Cassian's POV
The first Guardian's fist came down like a falling mountain.
I threw up an ice shield. The impact shattered it instantly and sent me flying backward. Only Elara's vines catching me kept me from slamming into the cottage.
"They're too strong!" she shouted.
"Then we get stronger!" I pulled power through the bond, feeling her wild magic merge with mine.
We'd practiced soul resonance for hours. Now we'd see if it was enough.
The second Guardian swung a massive branch at Elara. She dodged, barely, and sent thorny vines wrapping around its legs. It tore through them like paper.
"Finn!" I yelled. "Any helpful advice?"
"Don't die!" Finn was already running, smart enough to stay out of range. "They're testing your worthiness to wield wild magic! Fail and they'll level everything!"
"Great. Very helpful."
The third Guardian opened its mouth and released a wave of ancient magic that felt like the weight of centuries. It slammed into both of us, driving us to our knees.
Through the bond, I felt Elara's fear. Her doubt. She thought we couldn't win.
But I also felt her determination. Her refusal to give up.
Trust me, I sent through the bond. Like you did during the fusion.
I do trust you, came her reply. That's what scares me.
The largest Guardian raised both fists, preparing to crush us.
We moved as one.
Elara sent wild magic surging through the bond. I caught it, shaped it, and sent it back multiplied. She added her creativity. I added my control. Back and forth, building the power higher with each exchange.
The resonance became a symphony.
When we released it, the magic didn't just stop the Guardian's attack—it froze all three in place, encased in silver-gold crystal that pulsed with our combined power.
Silence fell.
The Guardians stood frozen mid-attack, unable to move.
Then slowly, deliberately, they bowed.
"You did it," Finn breathed. "They recognize you. Accept you as worthy."
The crystal shattered. The Guardians stepped back, their glowing eyes dimming to a peaceful green. One by one, they sank back into the earth, returning to their slumber.
I collapsed to my knees, completely drained.
Elara fell beside me. "Did we just... win against ancient magical guardians?"
"We survived," I corrected. "That's close enough."
Finn jogged over, grinning. "I've never seen anything like that. Soul resonance strong enough to freeze Veil Guardians? You two are either going to change the world or destroy it."
"Right now I just want to not die," Elara muttered.
"Fair." Finn helped her up, then me. "You should rest. That Court mage army is still coming, probably within hours. You'll need your strength."
He was right. But as I looked at the cottage, I realized something.
"We can't fight inside," I said. "Too small, too fragile. We need a better defensive position."
"The cottage is all we have," Elara said tiredly. "It's falling apart, but it's home."
Home. She'd called this shabby little building home. Something about that word made my chest tight.
"Then we make it stronger," I decided. "Finn, you said there are ancient ruins in the Veil?"
"Dozens. Temples, fortresses, whole cities from before the Courts existed."
"Can you guide us to the nearest fortress?"
"You can't leave the property," Finn reminded me. "The bond—"
"No. But Elara can extend her bond with the land. If she connects our property to the fortress ruins, we could expand our territory. Give us room to maneuver, better defensive positions."
Elara stared at me. "That's... actually brilliant. But I've never tried bonding with something that far away."
"You bonded with half the Veil forest last night when you were desperate. This time you'll be doing it deliberately, with my help." I held out my hand. "Together?"
She took it without hesitation. "Together."
Finn led us to the edge of the property, where the bond would allow us to see into the Veil. About a mile in, ancient stone walls rose from the forest floor—remnants of a fortress that must have been magnificent once.
"That'll work," I said. "Elara, can you reach it?"
She closed her eyes, reaching out with her wild magic. I felt her power stretching through the earth, following roots and leylines toward the ruins.
But it wasn't enough. The distance was too great.
"Let me help," I said.
I poured my magic through the bond, giving her the strength to reach farther. Her wild magic blazed brighter, extending like silver threads through the forest.
When her power touched the ruins, I felt the ancient magic there wake up. Not hostile like the Guardians—curious. Welcoming.
The ruins wanted to be used again.
Elara gasped as the bond took hold. Silver light connected our cottage to the fortress, making them one continuous property.
"It worked," she breathed. "I can feel it. The ruins are ours now."
"Then we fortify," I said. "Before the army arrives."
The next few hours were a blur of preparation. Finn showed us hidden passages in the ruins. I reinforced walls with ice magic. Elara grew defensive plants throughout the fortress. Together we created a maze of magical traps that would confuse and separate any attacking force.
By the time the sun set, we'd transformed ancient ruins into a deadly fortress.
"They'll still outnumber us ten to one," Finn said, surveying our work.
"Then we'll just have to be eleven times better," I replied.
Elara touched my arm. "Cassian, can I ask you something?"
"If you must."
"Why are you helping me? Really helping, I mean. You could have given me to the Courts. Saved yourself. But you keep choosing to fight instead." She looked up at me with those honest eyes. "Why?"
I didn't have a good answer. Or rather, I had too many answers and none of them made sense.
Because she'd trusted me when she had no reason to. Because she'd saved my life when she could have run. Because something about her made me want to be more than the weapon my uncle had created.
"Because you remind me that there are still things worth protecting," I finally said.
Tears filled her eyes. "That's the nicest thing anyone's said to me in years."
Before I could respond, Finn interrupted. "Uh, we have a problem."
We turned to see what he was pointing at.
Court mages were arriving. Dozens of them, appearing through teleportation spells at the edge of our expanded property. But that wasn't the problem.
The problem was they weren't attacking.
They were forming a perimeter. Sealing off escape routes. Creating a magical cage.
"They're not here to fight," I realized with growing dread. "They're here to contain us while someone else arrives."
"Who?" Elara asked.
A massive teleportation circle appeared in the sky above the ruins. The magic was so powerful it made the air crackle.
When the light faded, three figures stood floating above us.
High Chancellor Malachai Valorent in the center. On his right, Seraphina Thorne, smiling viciously. And on his left—
My blood froze.
High King Aldric himself. The most powerful mage in the entire realm.
"No," I whispered. "He never leaves the capital. Never."
But he was here. The High King had come personally.
Malachai's voice boomed across the ruins. "Cassian Valorent. Elara Thorne. By order of the High King, you are both under arrest for crimes against the realm. Surrender immediately or be destroyed."
The High King raised one hand. Reality itself seemed to bend around his fingers.
"You have ten seconds to comply," he said in a voice like thunder. "Ten. Nine. Eight—"
"Wait!" Elara stepped forward. "I'll surrender! Just don't hurt Cassian!"
"What are you doing?" I grabbed her arm.
"Saving you!" Tears ran down her face. "This is my fault. My wild magic. You shouldn't have to die for my mistakes—"
"I'm not letting you sacrifice yourself!"
"Seven. Six. Five—"
"Please!" Elara shouted to the High King. "He's innocent! I forced the bond on him! Take me and let him go!"
Malachai laughed. "How touching. The wild magic user thinks she can bargain."
"Four. Three—"
I pulled Elara behind me. "If you want her, you go through me first."
The High King's counting stopped. He looked at me with ancient, calculating eyes.
"Interesting," he said. "The Winter Blade, willing to die for a criminal. Tell me, nephew of Malachai—has your time in exile made you foolish or just weak?"
"Neither," I said through gritted teeth. "Just tired of following your corrupt laws."
Shocked silence.
No one spoke to the High King like that. No one.
But I was done being afraid. Done being controlled.
"Your laws say wild magic is evil," I continued. "But I've seen Elara use it to protect, to heal, to create beauty. Your laws say soul bonds are forbidden. But this bond saved both our lives. Maybe your laws are the problem, not us."
The High King's expression was unreadable. Then he smiled.
"Well said. You've learned to think for yourself at last. Malachai, you've failed in your training. He's no longer your weapon."
Malachai's face went red with rage.
"However," the High King continued, "rebellion cannot be tolerated. So I will give you one chance. One test. Prove your bond is as powerful as Malachai claims, and I will grant you both clemency. Fail, and you die together."
"What kind of test?" I demanded.
The High King gestured. The ground between us split open, revealing a pit of swirling black magic.
"Inside that void is a demon. An ancient evil we captured centuries ago. It feeds on fear and doubt." His eyes glittered. "If your bond is truly unbreakable, you'll survive. If not, it will devour you both from the inside out."
"That's insane!" Finn shouted. "That demon has killed dozens of mages!"
"Then they'll die," Seraphina said sweetly. "Either way, the wild magic problem is solved."
I looked at Elara. Saw my own fear reflected in her eyes.
Can we do this? she asked through the bond.
I don't know. But I'm not letting you face it alone.
Together then. One more time.
Together.
We joined hands and stepped toward the pit.
"Wait!" A new voice rang out.
Everyone turned.
A woman in silver robes appeared through teleportation. She was old, ancient even, with silver hair and eyes that glowed with wild magic.
"Grandmother Thorne?" Elara gasped. "You're supposed to be dead!"
"And you're supposed to be powerless," the old woman replied. "Seems we both have some explaining to do." She turned to the High King. "Before you throw these children to a demon, perhaps you should hear what I have to say about wild magic, soul bonds, and the lies that have sustained your kingdom for three hundred years."
The High King's expression changed. Something like recognition. Or fear.
"Helena Thorne," he said quietly. "After all these years, you return."
"I never left. Just hid where you couldn't find me." Elara's grandmother smiled coldly. "Now, shall we discuss the truth about wild magic? Or would you prefer I tell everyone here what really happened during the Purge Wars?"
The temperature seemed to drop ten degrees.
Whatever secret she was threatening to reveal, it was big enough to make even the High King hesitate.
And I had a feeling everything we thought we knew about magic, the Courts, and our world was about to change forever.