Free Shadowstorm (The Shadow World Book 6) by Dianne Sylvan

him. I could feel him losing heart…he fell into a shadow so deep I could barely sense his presence. Then he said…he said he wants to die. He has no more to give, and just wants rest. What am I to say to that?” He put his face in his hands for a moment before saying, “In all our years, I have never seen him like this. It was always my task to watch over him. Now all I can do is watch him die.”
    “He is not going to die,” Miranda said firmly. “We’ll do whatever we have to—even if we have to bind him to us. We’ll find a way.”
    “Can you do that?” he asked, frowning. “Wouldn’t that kill his Prime?”
    “I don’t mean separate them…I just wonder if there’s a way to link someone else to Nico to give him energy, like a temporary one-way bond.” It was one of the few ideas she’d had that didn’t immediately sound ridiculous. Miranda nodded to herself. “I’ll talk to Stella—she’s better acquainted with that sort of magic and by now I bet she’s strong enough. It might work.”
    “You can use me,” Kai said, new determination in his voice. “We are already linked—widen that link and he can have all I can give him.”
    Miranda smiled. “It’s really amazing how much you love your brother. I’ve never had a twin, but I had a sister, and…well, we definitely weren’t like you two.”
    He looked a bit baffled. “How can you not be close? Blood binds to blood.”
    “Yeah, not so much here. Maybe things were different back before people were so spread out, and they had to stay closer to each other to survive and thrive—we prize our individuality to a fault. Most families are pretty disconnected.”
    “Your people are not,” Kai pointed out. “There is a deep and still growing connection among all eight of you, binding you more and more tightly.”
    Miranda froze. “Eight? You can See eight?”
    A blink. “Well, I do not have the level of Sight that Nico has, but empathically I can sense all eight of you, yes. Can you not?”
    “No. I mean, I don’t think so…” Miranda turned her attention inward, seeking out along her bond to David, and from there slowly around the Circle: Deven, Nico, Cora, Jacob, Olivia, and…
    “There’s someone there,” she said softly. “I mean, the bond hasn’t formed yet, but there’s definitely a person in that spot. That’s not how it was a year ago—it was a blank space then. He must be getting closer…I wonder if knowing that would make Olivia feel better or worse.”
    She shook herself out of it and gave him an encouraging smile. “We’re going to save your brother. You have my word.”
    He took a deep breath and let it out slowly, then smiled back. “I believe you.”
    “Good. Let’s think about something else for now, then.”
    She sat down on the piano bench, and a moment later he joined her, waiting expectantly for her to either play or talk about the song she wanted him to hear. She looked up at the sheet music. It was, all of a sudden, the last thing in the world she wanted to play.
    “Is something wrong?” Kai asked, concerned. “You have a very odd look on your face.”
    “Well…” Time to be an adult, she supposed. She shifted on the bench to face him. “I have to ask you something. I know you guys are pretty forward when it comes to…interpersonal relationships.”
    “You mean sex.”
    “Yes. See? We’re repressed, even when we’re not. But the thing is, I’m even worse at it than most people. I don’t know what to do when I’m attracted to someone. So I guess the best thing to do is just flat out—”
    Kai sighed, and sounded somewhat weary as he asked, “Do you intend to take me to bed, Miranda?”
    There she went again—her face became scalding hot. “Um…no. Not that I…in theory, I would, and could, but…no.”
    He nodded. “That’s all I need to know.”
    “You’re not going to try and change my mind?”
    An eyebrow shot up. “Why would I do that? You said you’re not interested.