Read Online Torn: Bound Trilogy Book Two by Kate Sparkes - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Kate Sparkes
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thoughts until my legs turned numb and the current dunked me underwater. I hurried to climb out of the river and braced myself against the cold until I had dried enough that my feathers wouldn’t be soaked when I transformed. The soap had drifted away. Small loss.
I flew hard on the return journey, and my muscles warmed as they worked. Still, I looked forward to a warm fire and one last night in a soft bed before I set out. There were so many things that I failed to appreciate until they were gone.
My clothes and my key were at the edge of the woods where I'd left them, and I hurried to dress before anyone should happen to pass by. I walked around the outside of the carriage house before I climbed the stairs to my door, as was my habit. I felt nothing out of place, and no one around.
I tried to light the logs in the fireplace using magic. It didn’t take the first time. The skill was familiar enough now that I could usually avoid any unexpected effects from using the magic, but I still had trouble directing enough power to generate more than a tiny flame. I cursed again. Hard-won as this skill had been, I still expected more from myself. Expected to be more like Severn.
But he had been born with fire in his blood. I had not, and so I fought for every flame.
On the second try, the fire caught on the rough bark. Still not good enough, but it was something. At least I wouldn’t have to worry about packing a flint for my journey.
I’d just finished laying out clothing to take with me when I heard a soft tapping noise. I stretched my awareness, then hurried to unlock the window and help Rowan over the ledge.
“I have a door,” I reminded her, and took her into my arms. Her damp hair smelled faintly of flowers. She felt natural in my arms, like an extension of my own body. I pushed down the physical ache that rose in me at the thought of leaving her behind. I still resented the way these new emotions sneaked up on me, seemingly outside of my control.
“You do have a door,” she said, “one that faces the school. I’m not taking any chances tonight.” She looked up and grinned. “Besides, where’s the fun in that?”
I looked out to where she’d climbed up a downspout onto the roof. Her idea of fun was often rather different from mine.
She stepped back and sat on the edge of the bed next to my clothing and the other supplies I’d laid out earlier. She left her long jacket buttoned, leaving only her knees exposed over the tops of her boots. “You’re really going.”
“Looks like it.”
She picked up a sheathed knife and turned it over in her hands. Her dark eyebrows knit together. “You’ll be careful?”
“As much as I can be and still get this done.”
At least she didn’t ask how long it would take. I wasn’t prepared to think about that, myself.
“I have complete faith in your abilities,” she said. “I still can’t help worrying. You’re going to be out there on your own, with no way to contact us if you need help. If something happens...” She set the knife down. “I could come with you. I know my magic’s not useful most of the time, and does more harm than good. But I could watch out for you while you sleep.” She looked up and forced a sad smile. “I know. I’d just be one more thing for you to worry about.”
“And somewhat distracting,” I said, noticing the bare flesh at her throat, her uncovered collarbones when she turned and her jacket fell further open. I forced my gaze back to her eyes. “At least if I only have myself to worry about, I can escape danger by flying.”
“True. I guess that makes me feel better. You will, right? Fly? Flee?”
“I have nothing to prove. I’ll do whatever it takes to get where I need to go in one piece.”
“Good.” She went to the fireplace to poke at the logs. “Could you stay that way? Aquila would be less conspicuous. As a person, you’re recognizable. Even people who have never met you can’t help seeing that you’re
I flew hard on the return journey, and my muscles warmed as they worked. Still, I looked forward to a warm fire and one last night in a soft bed before I set out. There were so many things that I failed to appreciate until they were gone.
My clothes and my key were at the edge of the woods where I'd left them, and I hurried to dress before anyone should happen to pass by. I walked around the outside of the carriage house before I climbed the stairs to my door, as was my habit. I felt nothing out of place, and no one around.
I tried to light the logs in the fireplace using magic. It didn’t take the first time. The skill was familiar enough now that I could usually avoid any unexpected effects from using the magic, but I still had trouble directing enough power to generate more than a tiny flame. I cursed again. Hard-won as this skill had been, I still expected more from myself. Expected to be more like Severn.
But he had been born with fire in his blood. I had not, and so I fought for every flame.
On the second try, the fire caught on the rough bark. Still not good enough, but it was something. At least I wouldn’t have to worry about packing a flint for my journey.
I’d just finished laying out clothing to take with me when I heard a soft tapping noise. I stretched my awareness, then hurried to unlock the window and help Rowan over the ledge.
“I have a door,” I reminded her, and took her into my arms. Her damp hair smelled faintly of flowers. She felt natural in my arms, like an extension of my own body. I pushed down the physical ache that rose in me at the thought of leaving her behind. I still resented the way these new emotions sneaked up on me, seemingly outside of my control.
“You do have a door,” she said, “one that faces the school. I’m not taking any chances tonight.” She looked up and grinned. “Besides, where’s the fun in that?”
I looked out to where she’d climbed up a downspout onto the roof. Her idea of fun was often rather different from mine.
She stepped back and sat on the edge of the bed next to my clothing and the other supplies I’d laid out earlier. She left her long jacket buttoned, leaving only her knees exposed over the tops of her boots. “You’re really going.”
“Looks like it.”
She picked up a sheathed knife and turned it over in her hands. Her dark eyebrows knit together. “You’ll be careful?”
“As much as I can be and still get this done.”
At least she didn’t ask how long it would take. I wasn’t prepared to think about that, myself.
“I have complete faith in your abilities,” she said. “I still can’t help worrying. You’re going to be out there on your own, with no way to contact us if you need help. If something happens...” She set the knife down. “I could come with you. I know my magic’s not useful most of the time, and does more harm than good. But I could watch out for you while you sleep.” She looked up and forced a sad smile. “I know. I’d just be one more thing for you to worry about.”
“And somewhat distracting,” I said, noticing the bare flesh at her throat, her uncovered collarbones when she turned and her jacket fell further open. I forced my gaze back to her eyes. “At least if I only have myself to worry about, I can escape danger by flying.”
“True. I guess that makes me feel better. You will, right? Fly? Flee?”
“I have nothing to prove. I’ll do whatever it takes to get where I need to go in one piece.”
“Good.” She went to the fireplace to poke at the logs. “Could you stay that way? Aquila would be less conspicuous. As a person, you’re recognizable. Even people who have never met you can’t help seeing that you’re
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