Read Endless Magic for Free Online

my torch to take in my surroundings and realized we stood in familiar territory. We had entered the cave where a rushing river once flowed. A river that, until my destruction of the tunnel entrance over a month ago, would have had to be paddled against backward for several hours for us to escape.
    Sebastian and I followed Kiran to the ledge of the platform and to the rusted ladder that led down into a dried riverbed. Kiran jumped over the side of the platform, not bothering with the ladder, but I was too nervous to follow suit without my magic.
    I handed my torch to Sebastian and then swung my legs over the side, turning around and crawling down the shaky ladder that creaked against my weight. My feet reached the bottom of the ladder, and with no other place to step and the darkness obscuring how far the jump down would be, I hesitated nervously in place.
    I heard an aggravated sigh and then in a curt British accent, “Just hang on to the last rung and I'll help you down.”
    I followed Kiran's instructions, holding weakly to the last rung while he reached up and placed his hands on either side of my waist. Once I was confident he had me, I let go of the ladder and he gently placed me on the ground, his hands not lingering on me for even a second longer than necessary.
    After Sebastian jumped down to join us, we started walking upstream, or what would have been upstream if the river had not drained. I found it very surreal to be walking this same ground, without magic and with Kiran. It somehow felt contradictory to anything else I experienced yet.
    “This used to be a river,” I commented quietly after what felt like hours of quiet walking. I was tired of the silence, the loneliness, and felt like I should be giving Sebastian and Kiran the tour.
    “I know,” Kiran remarked dryly.
    “What happened to it?” Sebastian asked curiously, and suddenly I was too embarrassed to explain I was the one that destroyed the entrance so that I wouldn't lose my resolve in offering myself in place of my brother. I annihilated any chance of escape because I convinced myself I was marching to my own death and I couldn't give myself an option of turning around. Then all my plotting, all my planning backfired.
    “You know, obliterating the cave was absolutely ridiculous,” Kiran scolded, turning to me with a look of pure irritation on his face. “It has really made my life unnecessarily complicated.” He was so annoyed with me that I actually found him entertaining.
    “I'm sorry, your majesty,” I mocked gently, “I assumed I was the only one that used this entrance.”
    “And that's exactly your problem, isn't it?” Kiran turned, walking backward and chiding me seriously. “You only, ever, think about yourself.”
    I gasped at his accusation, feeling as though my very presence with him testified of self-sacrifice for the good of others. “How do you know about this exit anyway? What are you using it for?” I questioned, turning the attention off myself.
    “Business,” he mumbled, turning back around to lead the way.
    “What kind of business?” I pressed further, demanding an answer
    “Kiran has been-” Sebastian started, but Kiran interrupted him.
    “Just business, it's not really any of your concern,” Kiran growled and Sebastian instantly fell silent.
    “Sebastian, what? What is he doing down here?” I asked sweetly. I played on our friendship, curiosity getting the best of me.
    “Let me remind you, Bastian, your loyalty is to me first, no matter how special of a relationship you two have.” Kiran's voice was cold and biting, leaving Sebastian even quieter.
    “Fine,” I challenged, not giving Kiran the opportunity for the last word, “but someday soon, you'll have to tell me.”
    “Oh really, and why is that?” Kiran glanced backward at me, his eyes flashing turquoise in the dim light of his torch.
    “Because I'll be your wife and all. I mean, then, it will be your obligation to tell me!” I reasoned,