The Binding Read Online Free PDF Page A

mentioned earlier, are from the Willow Clan ― th e second house of the Thirteen Clans of Velesi . E ighteen years ago our parents made a treaty between the two strongest houses ― to bring the two houses together through their heirs ,” he lifts his hands, palms up. “ A n arrange d marriage, Lily. That ma rriage would be between the oldest children of each house. That would be you and Tharin.”
    I drop my eyes, not sure how to take it. Ah, so that’s why he’s so angry with me. It’s so obvious that Tharin is annoyed about the whole thing. I’m not quite sure how I feel about it either .
    “The reason why the arrow burned,” continues Tolan, “is because I told it to. Most of the royal blood has some power connected to nature and its elements. We’re able to manipulate it. I willed the arrow to bu rn, and so it did. I’m able to will other elements, as well. M ost of our line can, but my will is not as strong as Tharin’s o r yours for that matter.”
    “No,” I say shaking my head. Without looking up, I reply quietly, “I don’t have any powers. I’m just Lily, plain Lily.” I lift my eyes to him and see a smile on his face.
    “Yes, Lily. You. You may not know it yet, but you have control over the most po werful element of all. Your c lan is connected to Mother Earth more so than any of the other clans. Y ou can burn, drown or suffocate any of your enemies with your will alone. You can hear and understand the language of the land around you, the sky above you and the ocean that surrounds you.”
    “I can’t do any of that. I have trouble just listening to my math teacher , let alone hear what the grass in the front yard has to say. You’ve got the wrong person.”
    “How do you think we knew where to find you, Lily?” he asks quietly. “We’ve known where you’ve been from the moment you took your first breath. You a re Senestra’s daughter . W hen the treaty was sealed between our families, you became one of us. We’ve known where you’ve been since you and your brother left Velesi with your father.”
    “My father?”
    “After the assassination of your mother, Queen Senestra, your father, John Michaels , brought you back to his world. Our king, our father, allowed it as they were like brothers, even though your father was human. When Lucas was taken by the Ange, we knew you were in danger.”
    “So Lucas didn’t leave me? He was taken?” I sit up straight , shock ed and happy at the same time . I knew that Lucas didn’t leave me ! There is so much to ask, to think through. My mother was assassinated? And my father? All my life I was told that my parents were killed after I was born. My father’s brother and his wife took us in and raised us, at least until their own deaths.
    Tolan waves his hand at me to calm me down, “Yes. But your brother has turned to their side . W e were unable to reach him.” He lifts his hand to stop me from interrupting, “We kne w that you’d be safer with the s ocial w orker. After you were brought to her, we checked her out and made it possible for her to gain guardianship over you. We cast a shield over your essence and made you invisible to the Ange. That is until you turned eighteen two nights ago. After that, the shield couldn’t hide you anymore. We thought we had more time before the Ange found you, but tonight proved that we were wrong. We had hoped to have at least another day or two before they sensed your whereabouts.”
    “ Since my birthday? That was two days ago . ”
    Tolan quickly glances over at Tharin before looking back at me slightly embarrassed, “We were held up.”
    I stare at him dumbfounded. “Held up? Is that what happen ed with Lucas? You were held up with him, too?”
    Tolan looks down at his hands unable to look me in the eye. I turn to Tharin. He sits quietly and stares at me unapologetically. It’s clear that he isn’t going to give any explanation or an apology. Disappointed, I turn back to Tolan asking, “You