Reign Returned by Katie Keridan

Author:Katie Keridan
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: SparkPress

25

SEBASTIAN

“Where’s the medallion?” I asked. Even though I knew it was necessary, I was far from comfortable being around such a deplorable part of my past.

Reaching into a pocket of her breeches, she carefully withdrew the gold pendant and handed it to me. Just seeing that hateful star was enough to make a cold sweat break out on the back of my neck.

“I wish we could practice before using it for real,” fretted Kyra. “What if it lets you into the sanctuary but then you get ill or burst into flames or—”

I held up a hand and let the flames flow across my palm.

“I’m a Pyromancer,” I reminded her. “Fire is the least of my worries.”

She cringed as I retracted the flames.

“Alright, we don’t have to worry about fire,” she agreed, “but it goes against every healing instinct I have to just pin a piece of jewelry on you, head into Aeles, and see what happens. I didn’t even know these medallions existed until a few days ago, and I don’t want us to be too hasty.”

I snorted at such ridiculousness, and Kyra scowled. “I’m serious,” she insisted. “Falling stars, Sebastian, you’re not just some experiment, and—”

“Oh, that’s rich coming from your kind!” I sneered, closing my fist around the medallion as I fought the urge to burn it to ash. My chest was rising and falling faster than usual, and it was taking a great deal of effort to keep my voice at a reasonable level. Without meaning to, I felt myself redistribute my weight, balancing on the balls of my feet in preparation of either fighting or fleeing.

Kyra glanced at Aurelius before turning her gaze back to me.

“Is there something you’re not telling me?” she asked, softening her tone.

I barked out a harsh laugh. “No!” The toffee-colored walls wavered around me, and I inhaled the sterile, lemon-scented air as I heard footsteps slapping against the cold, slick floor, footsteps coming to take me one of two places—the medical unit, where I would be hooked up to countless tubes and wires, or the teaching unit, where I would be asked questions and tortured. I took a step back and raised a hand, ready to summon the fire and protect myself as best I could.

The bracelet around my wrist vibrated, and I grabbed at it, trying to tug it off, before I realized Kyra was speaking to me.

It’s all right, she said. Nothing bad is happening. Everything’s fine. I’m not going to hurt you.

A pleasant, comforting sound filled the air, and I felt myself relaxing, as if I’d been shivering with frostbite and someone had wrapped a blanket around me. I was in my cave. I was free. I was safe.

After a few beats, I fixed my attention back on Kyra and watched as she continued to run her finger over the pearl-colored bead on her sana bracelet. She raised her wrist without letting go of the bead.

“Saund,” she said. “The Soother.”

I nodded and drew a shuddering inhale before running a hand over my face.

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