closed her borders? What magic she might have to know when one enters her realm?”
