Without warning, they disappear from my mind, and so does Grace. She takes gulping breaths as if she’d been holding it that entire time.
I lean against a tree root and try not to pass out.
“What thefuckwas that?” Liam says, his voice more distant than it should be.
When I look up, I see why.
The ground surrounding me and Grace is charred, and he and the others stand outside a circle of ash with panic-stricken faces.
I try to answer Liam, but I’m not even sure what happened so I start at the beginning. “That day in the West Woods, when the Ossano bit me, something’s felt off ever since. I didn’t get the chance to say anything because of the fleeing and all.” No one appears amused or in the mood for lightness, and I sigh. “After I was bit, the scars, well, they throbbed oddly. That’s the only way I can put it. I just now remembered the dream from this morning, of creatures in my shadows, and when Grace brushed our bond—”
I turn and find her leaning against the tree behind us, eyes closed, and I scan her. But aside from looking pale, there doesn’t appear to be anything physically wrong.
“Are you okay?”
“Yes, just tired from using magic. I didn’t hurt you, did I?”she asks so meekly I make it a point to respond aloud so she knows.
“I’m completely fine. You didn’t hurt me. But what you did in there? Are you certainyouare unharmed?”
She nods once before closing her eyes, resting on the tree.
I turn back to the group to finish. “The voice in my dream spoke those words to me: ‘Hers is ours; we serve the blood.’” Everyone freezes, eyeing the woods surrounding us, but this time nothing happens. “Though earlier was the first time I ever said them aloud. When Grace brushed the bond, the beasts inside quieted, and when she set fire in the darkness, it exposed the creatures for what they were—the Ossano. They are inside my shadows, presumably from the bite.” I squeeze Grace’s thigh. “‘We will serve the blood of Anaeris and her darkness.’ That’s what they said, right? You heard that too?”
She opens her eyes. “Yes, that’s what I heard.”
“Well, shit,” Thom says, his words strained. “So the Ossano are tied to both Anaeris and Grace.”
Everyone’s eyes shift to her, and she appears just as shocked.
“What is her darkness, though?” Corren asks as he comes back into the now-cleared area.
Maybe it’s not awhatas much awho.
“Me,” I say, and deep down, it rings true. The Ossano will serve the blood of Anaeris: Grace. It’s not a giant leap to think my shadows are the darkness they spoke about.
Grace grabs my hand. “A mind bond, and now the Ossano. At least we will never be boring.” I squeeze her hand back.
“Okay, say you are her darkness. What do they mean by serve?” Corren asks.
“I have no idea. They are in my shadows, though, so aside from them speaking into my mind, I don’t have a clue.”
Mikal, Thom, and Liam rejoin our small group and crouch to avoid sitting in the ash.
Thom rakes his fingers through his blond hair as if it helps straighten his thoughts. “Once you spoke those words, Isiah, you both stiffened and had that faraway look you get when speaking through your bond. Then a strong pulse of magic tossed us back seconds before flames engulfed you both.” There’s a touch of awe in his voice, and his eyes trail over Grace as if answers are written there.
She shifts uncomfortably under the attention. I need to change the subject. She’s been put on display too many times because of her magic.
“Now is as good a time as any for introductions, so you can stop referring to everyone by hair color. This is Thom, Mikal, Liam, and Corren.” I point to each of my friends. “Boys, Grace; Grace, boys.”
Mikal, the showoff he is, beams. “I hope your mind was correct in calling me thehandsomebrown-haired one.”
Grace laughs, shoulders relaxing a bit. “Yes, that is exactly what I called you.”
Thom and Liam both smile for a moment before Liam’s grin fades. “Not to bring up a sore subject again, but you didn’t finish what happened with Ellis.”
She tugs the braid over her shoulder and twists it. “Well, Niethal punished Ellis for losing me after dinner, and Ellis wanted to take it out on me. He took me to the dungeons, and I tried to escape, but he stopped me before I could reach the door.” The pain the memory causes is clear on her face, and I wish I could take it away. “In all his ranting, he told me Niethal planned to hurt Isiah because he knew about us. I was relieved when Reagan rushed in and tackled Ellis to the ground.” Her brow furrows. “I think Reagan may have let me go. He had Ellis subdued. He could have easily stopped me, only he didn’t.”
“If that’s true, we have him to thank for the head start,” Thom says, and I hate to admit it, but he’s right. I am grateful Reagan was there to help Grace. She called for me, and I didn’t answer. If something had happened…