Rootbound

Bella flushed. “I only just found out.”

He pulled her into his arms and the crowd tightened around them, reaching out to touch them both. I looked for familiar faces in the crowd of Salamanders. For Brand and his wife Smoke. For their three boys, Stryker, Tinder and Cano. But they weren’t there.

“The battle with Orion.” Peta trotted across the grass to me. “All five of them were lost in the battle.”

I gave her a sharp nod of acknowledgment but could barely swallow past the guilt and grief that swelled. Once more I had to consider that Talan may have been right. What if I’d not needed to bring the four families into the battle? If I’d not done that, my friends would still be alive.

“Do not doubt your choices now,” Peta said. “Whatever has you doing that is wrong. The world would not have survived without your help. Without the elementals stepping up to help the world. And it was their choice, Lark. You know that. Why are you doubting yourself now?”

“Talan . . . he said things about the battle.”

She sucked in a sharp breath.

I looked her right in the eye. “I think I hate him, Peta.”

Her shoulders slumped. “I know.”

Not that she hated him too, but she knew I hated him. Mother goddess help me if I lost her to him.

Someone tugged at the back of my belt. “I know you all are busy, but do you think you could help me out?”

I turned to Cactus. His injuries were bad, but mostly superficial. I ran a hand over his head. The imprints where Fiametta’s hands had gripped him were healing already. He’d have some scarring, from the burns, but they would fade with time. Even the injury that had caused all the blood was smaller than I’d thought. A gash at the back of his head that was only an inch long and already had slowed.

“You’ll be fine.” I let go of him and stood, already thinking about the Eyrie.

Cactus grabbed my leg. “Lark, please. Heal me. I’m in pain.”

I blinked several times, unsure that I’d heard him right. “It costs me to heal, Cactus. A piece of my soul, maybe more each time. You’ll have some scars, but you’ll be fine.”

His green eyes closed. “Please, Lark. The pain is . . . intense.”

I went back to my knees and put my hands on his cheeks. “I’m sorry you’re in pain, but you will live and heal just fine on your own. Suck it up, buttercup.”

His eyes flew open, all but crackling with anger. “I never thought I’d see the day you’d turn away from helping someone. Especially not someone you love.”

“Loved,” Peta said. “Past tense.”

His hand shot out for her, red lines of power curling to his fingers, the intent all over him.

That he would even dare was the last drop in an overflowing bucket of no more patience.

I grabbed his hand and twisted it backward, the snap of bone clear as a bell in the still air. “Don’t ever try to hurt her again, Cactus. I will choose her every time. Do you understand?”

His jaw dropped, but I didn’t let go of the arm I’d broken. “Do you understand?”

“Yes.” He whispered the word and I let him go.

Standing, I turned back to the crowd. Flint began a slow clap. “To defend a familiar like that. Brilliant, Lark, it’s the way it should be done.”

I held a hand out for Peta and she leapt into my arms. “You wouldn’t really kill him over me, would you?” She blinked up at me.

I touched a hand to her back. “Yes. I would.”

Her eyes widened farther, and through the bond I felt her surprise.

Flint smiled. “Just to be clear, I’ve always liked Peta.”

I stepped away from Cactus and headed to where Shazer waited. “Flint, I doubt that very much. As long as you treat her well now, that’s all that matters.”

“You’d doubt me?”

I turned and glanced back at him. “The charm of a Salamander is legendary. We all know it. I won’t be charmed, Flint. I will take you at face value. End of story.”

His smile slipped and he gave me a slow bow from his waist. “So between you and me, nothing but truth.”

“Between you and me, nothing but truth. No matter how hard.” I didn’t bow back.

His grin grew. “You and I are going to be good friends, sister. I look forward to years of arguing with you.”

I burst out laughing, caught off guard by his words. Bella smiled and lifted a hand, which caught everyone’s attention.

“As queen of the Rim, I welcome all Salamanders to our home as a place to recoup and wait for your home to be safe once more.”

Flint nodded. “Thank you. We will take you up on your offer.”

The crowd shifted, looking from one to another. As if they weren’t sure if they could follow Flint without a trial by fire. The way they chose their leader was sheer strength. Then again, he’d fought Fiametta and she’d been the one to fall.

They would soon see he was strong enough. Or maybe they’d seen enough in the cavern. I shook my head; what did it matter to me who ruled the Salamanders?

Worm shit, I did not want to be a meddler. A tiny voice I recognized as my own piped up.

Too late, idiot.

Bella tipped her head to one side. “We are family, even though we are sustained by different elements. If we do not stand with each other, who will?”

The Salamanders murmured their agreement. Bella and Flint got the people organized, setting them off in groups, sending those who could travel the easiest and fastest ahead of the rest.