Chapter 295

She thrashed against the rope, the chair, my magic, but I held her in the chair. I waited until the bright cord finished the connection around our circle. Then new connections between each of us wove around us. Each person had a cord for each other. The golden cords wove into a tapestry of our bond, a golden, shiny piece of artwork of our friendship and love for each other.

Only now there were tarnished spots. Dark places on our bonds, where they were being attacked. I stood, looking at the cords, and most were still shining brightly. All of them were actually, all except the ones that trailed to me.

“The bonds are all intact except the ones that lead to you.” Wendy stood, trailing her fingers along the cords. She plucked the cords between her and me, and I felt a tug. It rippled in my chest, but I could tell it was weakening, the dark spot in the centre growing bigger.

“Our bond is growing darker the louder the whispers get.” Hanna plucked the cord, and it vibrated, but hers was weaker, like it was ready to snap. Micca’s and Toya's cords also vibrated when plucked. She looked a little lost as she plucked the cord between her and Toya, earning a scream. “What can we do?”

Wendy looked at me, and I closed my eyes, focusing on the cords. “How could you do this to us? We are your sisters.” Toya snarled at us, and I felt the punch in the gut when I realized I was no longer included in that sentiment from her.

Wendy swallowed past the lump in her throat. “We are doing this because you are our sister.” Then she turned back to me. “Do something.”

She was pleading with me, and Hanna nodded. “It’s growing darker.” She nodded to the bond between us, and I could see the darkness spreading. Micca’s bond grew dimmer as she glared at me.

“You’re poison.” Micca snapped, her eyes on the darkening bonds. “Look at it.” She nodded to the cord between Toya and me. “You ruin everything you touch.”

Her words cut deeper than I thought they should have, but it was my fault. I was listening to her words when I knew she was under the influence of something. What, was the question. I sat down next to Toya and leaned in to her. “Forgive me.”

She snarled and tried to bite me, but I used her anger as a way in. Emotions were always a window into someone’s soul. I sent my magic dancing down our connection, skipping the darkened, mostly dead centre, and dove into her mind. I sent it worming around inside of her, and I used her magic to pull myself into her mind.

One moment I was next to her, staring into her snarling face, and the next I was walking deep in trees I did not recognize. The trees here were fragrant, but foreign to me. In between the trunks, patches of sand and rough grass grew. “Where is this?”

“This is my home.” Toya’s wolf, Urbi, came through the trees. She sidled up next to me and we walked together, silently. “Have you come to save us?”

I stopped, turning to face her, and leaned closer. “What’s wrong?”

She looked away. “Come see for yourself.” She pivoted and took the lead, leaving through the trees towards whatever was eating away at our bond. “Did she hurt you?” She stopped to turn back to me before she kept walking.

“A little. But you have done worse during training,” I chuckled softly.

“Only because you allow us to hit you, and we were actively trying to kill you.” Urbi stopped. “This time she was trying to kill you, that is.” She sat back and waited for me to catch up with her. “I tried to stop her, but I can’t get close enough.” She looked at me, and I could see the apology there. “I’m locked away from her.”

“What do you mean?”

“You will see.” She nodded in front of us and we continued for a few more feet.

The edge of the forest ended in sand. Golden sand. The sky was bright blue, and the sun was shining down on us. Instantly I was hot. I could feel the sweat beading off my temples. “Why is it so hot here?”

“This is where we come from. The climate we are built for. Home.” Urbi chuckled. “Toya is out there, but this is as far as I can go.” She put a paw up and tried to go forward, but it was like she was pressing it against a glass wall. “She locked me away.”

“Toya?” I looked at Urbi, but she shook her head.

“The other one.” She turned pleading eyes to me. “Save my human. She is the person I share my soul with, and I refuse to walk with another.” Walk with another? What? She saw the confusion on my face. “We have a choice, wolves, I mean. We choose who we share our lives with.” Then she turned away. “Save her.” Then she was gone.