Page 11 of Solivagant

“He’s human.”

“I know.”

“You’d have better luck soul binding with a bunyi.”

I smirked. “He’s my bunyi.”

Aerith rolled her eyes. “This isn’t going to end well for you.”

“But you’ll prepare the ritual?”

“By Mor’s beard,” she sighed. “I’ll take no responsibility when it fails, or when he gets snapped up by some creature because you were stupid enough to bring him here.”

“It won’t fail.”

“I’ll also not save your hide when that witch betrays you again.”

I swallowed. I believed I could keep Jem safe at least long enough to bring him here. But facing her hadn’t ever gone well for me. “If… if something goes wrong… then…”

“Then what? Go on. You’ve already asked too much of me, so why not pile something else on?”

“Please protect him.”

“I can’t make that promise.”

“Please, Aerith. Please, just… find him, and tell him… that I’m sorry I couldn’t return to him. Tell him I tried. And tell him to stay out of the forest.”

Lilac eyes rolled. “That all?”

“No.”

“By the Nyth, Khorli, what more will you ask of me?”

“Keep Thalin away from him.”

“As if any of us could ever control Thalin.”

“He used somnith abilities to imitate your voice.”

Long indigo lashes twitched over one eye. “That scum did what? Imitated me? Me? I’ll tear that pathetic braid from his skull.”

I smiled. “I will be as fast as possible. Just… keep an eye on Thalin until I get back.”

“You better get back, Khorli.”

“I will do everything in my power to return to him,” I told her, and I meant it.

I just hoped I wouldn’t be too late.

7

KHORLI

I hoped Jem would forgive me. I hoped he’d quickly realize I wouldn’t be coming and go back to the safety of his home inside the village walls.

The altar he used to summon me only worked when I was by my side of the Bridge. If he were to attempt it when I wasn’t there, I wouldn’t know it.

There wasn’t time for me to go to him first, not when Thalin had already followed me through once and knew where it was. I just had to pray to the Nyth that my threats and Aerith combined would keep him away for just one night. It would be all I needed to get to the witch and then return to him. Then I could bind us, and he would be safe. I could share all the souls I had with him, and he would be able to stay with me forever.