58. Declan

Chapter 58

Declan

K eelan and I sat on the stones of the fallen Mages’ tower, staring out at our childhood home. A month had passed since we laid Saltstone’s fallen to rest. The city had fallen into a rhythm of sorts, everyone finding some task to make themselves useful in the clearing and rebuilding that would take years, if not decades. People still wore the pain of loss openly, but hard work and purpose filled a void and lifted spirits far quicker than either of us expected.

“What do you think happened to Jess?” I asked.

Keelan’s shoulders drooped. “We don’t know for sure, but Atikus thinks she Traveled back to Fontaine, somewhere near the Palace. When we first found the mirror, Jess said she thought she recognized a crypt on the other side.”

I watched my brother’s fidgeting fingers. “You miss her, don’t you?”

“Miss her? I hardly know her,” Keelan said a little too defensively as he scratched his stubbly chin. “But . . . I do wonder about her. She lost everything, so many people she loved, and then I tried to kill her. She’d probably never want to see me again, no matter how I felt.”

“You didn’t try to kill her; you were under Compulsion—and with a tiny brain like yours, I’m sure there was nothing you could do to fight it.”

Keelan punched my arm. “Thanks, little brother. You always know just what to say.”

“I know. It’s another of my many Gifts. Want to see my tunic flare again?”

“As much as I’d love to just sit up here with you all night, I still have work to do. Out with it, Dec, whatever it is. I know you brought me up here for a purpose,” Keelan grumbled.

I had asked Keelan to take the night off from his usual sixteen-hour days, baiting him with important information I’d obtained while on my secret mission.

“Well, we have had little time together since you came back. It’s nice to just catch up since . . . we’re not going to have much time to spend together for a while.”

Keelan’s head snapped up. “What are you talking about? You’re not leaving, are you? We need you.”

I knew I needed to visit Rea Utu again. Something deep within called me to the island. I wanted to explain it all to Keelan, to make him understand, but I hardly understood myself. It felt as if magic needed me to return, but the Phoenix rarely made her words plainly understood—at least not since she hurled herself into a mass of soldiers to save our people.

My heart ached at órla’s memory. She had become far more than a friend or companion. She was part of me. When she sacrificed herself, that part of me died, leaving a gaping wound that could never heal.

Invading soldiers, warring queens, and vengeful Mages had consumed every waking moment. Even after our victory, such as it was, Keelan and I focused on the welfare of our people to the exclusion of our own hearts and minds.

But now, in the stillness of the moment, I saw my feathery friend. I heard her perky voice and quirky gaze. I felt her bond and the warmth it imbued in my soul.

And I felt the loss of everything.

Traveling back to the island was no replacement for my sister-soul, but it would allow me to grieve in private. I knew the people of Rea Utu would welcome me, that Larinda would laugh and sing, and that each would join in my sorrow for órla’s loss in ways no mainlander might understand, much less share.

Still, leaving Keelan again was a loss of an entirely different sort.

“I know . . . but there is something I need . . . something I have to . . . Kee . . . Fucking spirits, just let me get this out and you’ll understand.”

Keelan grimaced but stayed quiet.

“I need your permission to do something first.”

He cocked a brow. “What’s that?”

“I need to bind you using your Gift.”

“What?” His eyes widened. “I don’t even know what that means, but I don’t like how it sounds.”

I raised a palm. “Relax. I need to use my magic, combined with your Gift, to bind you to silence. You can never repeat what I am about to tell you.”

A hurt expression entered his eyes. “You don’t trust me to keep a secret?”

“Kee, I can’t trust anyone with this secret. Without the binding, you could be Compelled to reveal what you know. Some could even pluck it from your mind. This is too important.” I sucked in a deep breath. “I know this sounds crazy, but I need you to trust me now. You’re the older brother, but I’m the senior when it comes to magic.”

Keelan snorted. “ You think? That’s an understatement. How long did we think you were a harmless Mute? I miss those days.”

“Kee!”

“Just teasing, almighty Mage.” He grinned. “Fine. Do what you need to.”

I gripped Keelan’s hand and closed my eyes. A moment later, my tunic flared, then dimmed. I opened my eyes, nodded, and words poured out.

“I met our mother.”

Keelan’s brows bunched, then raised.

His eyes widened.

Both hands scratched at his scalp.

He stood and walked a few paces away, then slowly turned back toward me.

“Our mother ?” His hand refused to fall from his mouth.

“You might want to sit for this. It’s a long story.” A mischievous smile spread across my lips. “You might need a drink when I get to the part with the talking owl.”