Imdalind 01 - Kiss of Fire

I was still big news, and what was more, Ryland was giving another press conference – live this time.
    I tried to keep my focus off the screen, terrified of the condition I would see him in, but my ears were tuned to it intently, my heart thumping in anticipation. The possibility of hearing his voice had electrified my senses. I grabbed the necklace from its resting place on the table, desperate to be close to him in any way possible.
    “And now we go live to the LaRue estate where Ryland LaRue will be addressing the press.”
    I reluctantly turned my head to the screen, my heart beating in eager, yet terrified, fear. The “Live” icon lit up the bottom corner of the screen and I couldn’t help but think he would be right there, standing on the steps of that beautiful house. My heart longed to be next to him. I clenched the necklace tighter as Ryland walked out of the door to the small podium that stood at the bottom of the front steps where the press had gathered.
    I would like to say he looked like he had healed a bit, but I knew better. His right arm still hung lifelessly beside him, his right shoulder larger than the left one. His bruises appeared to be better, and the cut was almost gone, but he was twitching more than he had been the last time. Each jerk was so subtle that most people wouldn’t have noticed it. Each twitch shot through me like I was being punched.
    Ryland paused and shifted the papers in his left hand before looking at everyone in front of him. His bright blue eyes met the camera, and everything stopped. Ryland was terrified; I had never seen him look so scared. Seeing him there on the screen shoved Edmund’s magic-enshrouding blanket completely off me. My uncovered magic surged, the energy prickling my skin like a thousand needles. I expelled it from me, surprised to find it willingly going into the necklace that I still held in my hands. I looked at the ruby, reluctant to take my eyes from Ryland for too long. My magic flowing into the ruby had increased its warmth, the heat comforting against my skin.
    “It’s okay, Ryland. You can do it.” I spoke softly to myself, wishing I could help him.
    On the screen, Ryland shifted, but it wasn’t the twitch of the Vymȁzat; it was something different. His eyes met the camera again, and his mouth turned up in that coy little smile that always caused my heart to skip a beat.
    “Ladies and gentlemen, I have asked you to gather together today with the intent of addressing an assumption that has been prevalent among the press. This assumption concerns the disappearance of Joclyn Despain.”
    A twitch.
    “Fight him, Ryland, please. Fight him for me.”
    He smiled again. “I know it has been inferred that I may have been involved in her disappearance.” A bigger twitch. “And I would like to state again, that I was not involved with this tragedy in any way. I am proud to say that I love Joclyn Despain with all my heart, and her disappearance has taken an even bigger impact on me than she may ever know.” He looked right at the camera, his eyes shining with tears. “I love you, sweetheart.”
    “I love you, too.” The necklace dug into my hand as my magic continued to surge into it.
    “I know you do. And that’s why I need you to listen very carefully.”
    I froze, focused on the necklace, on the warm heat that I instantly recognized as not being my own.
    “You need to...” he paused when a twitch so large came over him that he had to hold onto the podium tightly, his knuckles turning white before he could raise his head.
    “Fight him, Ry.”
    “I’m... trying... Jos... Stay... where you are... Don’t come... Stay where you are...” He twitched so much that his head slammed into the podium. I could hear the press yell and call out in alarm in the background. He rose slowly, and I could tell he had lost. The blue from his eyes was gone, the pitch-black filling them once again.
    I yelled in fear, the necklace falling to the floor.
    “Ryland!”
    “I’m coming to get you,” Ryland’s voice hissed angrily.
    I screamed out just as the door to my bedroom burst open and Talon rushed in. He caught me right before I fell to the ground. I fought against his hold as I yelled, reaching toward the screen in vain, my voice echoing around the room. Wyn followed Talon in and grabbed a pillow from the bed and covered the necklace with it, her hands pushing it hard into the floor.
    “What’s going on?” Ovailia yelled angrily, her