The early morning sunlight flared through the window, heating Amari’s face. She rolled over in bed and chucked one of the ample pillows across the room. Another sleepless night worsened her mood. Rage and heartache coursed through her mind.

Six months had passed since Danek abandoned her. He didn’t say goodbye or include her in his plan. She woke up alone in his bed after their souls bonded. It was clear that grief had damaged his heart, and the healing process would be slow. She knew pulling him too close, too fast, was dangerous, but she needed power to save her brother. He wasn’t ready for the intensity of their connection, and now she paid the price.

Amari recognized the potency of their combined energy. Power like that was addicting. Her thoughts drifted back to the memory of his golden eyes staring into hers and the heat of his skin against her. The craving for his touch lingered as a sweet tingle through her body.

Amari’s phone buzzed on the nightstand, jarring her from her dreams. She struggled to find her focus to meditate or heal anyone, purpose gone from her life. She pulled the covers over her head and tried to escape into sleep.

A familiar weight on the bed roused her.

“What?” She mumbled from her cocoon.

“Ree. How’re you today?” The calm, deep voice of her beloved brother helped some.

She answered him with an unintelligible grumble.

“I brought you coffee,” Adriel said.

Amari heaved a deep breath and peeled the covers down. She didn’t meet his gaze but took the steaming mug he extended. It was her favorite mug, a treasured gift from her friend, Gaia. Gaia belonged to the Earthen clan, wielding Land Magik. She’d given Amari the mug with an intricate blue flower planted in it. Gaia had planted the flower outside beside Amari’s sidewalk. It still lived there and produced new blue blooms every spring. Amari assumed it would thrive until Gaia died, as plants touched by Land Magik retained traces of Lasarian energy.

Amari savored the first sip of caffeine and closed her eyes again. “Thanks, Adriel.”

“You wanna practice today?”

A smile threatened to break through. Adriel reminded her of happier days, his presence encouraging her to try. As twins, he served as her guardian, friend, and companion, sharing everything without barriers. He felt her soul as though it were his own.

“Maybe,” Amari answered. “The only way you’ll beat me is if you put some liquor in this mug.” She hadn’t left the house in weeks. Adriel came over often, bringing food and convincing her to exercise.

Adriel laughed and took her mug. “I’ll meet you outside.”

He closed the door softly behind him, and Amari put her feet on the floor. She tugged on a pair of black fleece sweats and an old, worn yellow crop top before following the smell of fresh coffee downstairs to the kitchen. Coffee in hand, she stepped outside to the backyard. Rich, green grass stretched over an acre, ending at the tree line.

The morning sun burned the frost off, but the lingering dew was still cold on her toes. The chill in the air refreshed her lungs. Spring was well underway, and new buds weighed down the tree branches. Amari took a slow, deep breath of fresh air and closed her eyes. Danek hadn’t called since the winter solstice, but the sound of his voice lived on in her mind.

“Amari. How are you feeling?” Danek asked.

She gripped the phone tightly as if she could hold him to her. “I’m okay, Danek. How’s training going?”

“It’s good. It’s hard, but it’s good. The Sirak are intense, but it’s what I need. It’s what you need me to be, love.”

She had told him she would wait, that she would be okay. She hoped to be able to keep that promise. But her soul roared in her ears, telling her to beg him to come back.

“Danek, I miss you.”

He didn’t respond right away. Maybe he was distracted. She hoped the Sirak wasn’t changing him. It was a risk. He was there to change his soul. What if he changed too much?

His voice deepened when he answered. “I feel your soul calling to me. Believe me when I say that I miss you, too. I’ll return to you as soon as possible, but short of dying, there’s no other way to cleanse my soul. I’m coming back, Amari. Hold on.”

Her ability to feel his energy faded soon after that conversation. Her mood grew increasingly sullen and detached. She hid her pain from her family, trying to retain her pride. If they knew the extent of her pain, they would all do what Adriel did and get overly involved.

Amari’s thoughts returned to the present when she caught sight of Adriel stretching and practicing tai chi moves with well-honed composure. Their blades rested on the wicker table. Amari downed another sweet mouthful of java and set it down. Her hand closed around the handle of her sword and pulled it from its sheath, inspecting the ornate, curved blade.

Lasarian metalworkers continued to craft the traditional weapons of their people, using a unique blend of metals. Most Lasarians carried a short, sturdy, black sword on their person and kept at least one longer blade under the bed or sofa at home. Three snow-white agate stones adorned the hilt of Amari’s sword, set into the pommel. The stones or crystals selected complimented the wielder of the weapon. Amari’s stones diffused negative energy, transforming it into the light energy that fueled her power.

She flipped her sword in her hand. “Ready?” She asked Adriel and tossed him his weapon.

Adriel snagged his blade out of the air, grinned, and bounced on his toes. “Ready, my dear.”

Amari let her psychological shields fall and filtered her energy through the agate in the weapon.