Chapter 136: Wild Magicks Return

I barely had time to formulate exactly what my son had said when the ribbons stirred from their nap and rose into the air. I'd never seen them so relaxed, winding around the kids, though when they spotted me the drach souls returned to their typical rapturous gyrations. I held still as they headed for me, wrapping around me, the song of their spirits humming over my skin.

Ethie giggled and clapped at the show, Gabriel beaming.

"They aren't pets," I said, resisting the urge to swat the excited threads.

"Syd," Dad's voice choked out while the giant black dog watched with his mouth hanging open, "what are they?"

"Drach souls," I said. "They're perfectly safe." At least, I assumed so. They'd only ever been friendly with me in the past. Though, as one passed over my right wrist, it slowed. Stopped. Dipped down and brushed across the black ribbon clinging to my skin.