Euphoria poured through me, my reserves somehow replenishing as though she’d just gifted me with the bite of life. Then I felt her pull everything she could from my soul and shove it through her link to Kolstov.
I flinched, the redirection of power uncomfortable.
But I felt her doing it from her other bonds as well.
And then from herself.
She poured the mixture into her branch, infusing the strand with intense vitality.
Shade took hold of the mental cord, his hum of Death magic causing all the hairs along my arms to rise as he closed his eyes and unleashed it all through his palms into Kolstov’s chest.
Silence followed.
None of us daring to breathe.
Aflora shivered, her cerulean irises on Kolstov, her bloody lip clenched between her teeth.
I swallowed.
Everything had been done on instinct, Aflora taking charge and demonstrating why fate had chosen her for this destiny.
But had she done it right?
Shade’s palms remained on Kolstov’s chest, his focus on the prince’s face. He narrowed his gaze, then lifted his wrist to his mouth and bit down. “Blood,” Shade said. “He needs blood.” He started to lower his offering to Kolstov, but Aflora caught his arm.
“He needs mine.” She bit down on her wrist and pressed it to Kolstov’s lips.
Energy pooled around her as she combined all our essences inside her and poured it through her bloodline, directly into the man’s mouth.
Seconds passed.
Nothing happened.
I met Shade’s gaze, wary.
Zephyrus wore a similar expression of concern as I looked at him.
Then a subtle thud met my ears.
A second one ensued.
And a third.
Followed by a gasp from the male below as his eyes flew open, his golden irises dimmed to a burnt bronze. His focus fell entirely on Aflora, his throat working as he swallowed her blood.
Magic swirled around all of us, coating our skin in a unique essence that smelled like flowers in bloom.
Aflora.
She was claiming us all with her elemental soul.
Securing our bonds.
Strengthening us with earth.
Her source welcomed us, admiring our different powers and zeroing in on me as a known architect.
Warmth touched my spirit, power igniting and merging and creating life all around us.