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But mixed with all that chaos is a si, lohine--nothing I can understand But the more I strain to hear it, the closer and clearer it beco its way to the front ofmy attention
It reminds me of when Isaac turns on the subwoofer in his truck All thebass, lare at us as we thump thump thump by their houses
The pain in my head amplifies as I concentrate on the sound, and the wind feels like it’s freezing h before I seriously lose it here
This is hopeless I’ I’m supposed to hear or feel I’ to die because of me
The realization smacks le word Over and over
Strength
The instant I separate the word, the wind seeps into lass of water all in one gulp--only
My limbs fall still and I focus on the lyrics behind the s of power Of invincibility Of balance
"Vane, can you hear me?" Audra calls from very far away "Open your eyes"
I want to obey, but I don’t kno to make my body function at theBegging me to come with the
They’ll protect me
"Vane, listen tothe winds tell you I know it sounds like wisdo you away, and if you let that happen, you won’t come back"
I don’t want to listen to her, but a blast of warh both my arms like an electric shock
My body jerks and ht h li my wrists with her slender hands
"Breathe," she orders
Why would she have to tellpain in my chest wakes me up to the fact that it’s been a while since I’ve taken a breath I suck in a huge gulp of air, hacking and coughing as it entersposition, pounding onot about it for a second "What happened?"
"The wind started to carry your consciousness away"
I rub lish this time?"
She flashes a small, sad smile "I don’t fully understand it ht between torlds Neither purely of the earth nor the sky, and e allow ourselves too much contact with either, it starts to lead us astray In the earth’s case, food and water ground us, bind us to the land Limit our abilities And the wind’s call tries to take us with it, like an old friend begging us to co for the journey"
That I understand Part of me still wants to follow
"But if we let it lead us ae leave our earthly forms behind, never to return," she warns
"How coht?" I was asleep forup
"When I triggered your Easterly breakthrough it was me inside your head, and I could control the drafts and build the connections you needed toyou to the full force of the winds"
"Soyou were literally insidethe weird swishy, spinning feeling
"Yes When we shift into our true forms, we are the wind We move and work and feel exactly the saht be the freakiest thing you’ve told me yet"
She rewardsher fingers as she twists theer the Southerly breakthrough It in to explain how ain--ever But this isn’t about ht? As soon as possible?"
A few seconds pass before she says, "Ti out"
"Then we have to do it"
I can’t believe the words are coht die Audra ht die "I knohat to expect now I’ll be fine"
"If the lure was that strong from the harsh, cold Northerlies, it’ll be ten ti Southerlies"
"I’ll come back"
"How can you be so sure?"
I take her hands She tries to pull away, but I hold tight "When you touched ain, and I’ll come back For you"
The last words I kinda ht them, because a hint of pink colors her cheeks
She stares at our hands for a second, taking slow, deep breaths "Okay Let’s get this over with"
CHAPTER 22
AUDRA
Vane has no idea how irresistible the Southerlies’ pull will be
Their war Te
I’d been ready to follow their whispers anywhere they led, and I very nearly had The vow Ithat pulled me back
But all I can do is stick with the plan and hope Vane really will come back for me
To me, I correct And not even me--specifically Co Live up to his potential Step into his role as king Those are my primary--my only--concerns