Total pages in book: 141
Estimated words: 136009 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 680(@200wpm)___ 544(@250wpm)___ 453(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 136009 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 680(@200wpm)___ 544(@250wpm)___ 453(@300wpm)
“Guess I’m stronger than you,” she said.
He bowed at the waist. “Revel in your domain, my queen.”
She released her grasp on his clothing and let the kingly attire return. “Don’t be afraid,” she told him, then she took his hand and dove off the clouds.
Fordham gasped as they descended. No matter that dragon training had helped his fear of falling, it was still there, buried deep. She could see it in his expression as they left the clouds and floated toward the rocky beach below. She tightened her grip on him and sent a flood of joy down their bond.
Then she pulled up sharp, and they landed with ease on the coast of the ocean. This time when she saw the strange mountain range in the distance, she knew it for what it was—Domara.
“I don’t miss those hills,” Fordham said, straightening his clothes. “Not at all.”
Kerrigan turned in a circle, hoping to see Cleora waiting for them. Not that she had always been there when they’d had assigned times for this, but Kerrigan had still hoped. She’d have done anything to see her right then.
“I guess we were too late,” Fordham said.
Kerrigan sighed. “Well, we tried. I guess we should…”
Another figure materialized out of nothingness. Not the tall, blond figure of Cleora but a brunette in a university uniform.
“Danae!” Kerrigan all but yelled, throwing herself at the girl.
Danae laughed and wrapped her arms around Kerrigan. “Cleora didn’t know if you’d show. She had me on watch duty.”
“How are you here?” Kerrigan demanded.
Danae was the daughter of Constantine Pallas, the king of the conquered country of Andine. They were the last royalty alive, and Danae had been hidden by her father for years because of her sought-after magic—truthtelling. A magic that would make her a slave of the Doma for its power if it was ever discovered. Kerrigan had gotten Cleora to take Danae in at the university after realizing that hiding the power was killing her. But last she checked, the girl didn’t have spirit magic.
“She has a spirit stone,” Danae said with a shrug. “I have no idea how it works, and Cleora talked my ear off about theoretical casting exercises before I tried to use it.”
“Sounds like her.”
“Yes, but I can use it to talk to you until the stone needs a recharge. I’ve been here on and off all night.”
“We’re glad to see you,” Fordham said to her.
Danae flushed and cast her gray eyes down. “It’s…it’s good to see you.”
“Tell us everything,” Kerrigan said. “You’re all right? Cleora? My mother?”
“Yes. We’re fine. Your mother is under house arrest. We haven’t seen her since you left. I’m sorry.”
Kerrigan’s heart dropped. “It’s not your fault. I’m sure she’s okay. She’s the daughter of He Who Reigns. He wouldn’t harm her.”
Danae frowned. “Let’s hope that’s true. How are things in your world? Did you succeed in uniting your people?”
Fordham glanced to Kerrigan. “That’s in the works.”
“Oh,” Danae said. “I thought going back with your magic would fix it.”
“Me too,” Kerrigan said with a sigh.
“Is there anything we can do to help?”
Kerrigan didn’t know how exactly they could possibly help, being that they were on the other side of the dimension and all. But she was sure there was more she could learn, and maybe that would fix it. “Could you ask Cleora to meet me at the next full moon? I still need to learn energy magic.”
Danae nodded. “Of course. Be safe in the meantime.”
Kerrigan hugged her again. “You too.”
They said their goodbyes, and Kerrigan wrenched them off the plane. Fordham was pale, bending over his legs as he breathed heavily.
“This is too much for you,” she noted.
“No, I can keep going.”
She shook her head. “Absolutely not. You would never let me continue if I were doubled over, panting on the ground.”
He glanced up at her. “I think I actually have done that many times.”
“Well, yes, fair, but this is different. Spirit magic can burn you out.”
It was a testament to how shitty he must have felt that he didn’t argue with her. “As you say.”
“Good,” she said with relief.
“You don’t even seem winded.”
“No, I feel fine. I must have pulled more spirit magic or something.”
Fordham shot her a skeptical look as if he had some other idea for her increased ability in spirit magic, but instead he said, “Who are you going to reach out to first?”
The list was long: Alura, Audria, Noda, Zina to start. Checking in with Clover and Hadrian too. If she felt this good, then she might be able to get through everyone tonight. But of everyone, she felt like Audria made the most sense. Yes, her friends had concerns about Audria working with the Society, but she had been Kerrigan’s first friend in Bryonica. She’d fought for Kerrigan tooth and nail every step of the way. She’d fought by her side in the arena against the Red Masks. Maybe she was surviving in Draco Mountain, but Kerrigan felt certain she was just biding her time.