actions. He had plans that went far beyond what he’d put out into the world. I hadn’t known specific details to really warn the supernaturals, but the vibes were bad.
As Grace tightened her hold on my hand, we let our power mingle, the two jewels so strong that gasps rang out. I couldn’t see what they did, my eyes were closed as I focused, but I guessed it was something impressive.
"The line is hurting," Grace said, her voice loud to be heard over the energy building around us. "We need to get this portal open and stop whatever is happening."
There was nothing I wanted more than to open this damn portal, but it wasn’t working like it usually did … we were being blocked. Or maybe the line itself was just too damaged…
We were too late.
Hands touched mine, Cam and Gretley’s energy appearing in our bond, and my eyes flew open as a true cacophony of power erupted.
Screams rose from my chest, lodging in my throat as I fought the destructive powers. We were clashing against whatever was holding the ley line, and it was not going to be pretty if the two didn't find their way together. If we were rejected, the force might kill everyone here.
I met Grace's wide, panicked gaze. She knew what I was thinking and felt the same way.
Call on the jewels!
I shouted through our bond to my sisters.
We need their power if we want to live.
They all closed their eyes and I did the same, reaching deep into my source of power. A flame flickered in my chest, but it wasn't a ruby. I took a second to examine it closely, mesmerized by the familiar burn.
Jacob?
Jacob was there with me, his fire dancing through my body like it owned me. There were no words, but I felt his energy and support.
It pushed me to dig deeper.
Connecting to the gems was the only chance we had to get back home.
I dropped my head back, arms held wide as I clutched my sisters. Power shot from me in a blast of red, the other gems streaming from the princesses. Colors shot up in wide arcs, and then when they intersected high above us, gems shattered, before reforming into what was very clearly a rainbow bridge, spanning off into the horizon.
"Go!" my father shouted. "The bridge is the last pathway home. Take it now!"
It was fully formed, a plethora of color that was so much more than the four jeweled lands. The connection between us broke as we moved apart. "We'll stay here and do what we can from this side," Gretley said, her hand wrapped around Cam’s still.
I’d known for a long time that they had no plans to ever return to Earth; there was nothing back there for them. I completely understood, so all I did was hug them hard.
"Please return to us," Gretley said, as she hugged Grace as well.
“Stay safe," I choked out, before hurrying over to Jacob. As his hand settled into mine, my energy stopped rocketing around inside, relaxing as our bond jolted. It was far more developed than I would have expected without sex.
We were defying the odds, and I liked that a lot.
"Come on, Ruby," he murmured. "Let's save the world."
A sob escaped, but I stopped another from emerging. Popping up on my toes for one last kiss, I savored the seconds when my lips touched his, and then we were moving. My foot hit the edge of the rainbow, and despite its steep ascent into the sky, it was as if I was running on a flat path. A path made up of billions of shimmery lights, sparkling transparently underfoot. It looked like a rainbow but was solid.
I turned back only once to blow my parents a kiss; they returned it, my mother openly sobbing. It hurt to leave them, but I couldn't focus on that. We had a job to do … multiple worlds to save, and that's where I’d put all of my attention.
Tyson and Grace were right behind us as we ran. "You know, in all my years of experiencing crazy shit in this world," Grace started, sounding breathlessly overwhelmed, "running across a rainbow is not something I ever expected I’d do.”
I laughed. "Imagine growing up in the human world. At some point I must have numbed myself to all the weird, because two years ago a rainbow bridge would have only existed in a fantasy story or movie. Now I barely blink as fantasy