Seren gasped, and it wasn’t the heady sound earlier, but one of surprise.
“Godsdammit, Tisi.” She growled at the snake curling itself around them.
It had been a while since Icarus had last seen her familiar and the size of it was more than intimidating. Yet as it contentedly laced itself around them, he couldn’t bring himself to fear it as the other staff and students did.
“Familiars are drawn when strong emotions are in play.” Icarus found himself explaining despite the burning desire still coursing through him. He couldn’t bring himself to let her go as his arms held her body near to him.
“Well, that’s not particularly useful right now.” She groaned, eyeing her familiar who didn’t seem to notice. “She likes you.”
Icarus chuckled. “You like me so she tolerates me.”
Seren pouted. “Well, where's your familiar or maybe you weren’t feeling . . . ” She searched for the words he used. “Strong emotions.”
Icarus had half a mind to show her just how strong his emotions had been and still were. He ached and throbbed with need, but instead, he said, “Eiridis isn’t particularly affectionate. Likely he’s nearby, but keeping a healthy distance.”
“Mmhm,” Seren answered.
Icarus rose an eyebrow. She was exhausting in all the best ways. “Eiridis!” he called.
Within seconds, the fickle bird swooped in from an open panel in the roof before settling down on top of the vine-covered statue. Eiridis folded his wings into his sides and eyed Tisiphone warily.
Tisiphone craned up her massive head and her forked tongue slipped out as if she were considering Eiridis for a meal. In answer, his usually arrogant familiar shifted uneasily, his talons cutting through the vines underneath him. They snapped and fell to the ground revealing the carving of a woman.
Seren gasped and moved from his grasp. The loss of her was like a lack of shelter on a cold, winter’s night.
“That’s the woman from the book. Aislynne.” She stepped toward the fountain and part of him ached to pull her back, but the scholar in him reveled at the history unfolding before them.
Seren stepped into the fountain and began pulling at the vines. Clasping his augere, Icarus sent a trail of fire, careful to avoid Seren as he went, down the vines. Seren withdrew her hands and rolled her eyes at him.
“I suppose that's more effective.” Her smile was like moonlight itself, comforting and familiar.
When the last of the vines fell, he nearly fell to his knees. There was no denying what the woman held to her chest. The orb having been imprinted on his memory since he was a child.
“Seren,” he breathed. Eiridis who had flown to another empty shelf nearby let out a shriek of warning.
Seren didn’t seem to hear him as she stepped closer to the statue as if in a trance.
“She’s beautiful,” Seren whispered.
“She’s the last vessel.” It was a knowing deep in his soul.
Seren ran her hands over the stone as if in worship. As her fingertips brushed the corner of the Omnis stone, a crack snapped in the air. He reached for Seren, pulling her into him. There was old, wild magic here. Unpredictable and dangerous.
“It’s all right,” Seren soothed. “I think I understand.”
Despite the part of him that wanted to wrap her in his arms and keep her safe, he knew that wasn’t what Seren needed or wanted from him.
When she placed her hand on the orb, the stone fractured and cracked beneath her fingertips. The air hummed with old magic and power radiated from Seren. Tisi inched closer, but stopped next to him, watching Seren as closely as he did.
The stone glowed with milky hues, the vibrant colors underneath alternating from amaranth to scales of sapphire and emerald. It was breathtaking. As the last of the stone broke away, the orb slid easily into Seren’s outstretched hands.
He hardly dared to breathe as Seren turned to him, holding what he knew was the Omnis stone. It pulsated with raw energy in her hands. Just as this place had opened itself to her, the Omnis stone had answered her call as well.
“It’s incredible,” she whispered, her voice heavy with awe.
“Isn’t it though?” a voice that haunted his nightmares said behind him.
Eiridis shrieked and flew down to land on Icarus' shoulder. He had thought the bird was warning him earlier about the magic from the Omnis stone, but he should have known better.
