“Yes. IF.” Eleana floated away to take her place at the front of the room.
The pictures faded from view and the basin fell silent and black. Dralazar continued to stare at the blank water, hoping for a clearer answer. She was already the Solus, what else could she possibly—he gripped the table, his knuckles turning white. Magic spewed across the table from his good hand and sputtered out of the other.
“No!”
One bolt of red magic slammed into the ceiling threatening to bring the roof down.
* * *
KIROA AND EMANE HAD moved to the cold stone floor to wait for Lomay’s return. They lay on their backs, holding hands and staring upwards. They had been there some time, talking about this land, their old land, and just thinking about the monumental task that lay before them. Kiora became increasingly aware of her magic as it built up underneath her skin, itching for a release. She felt Emane shift next to her.
“Having a hard time?” he asked.
“Why?”
“My hand feels like it’s holding a lighting storm.” Emane rolled his head to look at her with a forced smile.
She jerked her hand back. “I’m sorry!”
“I’m getting used to it. Sometimes it’s just a little more uncomfortable than others.” Emane smiled at her while rubbing his hand. “Does it hurt you?”
“No, not really. It’s uncomfortable, like a itch I have to scratch.” Kiora leaned up on one elbow and gently brushed his blonde hair to the side, letting her finger slide across his forehead. “But it hurts not being able to kiss you whenever I want.”
Emane lay flat, putting both arms behind his head and grinning up at her before puckering his lips. “I’m ready,” he said through the pucker. “I told you, it’s worth it.”
She laughed, shaking her head. “I am not knocking you unconscious again.”
“Why don’t you just dump some of it? Your magic, I mean.”
Kiora sighed. “It helps a little, but whenever I touch you . . .” She shook her head. “I still don’t understand. It’s like the magic wants to go to you. I have to pull it back. No matter how much I have.”
Emane pouted. “We have to figure something out.”
“You shouldn’t pout, it’s not very becoming,” Kiora teased.
“What?” He feigned shock before grabbing her and pulling her down, swiftly kissing her on the lips. He released her just as fast with a grunt, rubbing at his lips with the back of his hand.
She smacked him on the arm. “Serves you right.”
“Ouch.”
“What did you expect? I told you I couldn’t hold it.”
“Again,” he smiled mischievously, “worth it.”
Lomay was suddenly standing next to them at the exact moment his thread arrived, making both Kiora and Emane jump. Lomay looked at them and then at the Wings, his face dropping. “It didn’t show you?”
“It started to,” Kiora said as Emane got to his feet, helping her up.
“But there was a scream,” Emane said. “It went black and wouldn’t show us anymore.”
Lomay’s face darkened. “What did you see?”
“It hid a jewel in a desert—a real desert,” Kiora clarified. “Not the illusion blocking our valley.” She stopped, looking at Lomay. “Did you know about the illusion?”
“No, but Alcander explained after we left. Continue.” He waved at her impatiently.
“The Shadow buried it in one of the dunes. It seemed to be drawing on the jewel’s power.”
Lomay’s knees wobbled as he leaned forward on his walking stick. “I should have known. That is how it is keeping itself alive,” he said more to himself than to either of them. “The Shadow is using the power of the lights to make itself immortal.” After a moment Lomay’s demeanor again drastically shifted as he put on a smile that did not reach his eyes. “Let’s get you out of here. It is late and you need your rest. Luckily the air bubble spell worked nicely for Alcander, so it will be no problem getting you out.”
“You really didn’t know if the spell would work?” Emane asked, his mouth dropping.
“I was fairly confident. Now, let’s get you two on your way, shall we?”
Lomay wrapped Kiora and Emane in the same air bubbles they had seen Alcander use. Turning to face the exit, Emane jumped in first and vanished beneath the rock. Taking a jittery breath, Kiora jumped behind him. The same powerful current she had experienced earlier sucked her back underneath the rock and out of the cave.
Kiora held her breath instinctively and had to force herself to breath as she zipped along. The bubble provided