Page 48 of Shadow & Storms

Wilder dropped Ryland in her arms and stepped back as Talemir engulfed his wife and son in a powerful embrace, his wings closing around them.

‘He’s alright,’ Wilder told them. ‘He’s safe.’

A unified sigh of relief sounded, matching the rush of lightness that flooded through Thea at the sight of the reunited family. She passed a hand over her face, shaking her head. ‘Thank fuck for that,’ she muttered.

Kipp made a noise of agreement beside her, making to follow the rest of the search party heading back to the main building. Thea remained, waiting for Wilder, who in turn watched as Talemir’s wings finally unfolded, revealing the trio within.

‘He and Gus were playing in the western field when the wraiths attacked,’ Wilder explained. ‘Gus kept them out there until they knew it was safe to return.’

‘He was crying at first, but I thought… I thought it might be safer to distract him, to play a game, so he wouldn’t draw attention…’ Gus’ cheeks flushed.

Talemir at last released his wife and son, turning to face the shadow-touched teenager. ‘Thank you,’ he croaked. ‘You did the right thing.’

‘Sorry to have scared you,’ Gus replied.

But Talemir shook his head. ‘You protected my son,’ he told him. ‘Never apologise for that.’ Then he glanced at Wilder. ‘Thank you for finding them.’

‘Always,’ Wilder said.

Visibly uncomfortable in the swell of emotion surrounding him, Gus bolted towards the quadrangle. Thea laced her fingers through her Warsword’s and tugged him in the same direction, trying to give the family some privacy.

But they weren’t out of earshot when Talemir spoke to Drue, his voice still laced with panic. ‘You need to take him to safety. That place beyond the Veil. I couldn’t… I couldn’t handle it if something happened to him, to you —’

‘I don’t fucking think so,’ came Drue’s sharp reply.

‘Please, Wildfire —’

Thea didn’t like to eavesdrop, but Drue’s words carried in the wind. ‘I told you who I was before we had him. I will change for no man, no child. He’s the son of a shadow-touched Warsword and a law-breaking Naarvian ranger. He will know this world for what it is, and he’ll be stronger for it. We’ve been through this, Tal – we know that Ry will be safe with Gus and Malik. There is no one I trust more. You know that Malik will protect him with his life. The war efforts need us, and we need to end the war for him, so he has a future. I will fight at your side, as always.’ There was not a hint of compromise in Drue’s voice, only pure steel.

Thea glanced at Wilder, who grimaced as they heard Talemir’s stammering apologies.

‘You’re right,’ he said. ‘I know. I’m not going back on our agreement. I was – I was terrified, Drue.’

‘As was I,’ Drue replied. ‘But we cannot fall apart in the face of adversity.’

‘I’m sorry,’ the Shadow Prince said.

Drue huffed a tired laugh. ‘You’ll make it up to me later.’

Thea hid her own smile at that.

The attack and the search for Ryland had rattled the Naarvian forces to the core. According to Dratos, there had never been a full breach of the shield before, not to that extent. As night fell, he set out with several other prominent shadow-touched leaders to reinforce Talemir’s magic with their own.

Thea turned to Anya. ‘How does it work? The shield? The protection?’

Anya gave a heavy sigh. ‘In a similar way to the wraiths’ shadows. But instead of using our power to maim and hurt, we weave it together like a net, to cast outward, over the university and its grounds. Over the years we worked out that because it’s the same essence as their own magic, the wraiths don’t question it, don’t try to push past it. They assume it’s just the territory of other wraiths and move on.’

‘So how did the breach happen?’ Thea asked.

‘On occasion, it happens by mistake. A squabble breaks out among one of their units and one gets thrown through our defences.’

‘But not today?’ Thea couldn’t help but press. ‘There were too many for it to have been an accident.’

Anya shrugged. ‘We suspect they believed a wraith swarm was here and they wanted to assert their dominance. They don’t know we’re here. And we mean to keep it that way.’

Thea and Wilder returned to the Scholar’s Lounge for the evening meal, finding the atmosphere within sombre and strained. Nearly everyone was there: Malik by the fire, as usual; Wren and Farissa, mixing potions on a table in the far corner; Anya in an armchair, her legs dangling over the side; Adrienne cleaning her fingernails with a dagger by the window; and Gus sitting on the floor, his knitting needles clicking between his hands as he crafted something that looked like it would match Ryland’s slouchy hat.

Audra pulled Thea aside and spoke in a low voice. ‘That thing you asked me to look into. About transferring magic.’