Page 102 of Veinblood
Gravity slams back into existence. My body hurls itself into the world, striking earth with enough force to crack ribs and drive every thought from my mind. The impact sends shockwaves through my wounded shoulder, my bones, and joints that protest the violent return to reality.
But worse than the physical pain is the magical backlash that follows. Every reserve I possess has been drained, leaving me weak and shaking.
Branches and stone scrape against my skin as I tumble across the ground. Moss and decomposing leaves fill my mouth as I roll, mixing with the copper tang of blood where I’ve bitten my tongue. The scent of the forest—damp earth, flowing water, leaf-mold—floods my senses while everything inside me revolts against what I’ve just endured.
My stomach heaves violently, muscles contracting with enough force to send bile burning up my throat. The strain to keep the spell intact while Ellie’s emotions battered at me has pushed my body beyond its limits. My vision dims at the edges,sweat pours down my face, and my hands are shaking. The shadows around me writhe, no longer responding to conscious control, reacting instead to the chaos flooding through me.
And through it all, Ellie’s panic rages through me.
My heart stutters, then hammers against my ribs hard enough to bruise from the inside. Every muscle goes rigid. My teeth grind together hard enough to send pain shooting through my jaw.
“Sacha?” Varam’s voice sounds distant through the ringing in my ears. “What is happening?”
I try to answer, but another wave of nausea heaves through me before I can form words. Ellie’s adrenaline surges in a pure fight-or-flight response so intense my entire body convulses.
“We need to find cover,” Varam says. “If there are patrols nearby?—”
I lose minutes to dizziness and when I come through it, it’s to find them dragging me into the trees, my legs useless beneath me. Moss and fallen leaves cushion my back as they prop me against a tree trunk.
“She’s fighting,” I manage between gasps. “I don’t know if something is attacking her, but?—”
The next wave slams into me before I can finish the thought. Panic sharp enough to turn my vision into spots of light and shadow. My familiar rises to manifest, but breaks apart before forming, black feathers fading to mist as my depleted power fails to sustain even that basic working.
“How long will this last?” Mira crouches beside me, voice tight with concern.
“I don’t know.” My jaw clenches as another surge builds.
Shadows pulse in rhythm with my heartbeat, responding to emotions that aren’t mine. Years of discipline reduced to nothing by the simple fact that somewhere, Ellie is terrified and I can feel every spike tearing through my consciousness.
“Can you cut the connection?” she asks. “Block it for now?”
“No. And I wouldn’t if I could.” The words come out harsh. “If I sever it and she?—”
Another emotional tsunami builds. I sense it gathering strength before it hits. When it crashes over me, it’s edged with something I haven’t felt from her before. Something sharp, focused … and absolutely lethal.
The realization cuts through the chaos clouding my thoughts. Whatever threatens her, she’s stopped running from it.
The forest tilts sideways. My shadows collapse inward, unable to maintain even basic cohesion. I try to push myself upright, instinct demanding I move,act, do something to help her, but my body refuses to obey.
“Easy.” Varam’s voice comes from somewhere above me. “Try to breathe through it.”
Breathe through it. A broken laugh escapes me. As if this is something that can be managed through breathing exercises. As if the dread bleeding through our connection isn’t evidence that Ellie is in mortal danger.
Her adrenaline peaks and crashes, leaving me gasping. Mynervous system is being flayed raw. Each breath tastes of copper and bile.
Before I can say anything, it’s back again.
Whatever she’s facing, she’s not backing down from it.
My familiar stirs again, trying to respond to my need. This time it holds form for almost five heartbeats before dissolving.
“I need to see what’s happening to her.” The words come out as little more than a whisper.
“Your magic is too unstable. Look at the shadows.” Mira points toward the trees.
I follow her gaze. The darkness around us is writhing, twisting, lashing out and fading before they make contact.
Another surge builds. This one carries layers I can’t easily define. Anger mixed with fear, determination with desperation. When it hits, the force sends me retching again, dry heaves that accomplish nothing except adding physical misery to the emotional assault.
