Imdalind 01 - Kiss of Fire

And my best friend, the new love who was so ruthlessly torn away from me - his mind had been erased and all memory of me had been stolen from him.
    I was only vaguely aware when Ilyan landed. His arms loosened as he attempted to lower me down but I held onto him tightly, my heart terrified of losing one of the last things I had. I clung to him like a terrified child, locking my fingers together in a panic.
    “It’s okay, Silnỳ.” He tried to release my arms again but I only held on tighter.
    “No!” I wailed into him, clinging to him. “Don’t leave me.”
    “I am not going anywhere. I will be right back.”
    I felt his magic surge through my blood stream, and my body instantly relaxed. I sank to the ground, my eyes only barely registering Ilyan’s retreating footsteps. I looked around myself, not really taking in the dirt, dried leaves and pine needles. I had barely registered where I was, the fire pit, before Wyn kneeled before me. Her pants were torn and covered in dirt, the brightly-colored ‘Queen’ T-shirt burned and ripped at the hem.
    “He’s gone.” My voice broke with my tears.
    “I know.” Wyn’s voice wasn’t condescending, or comforting, but my heart still ripped open to hear it from someone else.
    “I failed him, Wyn.” I sank down further, my body falling forward into Wyn’s lap. She wrapped her arms around me, her head resting on my back. I felt her warm breath against my skin, her tears falling like dripping ice against me.
    “It’s alright, Joclyn. We will get him back.”
    I sat up, throwing Wyn off me, my blood heating to a sudden boil.
    “Get who back, Wyn? He’s gone! There is no more Ryland! He’s gone!” I screamed as loud as my sore and broken voice would let me. It was probably a good thing Wyn’s battle-worn face already looked like someone had punched her or I probably would have.
    “I was supposed to save him, and I failed. I was supposed to protect him from his father, and I couldn’t. He’s not there anymore!”
    “He has to be there, Jos. He loves you so much, he…”
    “Loved me. The Ryland who loved me doesn’t exist anymore. I lost my father because of a stupid mark! My mother was murdered because you people cursed me! And now I have lost Ryland, the one person who meant the most to me!” I felt that uncontrollable anger seeping into my soul again, the desire to fight and yell and scream and hit much stronger than it should have been.
    “Enough, Joclyn.” I heard Ilyan’s commanding voice flow over me; Ilyan’s magical barrier freezing my emotions in place. I felt the anger vanish, leaving me with the soul-crushing sadness of my heartbreak. I sank into the ground, my body curling in on itself. I ran my fingers over the dirt; I looked to the tops of the trees I had climbed so many times.
    “It’s okay, Ilyan, she’s just hurt. She doesn’t mean what she’s saying.” Wyn’s voice was tiny; I could barely feel her hand against my shoulder.
    “I know, Wyn.” There was a pause and I heard Ilyan exhale deeply, his magical restraints peeling off me a bit. “It’s time to go. You and Talon are going to carry the tail of the western evacuation and go home through Los Angeles.”
    “And Joclyn?” Wyn’s voice was hesitant.
    “Joclyn will be going into hiding with me. Ryland marked her, the Zȇlství is complete. I am not sure if Edmund is going to use their connection to track her down or not. Until I know for sure, she is staying with me.”
    “Then I am staying with you too.” Wyn’s voice was forceful but sad; I couldn’t imagine what it had cost her to say that, to commit to leaving Talon. I unwound myself from my cocoon of pity to look at her, my heart melting.
    “You can’t leave Talon, Wyn.” My voice was soft and broken. “I left Ryland, and now he is gone. Please, for me, stay with Talon.”
    Our eyes locked as she reached forward to take my hands. A million thank-yous, a million emotions passed between us before she stood, our hands extended between us in a last goodbye.
    “I’ll see you soon,” I whispered; she could only nod. The phrase ‘going into hiding’ did not bode well for quick reunions. She squeezed my hands before turning away from me, and then she and Talon took off into the inky night sky.
    “It’s time to go, Silnỳ.” I looked up at Ilyan, surprised to see tears falling down his own cheeks.
    Ilyan didn’t expect me to stand; he leaned down and lifted me securely into his arms. He didn’t