Shardless (Tempris, #1)

by Stephanie Fisher

As Breena sat on the garden wall, sipping her tea and watching the colors of the new day ignite on the horizon, she had no way of knowing that this would be the day that she died.

They were asking about a girl. A time mage.”

“I love you. One day, I hope you remember that.”

“Yes, little sister.” He tried his best to smile reassuringly, despite the tears that rolled down his cheeks. “She’ll remember. Every child dreams of their mother’s face.”

whereas those that cannot wield aether to perform magic reside at the bottom of the social hierarchy and are given a single designation: Shardless.

“How much?” the sullen boy demanded.

Wtf

As a result, there was nothing more fearsome than an angry shadow mage.

Syn glanced back at her, confusion evident in his expression. “Taly, that boy’s a shadow mage. He’s likely already scented you.”

“Very secret. Very precious.”

Skye’s fingers faltered in their rhythm. “Are you sure we can’t see inside your cart? It smells… interesting.”

Make sure that precious cargo of yours gets to Ryme safe and sound.”

He hasn’t yet experienced that kind of loss. But he’s always known you were human, Taly. He knew the risks, knew that you would one day die, leaving him behind. It just never mattered. Not until you decided it did.”

But instead of finding herself face-down in the dirt, her cheek collided with soft linen. Her eyes scrunched tight, and she braced herself. It seemed today was a day for reunions. “Hi Skye,” Taly mumbled, her voice muffled in the fabric of his shirt.

“Hey there, stranger,” Skye said softly.

I was out of line, and… I didn’t mean any of it. I was worried about you, and I just wanted you to come home.” He shrugged and hung his head sheepishly.

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I think we’re done here.” She really shouldn’t have enjoyed how out of sorts he looked. He was almost pouting.

Damn what happend

Bending at the waist, he caught her eye.

It’s been a long time since I took the time to write down my thoughts, but today is one of the worst days I can recall in recent memory. Taly, my little one, is gone. She ran away during the night while everyone was asleep.

Oh my heart

We are all devastated, but Skye is taking her departure the hardest.

Skye let out a sigh of relief as he watched Taly march ahead of him. He’d done it. He’d actually managed to sweet-talk the little hothead into coming back to the manor.

“Hi,” he whispered, already moving to give her some space. But before he could step away, she gave an unexpected sigh of defeat and wrapped her arms around his waist. “Hi,” she said, burying her face in the crook of his neck.

Skye’s chest felt uncomfortably tight as he folded his arms around her tiny frame, the feeling growing stronger when she gave another soft sigh and relaxed into him. She didn’t speak, and neither did he, and for a little while, it was easy enough to pretend that everything was still okay.

“There she is!” he called out in the cultured accent of the mainland fey. “My little one has finally come home!”

He looked up as he heard her bare feet padding across the expanse of the room and felt his breath catch in his throat.

Skye was suddenly having a hard time remembering if she used to fill out her other dresses quite so well.

an extension of something deep inside that I’ve somehow forgotten.

“No, Taly. The last time we sparred, I hurt you, and then you left.” His eyes were hard as he swung the dagger in a practiced motion.

Skye felt a strange pang lance his chest when he saw the friendly, unguarded smile Taly gave Aiden. Stepping closer to her and standing up straighter,

Aiden’s sapphire eyes widened in surprise. Skye’s voice had come out a little gruffer than he intended.

His eyes slid to the riders ahead of him, and he frowned when he saw Taly turn to Aiden and laugh at something the other man had said.

Skye glared at Aiden from the corner of his eye. There was something about the way the earth mage’s eyes raked over Taly,

The incendiary rounds work! Taly thought excitedly as the wind whipped at her clothing and hair.

“Please!” she wailed. “I don’t want to die here! Just stop! Please stop! Stop! Stop!”

“No,” he whispered, tucking a finger beneath her chin and pulling her eyes back to his. “I’m not going to leave you alone, I won’t ever leave you behind, so you forget that nonsense right now. You’re tired—I know that. But you need to stay awake. Please, just stay awake. Don’t go to sleep.”

“Everything’s okay now. I’ve got you,” he whispered in her ear. For a moment, she almost believed him. As he rested his chin on the top of her head, his fingers absently caressing a patch of skin peeking through the shredded fabric at her waist, she wanted so desperately to believe him.

“Please don’t let my baby die, Aiden.”

And it’s like you said—if they don’t know what you are, it will be much more difficult for the Sanctorum to go after them if you’re discovered. Not impossible—granted. But few things in life are ever guaranteed.”

Bro you were their ward i think they are guilty regardless of this dumb pushing away shit

“Still in denial, I see,” he murmured, shrugging when Skye arched a skeptical brow.

Aiden had convinced her to stay. After basically telling him that he could go to hell, she had listened to Aiden—talked to Aiden.

Skye’s eyes stung, and he viciously swallowed past the sudden lump in his throat.

Poor baby

And she hadn’t even wanted it. She’d tried to give it back.

I cant take this

You are the most infuriating woman I’ve ever known, but I’ve given up trying to deny that I won’t keep running back for more.”

“For the last time, my answer is no,” Taly replied firmly. “I don’t want to tell them. Our deal was that if I stayed here, you’d keep your mouth shut. I held up my end, Aiden, so don’t go getting any ideas.”

God shes annoying me…

“Put. Her. Down.” Skye’s voice was low and dangerous, and an animalistic growl emanated from deep within his chest.

The air thinned as Skye pulled apart the man’s spell, literally draining away the aether that coursed through the fire mage’s veins.

She only half-registered the low growl coming from behind her as she continued to study the newest scouting reports.

The growl was unmistakable this time. “Who?” Skye demanded.

Skye felt inexplicably irritated as he rode side-by-side with Taly, heading south on the island’s main highway. He had no reason to be upset—none that he could articulate, at least. But despite his attempts to redirect his thoughts, his mind kept wandering back to Taly’s little show at the Swap that morning.

how she had spent the past year sleeping her way across the island,

Hes so dramatic lmao

He had to forcibly suppress a grin when he heard a low, near-inaudible growl coming from Taly’s direction. He didn’t even know humans were capable of making that sound.