Of Dreams and Sorcery (Royal Fae Guardians #1) - Heather Renee Page 0,36

began to surround my body so bright that I couldn’t even tell what color it was. Suddenly, I realized this was exactly how it felt when I’d “died” before being brought to Arvayta.

Stryx was trying to kill me for real this time.

Yelling could be heard through the roaring, but I couldn’t tell where it was coming from as I fought to keep consciousness and not die again. I wasn’t sure how many times I could do that and actually come back. Once seemed like more than enough.

The magic within me raged until it found a way out through different exits. Some left my hands like I was used to, then some of the power seemed to go straight through my heart like an electrical current that made me start convulsing on the ground.

Lastly, when I tried screaming through the agony, magic poured out of my mouth and went who knew where. My only hope was I hadn’t hurt anyone other than Stryx.

Hands grasped at me as I flailed around, unable to control any aspect of my body. A loud snarl sounded near my ear, and I was raised off the ground. When I dared to open my eyes, I still couldn’t see anything other than bright lights, as if I was staring directly into the sun, so I had no idea how someone was able to carry me, but whatever they were doing was working.

The power began to calm within me, but my energy was completely gone by the time the pain began to dissipate. So, even though I could probably see again, opening my eyes seemed like an impossible feat.

“It’s going to be okay, Kali. Just hang on,” Ryland’s voice whispered in my ear, and a wave of excitement ran through me.

Why was he, of all people, helping me? Wouldn’t life be easier for him if I was dead, considering how angry he’d been at our bond? I would have thought for sure he’d have been sitting back enjoying my torture. But at the same time, I couldn’t deny the joy that coursed through me knowing he’d come to my rescue.

Stupid soulmate bond was screwing with my emotions.

Before I could question much more, I heard the splashing of water. As soon as the cool liquid touched my skin, a sizzling sensation traveled along my body, and I was finally able to open my eyes. When I did, I was nose-to-nose with Ryland, whose concerned face didn’t once waver from mine.

“Are you okay?” he asked, voice gruff and low as he fully submerged my body into the water except my head.

Nodding, I did an internal check. Nothing was burning any longer, except for the parts of my body that were currently being cradled against Ryland, which I was choosing to ignore.

He smirked. “Can you talk?”

“Yep. I can probably stand, too, if you set me down,” I replied, trying to keep any feeling from my voice.

“Stryx almost blew you up. I wasn’t sure what to do except get you to the falls before things got worse,” he said as he loosened his hold on me.

When he let go of my legs, the moving water shoved me down and my body ended up flush against his. “I’m sorry,” I stammered, trying to push away from him, but the water seemed to be fighting against me.

His face creased in confusion. “It seems we’re literally being pressed together. Are you doing this?” he snapped, letting anger replace the confusion.

“Of course I’m not. You’re the one who brought me here. Maybe I should be asking you the same thing,” I retorted.

He huffed. “Listen, Kali. I’m sure you’re nice, but someone made a mistake. You’re not my soulmate. Don’t make this any harder than it already is.”

I heard his words and I understood them, but I also felt his fingertips tracing circles around my wrist in the water and wondered if he should be telling himself we weren’t soulmates instead of me.

“Ryland, all I care about right now is keeping myself alive and making sure other people don’t die because I’m alive. And maybe if you’re so against the Fates saddling you to me, then you shouldn’t touch me like you can’t stand the thought of letting go. The water isn’t doing that.”

His eyes widened as he glanced at his fingers around my wrist. “I didn’t mean…”

“Yeah, I know. Now get us out of here.”

The current in the pool beneath the falls was only around us, and I knew without a doubt that something bigger than