Page 39 of Born of Starlight
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“So I drinkthis awful-smelling mixture, and then you’ll snap the bond to these woods? That sounds awfully painful.” Fenris shook the vial of Skei remedy and eyed its contents. “How do I know this isn’t all a ruse to poison me?”
The blade of my dagger met my thumb, and blood hit the cabin floor. “I swear it in blood. I won’t harm you unless you threaten others.”
“I was joking. That was unnecessary—and you stained the rug!” Fenris looked down at the streak of red on the pelt below.
Emmerick let out an impatient huff at him. “Get on with it.”
Fenris had not made a single flirtatious comment since the Commander arrived. Instead, he had spent the night showing us various maps of the North Corridor and the best way to get to Belray, a town nestled into the Hussa mountain range.
The easiest way to Belray was through the smaller northern township of Kullworth along the western border of the Corridor. From there, we would Egress into my tower and could make a quick passage to Luz.
“Ready?” I asked.
“As I will ever be.”
Fenris laid down on the sofa, and Emmerick held his arms, anticipating his body’s reaction. The texts said there was often a struggle when unbinding an entity from a place or object. The subject might act to reinforce the bond and fight the unbinding.
“Whatever you do, Fenris. Do not lethimout.” My eyes trailed down his arm.
“I’ll try…”
“Do more than try,” Emmerick warned as I raised the vial to Fenris’ lips.
As I poured the potion, Fenris’ eyes met mine with resolve. He only grimaced momentarily at the taste.
My hands met Fenris’ bare chest. I’d never broken a curse this strong before. The scar from his left cheek down his neck didn’t stop there—it spanned down his toned torso.Focus.
“Untether this heart,” I began the curse-breaking spell. My Brennac was sloppy at best, but beneath my hands, a soft blue glow formed on Fenris’ skin. The warlock’s body convulsed against Emmerick’s hold, eyes rolling back and showing their whites.
That was fast.
“Don’t fight it.” Emmerick’s voice was an even, reassuring whisper.
My hands found the sides of Fenris’ head at the temples, leaving glowing blue imprints wherever I touched his skin.
“Liberate this mind, free it of this confinement—”
He kicked and writhed against Emmerick’s hold as I took his shaking hands in mine.
“Release these hands from the ropes that bind them here—”
A picking up of dust and a rush of air hit my back. A shadow formed over us.Not good, not good at all.
“Fenris…don’t…” Emmerick pleaded. “Is this normal?” Worry laced his words.
I stayed focused. Grabbing Fenris’ ankles, I knelt on the sofa beside him. A low growl rumbled.
“Unshackle the legs weighed to this place—allow them to roam free.”
The growl grew louder, the shadow over us bigger and Emmerick met my gaze with horror written across his features as his grip loosened.
I shook my head—we needed to keep going. Emmerick tensed but obeyed and tightened his grip again.
It was unclear what spooked Emmerick more, the creature that stalked behind us or the ferocity of the magic running its course through the warlock. My hands rested on Fenris’ torso again; everywhere I touched glowed brighter now, battling the bindings within him.
“Sever the ties holding this body to these woods.”
