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[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ] she may as well get into question mode. She had plenty to ask of her mother, but decided to ease in with Salim first. Questions for him were easier. Can aspects evacuate on their own? He glanced at her reflection in the mirror. Anything is possible. No two are alike, beyond basic similarities. Why? Because I think Ii is gone. There s this void. Well, not a void, because now I can feel yours, although it s more of a benign humming presence than an active other mind sharing my space. But I m definitely not sharing it with Ii. I don t believe that aspect has sufficient strength to detach on its own, he said, slowly, working a puzzle as he spoke. How long has it been? I m not sure. Maybe since I left you, Ma, and Alyssa in the cellar. He s not gone entirely I could see him around Ma. She chewed her bottom lip. Now I m worried about her. She left so abruptly. I wasn t thinking what if he s put her in danger? She didn t show any signs of unwilling possession. He turned away from the mirror. Light glittered off the companion earring that matched the one in his ear. She s probably downstairs, back by now. With the council. We should go down, I suppose. Trepidation fluttered in her stomach. I hate witches. Salim s lips quirked. They re never a picnic in quantity. Will you wear this? Amethysts have protective properties, and this pair is specifically fortified with a mind barrier. But Da ar Es Saleem A little extra precaution doesn t hurt. Cora donned the earring, touched by Salim s concern. His willingness to give her chance after chance to stand up and grow a backbone, despite her repeated failures to follow through, humbled her. Family had to stick through personality flaws, but men didn t. He gave and gave, putting action in to back up his confession of love, his faith that they had a deliberate purpose together, and she returned it& feebly. I want to talk, she blurted when he reached for the door. About us. It has to wait, he said. He glanced over his shoulder and smiled reassuringly. It s not going to go away. We can keep coming back. I don t want to wait. I want to talk now. Irrational fear dredged up a compulsion to touch him. She clutched the back of his shirt, put her shoulder 46 Dragon Queen: Book 3: Dragon Bound against the door to hold it closed, and met his eyes. You deserve for me to love you. He released the doorknob and smoothed hair from her cheeks, cupped the back of her neck. You will, but I know it has to wait. You have more important issues right now. Someone s been very cruel, she whispered, to give you such a coward. His hand tightened at her nape. Anger darkened his eyes. Never again. Is that clear? Cora swallowed and averted her eyes. Sorry. He kissed her hard, bruising her lips against her teeth. Not that, either. Come on. She sat on her fear, for lack of any other option, and straightened away from the door so he could open it. Light flashed to indicate Salim had recalled the wards he d placed upon the room earlier. Relax, he coached and opened the door. Right. Relax. Salim stepped out first. Cora followed close on his heels, unwilling to let him so far out of reach that she couldn t linger in the protective shadow of his broad shoulders. With the wards gone, the din of activity downstairs grew louder footsteps as people shuffled around, the low hum of anxious conversation. How many people do you think Alyssa contacted? She bit her nail. Da ar Es Saleem s energy, folded up in her own, revved up from a low, unobtrusive hum to a full-scale rumble. I don t know. Probably more than showed up. Salim stopped at the top of the stairs, his arms outstretched and braced against the close walls. Go back into the bedroom, he said. The dragon-vibration kicked up another level. Her vision wobbled so badly that Salim appeared to shake in front of her. Cora steadied herself against the bathroom door, blinked several times, but her vision didn t right itself. Something s wrong, she said. Salim, the dragon He swore and shouted, Go back! His knees buckled, and he pitched forward. Cora s heart stopped. She lunged and threw her arms around his waist, but his weight dragged at her. They were both going to fall down the stairs. She braced herself, jaw clenched so tight her teeth ached, and waited for the impact. A third force changed their direction as it slammed Salim backward. The reversed momentum threw her against the wall, away from the stairs, and hurled Salim s body into hers. The collision knocked the air from her lungs. Salim sagged to his knees and pulled her down with him. Her hands refused to release his shirt; her arms wouldn t let him go. Red clouded her vibrating vision and roared in her ears Da ar Es Saleem shoving himself out, instead of waiting for an invitation to emerge. As the dragon surfaced, her awareness elevated to a new level of sight and sound. A buzzing, writhing knot of color seethed through Salim s hair, over his shoulders. It crawled up her forearms, where her body came in contact with his. What in God s name is going on? [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ] |