Total pages in book: 194
Estimated words: 187021 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 935(@200wpm)___ 748(@250wpm)___ 623(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 187021 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 935(@200wpm)___ 748(@250wpm)___ 623(@300wpm)
“That’s what I wanted to tell you and Gen.”
“That somehow a tree is here?”
“Our tree,” Ethan explained. “It’s our magic.”
She glanced at him in confusion. “What do you mean?”
“When we were connected as a triskel, I took way too much and blasted the magic into the floor. You’d already passed out by the time it happened. We all left, and when we came back, a tree had appeared where I released the power. It’s been growing steadily ever since.” Ethan touched the trunk and closed his eyes as if connecting with it. “It’s part of us now.”
“How?”
“Niamh thinks our triskel magic created a new sacred tree.”
Kierse’s eyebrows shot up. “Is that possible?”
“It hasn’t been done before, but they said that a triskel can do great magic.”
Kierse stepped hesitantly forward and put her hand on the tree. It reacted to her magic with a sigh. No, it wasn’t reacting to her magic; it was her magic. Primarily hers, at least. There was a tiny thread of Ethan and Gen in there, too. Just like when they were linked and she was the torrent of power that suffused them.
She could hardly believe that this great thing had come out of their joining. She knew that a triskel had saved her life. But this somehow felt so different to that. So precious.
Her mind recalled another sacred tree she’d seen—Sansara. Had Cillian Ryan channeled his own magic to recreate the tree he’d destroyed? Was that how Sansara still stood? Was that even possible without a triskel?
And then another question—could Cillian Ryan be part of a triskel?
“Thinking deep thoughts,” Ethan said.
“It’s been one of those days.”
“Are you going to tell me about it?”
She sighed. She should confide in Ethan. She always had before. “I have a block in my memory.”
Ethan’s brows furrowed. “Gen said that you were starting to remember things from before. I can’t believe the spell took your memories.”
“Yeah,” Kierse said on a sigh. “How much did she tell you?”
“That you went into the market to get a memory potion and you remembered that they’d had the spell put on you. I didn’t know you’d done more than that.”
Kierse shrugged. “Well, with Graves’s help.”
Ethan sighed. “Do I even want to know?”
“Maybe not,” she said with a laugh. “But it’s been fine. He’s just helped me recall the rest of my memories. And there’s a block when I try to remember the moment when the spell was cast, like a skip in my mind. I can’t get through it to see it happening. No matter how Graves or I push, it’s not there.”
Ethan looked uncomfortable. He’d come around a little on Graves, but Kierse didn’t know if he would ever be fully convinced.
“You know what, forget about it,” Kierse said with a shake of her head. “This is why I didn’t tell you to begin with.”
“No, I’m sorry,” Ethan said quickly. “I want to know more. What does that mean? That the memory isn’t there?”
“That he erased it, or the spell did. I’m not sure.”
“But you’re going to find out.”
“That’s the plan,” she conceded. “When we get to that point in my memory, it always jumps forward. And that’s when I hit a second block. Graves took me to the hospital to see a psychiatrist.”
Ethan’s jaw dropped. “Really?”
“Yes. Contrary to Druid training, Graves cares about me. The psychiatrist said that my brain was shielding me from a traumatic incident. And I think it’s how my parents died.”
Ethan’s face dropped. “Oh, Kierse.”
“I know,” she said, sinking to the floor and putting her back to the tree. Ethan dropped down next to her. “Going through memories is never great, but I just…don’t know if I want to even see that.”
“Maybe you forgot them for a reason. Maybe it’s for the better.”
“Maybe, but the psychiatrist said that I needed to face what happened to me.” She shrugged. “All of it’s fucked up.”
“I’m sorry I haven’t been there for any of this,” Ethan told her.
“I’m glad you’re here now.”
Ethan wrapped her up in a hug, and something seemed to fit back together inside her.
They were silent a few minutes before Kierse nudged him and asked, “So, are you going to see Corey tonight?”
Ethan ducked his head. “We might have made plans.”
“And you’re coming to the wedding?”
“I’ll be there.” He removed his hat and ran a hand over his hair. “Going to need to get a new fade first.”
Kierse laughed. “Ah, there’s my vain boy.”
Ethan pushed her shoulder. “Remind me why you’re my friend.”
“Because you love me.”
“I do,” he confirmed.
Kierse sighed with relief. Maybe finally the thing between them was getting back on track.
“Oh,” she gasped. Her hand went to her chest.
“Are you okay?”
She rubbed the spot reflexively. “Lorcan’s back.”
Ethan’s eyes widened. “I didn’t know he was gone.”
She shot him a look. “You think we would have done all of this without interruption otherwise?”