Brilliance (Circle of the Stars #4) - Sadie Jacks Page 0,8

of the park. Nothing conspicuous about us, I snickered mentally.

Once the elders got their people situated to their liking, the group going with us all turned to face me. Expectation, excitement, and a tinge of fear were on every face I could see. I just hoped I wasn’t leading any of my people to our deaths.

I took a deep breath and turned to the wall.

From the corner of my vision, Jeremiah jumped forward. “This is the entry point?” He stopped inches from actually touching me.

I nodded. “Yes. Right through here.” I pointed at the solid-looking rock wall.

He held up a finger. “Give me a minute to set up a blind. We don’t need humans calling the police or the media with stories about people disappearing into a wall.”

Oh. Right. “I knew that.” I mentally rolled my eyes. I really needed to start thinking more than one step at a time. I was going to get someone killed with this lack of foresight.

Jeremiah nudged some of our people back so he could wave his arms in spectacular fashion. A blue wave shot from his hands, and between one breath and the next, a shimmering bubble went around us. He was mumbling under his breath as I watched what looked like our entire group move down the sidewalk.

With another set of mumbles, he anchored his magic into something that I either couldn’t see or simply didn’t understand. Either option was viable. Once he was finished, he turned back to us. “Now we can go in.”

I stared at him. “What’s your magic?”

The corner of his mouth quirked up. “That’s considered a rude question. But I’ll answer it anyway. My elements are earth and water. I have the various other traits that my race does, but I have a feeling you weren’t asking about those.”

“What other traits do you have?” I asked as I turned to face him fully.

His smile deepened. “We can sit down and discuss it, but right now, I think we have bigger things to worry about.”

One of the new visitors snorted.

I turned to see Lukas smiling at the tall Warden. “I’d consider yourself lucky, luv. Jeremiah here is like a bear with a thorn in his paw, usually. You’re getting the royal treatment.”

Jeremiah flipped Lukas off. “That’s because you’re all assholes. I actually like her.”

I smiled. “I like you, too. And yes, you’re right, we do have bigger things to worry about.” I turned back to the wall. Laid my hand against it.

All I felt was the cool stone. No tingle of magic. No awareness of space beyond the separation. Just hard, cold stone.

I turned to Thane. “This is where I came out, right?”

He nodded, stepped up beside me. “Yeah. Almost exactly here.” He pointed at the street. “I remember passing that corner right before you crashed into me.”

I faced the wall again. Taking a deep breath, I settled my shoulders. Tried to clear my mind. Once I thought I’d achieved that calm place, I laid my hand on the stone again.

Still nothing.

I shook my shoulders, tried again.

Except for the feeling of disappointment and people breathing down my neck, I didn’t feel anything. I turned to face the people trusting me to lead them into a war. I shook my head. “I can’t get through.”

Ari came up beside me. “Is there a spell? A ritual?”

I shrugged. “I have no idea. The last time I could just put my hand on it and it sank through the opening.” I looked up at Thane.

He agreed. “That’s literally all she did.”

Jeremiah nudged us over. “Let me see what I can get from it.” He laid his palms on the blonde stone, his lips moving quickly.

After a moment, and no portal opening, he stepped back. Shook his head. “I can feel the magic, but it’s not any I’m familiar with.” He looked down at me. “Put your hand on the wall again, please. Tell me if the magic is some you’ve experienced before.”

I did as he asked. I closed my eyes to help me focus. It was just a blank void. Right before I took my hand away in defeat, I felt something move inside me.

I leaned my forehead against the stone, held still.

And waited.

And waited.

There!

Like a gentle suction against my skin, it reminded me of something I’d only experienced once. And very recently. Keeping my hand on the wall, I motioned Lukas to come forward. “The magic feels like yours.”

His bright blue eyes widened. He shook his head. “I keep telling you, I