“Should you be telling me your secrets so easily?” Maybe war college life was rubbing off on me, but you didn’t tell your adversaries your weaknesses. You didn’t even share all your strengths, so you didn’t lose the upper hand.
Lierick shrugged as we followed the path deeper into the forest. “An ounce of research will reveal the truth—I can assure you the Librarian would already know by now—and I’d like us to be friends. I want you to feel comfortable with me, and if knowing that your hound could tear me to pieces givesyou a modicum of security, then I’m happy to part with the information.”
I chewed over his words, the silence comfortable enough until we reached a clearing. The fact he knew this was here after only being on the island for less than two weeks suggested he’d been doing a lot more recon than I’d suspected. Staring at his youthful, handsome face, it was almost too easy to forget that he was in control of a small army floating off the shoreline and that he’d bent the minds of over a hundred people.
It had been decided between the four of us that we needed to test the limits of my powers. Or at least, try and activate them without the emotional turmoil of one of the guys dying. How Lierick had gotten dragged into being my teacher was beyond me, but it was probably because his power was the most like mine—cerebral, not physical.
Plus, he had the most knowledge of my Line and what I was supposed to be capable of, due to the Votresses in Ozryn. I guess, theoretically, they were my ancestors too, even if it had been many centuries since they’d been part of my Line. I didn’t know if any amount of secondary knowledge was going to help, but I didn’t want to keep resetting history until I ruined something that couldn’t be undone.
Sighing heavily, I sat on a fallen tree. Epsy scurried down from around my neck and out into the woods. I didn’t panic about it now; he’d return when he was ready.
“I’m not sure how we’re supposed to do this. I don’t remember any of the other times. I don’t even have any normal Ninth Line power that I can access.” I hadn’t been able to predict the arrival of the Second Line, or even guess what we’d have for dinner.
Lierick sat beside me. I could feel the soft heat of his body, and his subtle cologne that merely brushed against my senses. “Then that’s where we start—finding your power. Even thoughyou have these big, awe-inspiring abilities, you should have the lesser abilities of your Line too. The fact that none of the people in your Line can touch them tells me that either there’s some kind of external block by an unknown source, or that you’ve lost the knowledge needed to teach the members of your Line to reach into their well of power.”
I snorted. “A well of power seems ambitious. I’ll take a puddle of power right now.”
His laughter swirled softly with the sounds of the forest. “Whatever helps with your visualization. Close your eyes and relax your mind.”
Resisting the urge to roll my eyes, I tried to do as he said. Closing my eyes, I blanked my mind.
I wondered where Epsy was.
I wondered if everyone saw Epsy the way I did.
Did we all see the color purple the same?
I wondered if my brothers could already do this and had just never told me.
I wondered if Alucius had pups somewhere.
Did anyone have monkeys as companions?
I should ask Hayle.
Monkeys would be great companions.
Would those monkeys have to wear pants?
“Avalon,” Lierick chastised. “I said relax your mind, not send it into a flurry of… monkeys?”
Elbowing him in the ribs hard, I glared. “Stay out of my brain.”
He held his hands up, fending off my elbow jabs. “I wasn’t even in your brain. You were thinking so hard, you may as well have shouted into my ear.” Shaking his head, he turned on the log to face me, straddling the wide trunk easily. His pants stretched taut over his strong thighs, and I tried not to look. Ordrool. He placed his hands on his legs, just above his knees, palm up. “I’ll help. Place your palms on mine.”
Screwing up my nose, I tried to think of a reason I couldn’t do that without admitting to him—or myself—that I found him attractive. Growling at myself, I leaned forward and placed my palms over his. I wasn’t a fucking animal. I could touch another man without falling into a panting heap.
“Great. Okay, now, close your eyes again, and just listen to my voice first. I know you can do this; you just have to work on your focus. Can you hear the birds?” When I nodded, he flexed his hands reassuringly. “Well done. Can you hear something softer? Can you hear the wind through the leaves of the tree beside us?”
I really focused then, until I could hear the soft rustle of the gentle sea breeze through the branches, the hardening leaves brushing together. I nodded, and Lierick let out a proud hum.
“Okay, what about my breathing?”
I focused on the man in front of me, and the soft puff of his breaths on my face. When had he gotten so close? I could hear the whoosh of air flowing out through his nose and the slight rasp of his inhale. The warmth of his hands on mine, his strong heartbeat beneath my fingertips on his wrist.
“So well done,” he praised, and I flushed pink. I hoped his eyes were shut too. “Now turn that inwards. Feel the air filling your lungs. Hear your heartbeat in your ears. The prickle of power that fills your cells.”
The hairs on my forearms stood on end, and I let out a soft exclamation. I could almost feel it, the power running just beneath my skin, right down to the tips of my fingers.
