Free Bloodletting Part 1: The Affinities Cycle Book 1 by Mark Ryan

opened to him, lightening and then increasing in density as his magic touched them.
    A bed. He lay on a bed. Iron rivets bolted the legs together. Even as he sensed this, his affinity touched one and reduced its density by half. Metal squealed as the rivet snapped. The bed shifted beneath him, threatening to fling him to the floor. Tetra fought his affinity, pulling back as best he could. His grandfather’s last lecture floated through his mind, warning of the dangers of losing control, letting their affinities run wild.
    Control it. He must control his power, or it could hurt those around him. Fighting his affinity wrenched at his injured back, spasming muscles clamped his spine. Shockwaves of searing agony tore through his body. He already lay in enough pain it didn’t matter whether he added a bit more to it.
    He turned his affinity on himself, trying to anchor it within his muscles, bones, and organs. Letting it flow through him, increasing the density of his limbs at random, he manipulated his flesh to ease the pain.
    His legs still refused to work, no matter how light or heavy he made them. Tears dripped down his cheek. Gritting his teeth, he turned his head to the side, refusing to acknowledge them. He felt hollow. The dark room still shifted under his gaze, he couldn’t tell where he was. Why had this happened? He gripped the soft linen bed sheets, squeezing his hands into fists. The room was so hot.…
    Cutting through his disorientation, a presence at the back of his mind quivered and flared for a moment. Halli. His twin lived. Save her.… He didn’t know how he sensed her across such a distance, but he refused to believe it was just his imagination. If he felt her, perhaps she could sense him, too. Perhaps she could even touch him with her affinity despite their separation. She’d healed him before, soothed the pain and eased the mangled mess of his back. Could their sibling bond bridge such a gap?
    He reached out to her through the link, grasping for her Geist talent. He knew it shouldn’t work this way. They were too far, and she needed to be consciously trying to heal him for her affinity to work. She couldn’t know his condition, couldn’t know how to respond. Yet he still tried.
    He envisioned her standing behind him, hands on his back, providing constant, unwavering support as she always had. The cooling feeling of her healing washed over him, easing his agony. Just as their grandfather had tried to teach them, he set aside his natural resistance and opened himself to her affinity.
    When the first chilly wave of power rippled through him, it shocked Tetra so much he almost lost the connection. The presence in his mind wavered and dimmed, but he locked onto it and held firm. He held on for dear life. Not only was it easing his pain, but it was a connection to Halli that let him know she was alive.
    The twisted mass of pain in his back relaxed. His sister’s Geist affinity blunted the razor edge of torment and let his mind clear for the first time in what felt like an eternity. Fatigue also rushed in, taking the opportunity to force true rest on him. He let it take him, knowing he didn’t surrender, but gave himself the chance to recover his wits and wake stronger than ever. It was a chance to fight once more. Save her …
    ***

Chapter 15
    Halli Bicks
    Panic flooded Halli’s awareness as she struggled within the dream. It had to be a dream. Powerful Geists rampaged through Jaegen, manipulating—no, attacking—the spirits of the villagers. Some were strong enough to sever the binding of soul to body. Each time a Geist employed the taboo technique, a soul wailed in agonized fury as it departed the living plane.
    Echoes screamed through the night, bypassing her ears and ripping through her mind. At the core of her affinity was spirit. The magic of healing. Her soul wailed in despair, shrieking at her to save them, ease their pain.
    Tetra’s voice broke through the other tortured cries. Halli!
    Her