“I am Annileo Satarsayed. I will teach you.”
Diablos’ deep satisfaction stills my hostile words. I can be more. I need to be more.
***
“Move faster,” Annileo snaps, and fire hits my heel, sending me jumping forward in an effort to stay ahead of it.
I race across the terrain, creating wings out of my magic, and fly across the void before I land in front of him, panting.
He’s quiet as he circles me.
In the three weeks I’ve been training with Annileo, he’s been a force. A formidable, knowledgeable well of information aboutwho I am and what I can do. He explained my runes are part of who I am, that they will always be there, I don’t need to trace them; I just need to see them in my mind.
He’s shown me how to harness a part of myself I didn’t think I could reach.
I am a child of multiple worlds, and because of that, there is no world I cannot walk in.
We’ve sat and theorized that I can reach the Black Death Oceans because they are my mates. If I reach for them again, I will be able to go there. It’s how they called me across the first time. A song or summons for a mate.
“You’re ready,” he murmurs.
I wait patiently, irritated with his arrogant approval.
I think, perhaps one day, we could be friends, but not while I am so focused on saving my mates.
“We are both time poor so take this and go. You know what you are. You are already fast, dangerous, and deadly. Just lean into it. Trust your instincts, and remember, fire is the heart of us.”
“How can fire burn underwater?” I ask with a hint of despair.
“Fire can burn underwater, Mei. It just needs to be the right kind. You can do this. He is a low-level thief. He must not be allowed to keep what he has stolen.”
His wings buffet warm air into my face.
“Where will you go?” I ask gently.
His wings, big, massive leather things that stretch three times his body height, rustle.
“The Arcadian calls me. My angel is probably causing trouble again. So, I will go find them and continue to keep them out of trouble. Plus, Isla misses me.”
There’s a beat of silence.
“Good luck, Mei.”
I open my mouth, but there’s an almighty whoosh and a downdraft, and then he’s gone.
I stand there, listening to the world crackle and burn. There are so many creatures here, so many places I am tempted to explore.
But a single thought of my shiver sends a crippling longing and pain through me.
I can’t exist without them. Not really. I can live and do all the motions, but everything is empty, everything is dull.
I trace the rune in the air out of habit rather than necessity, and when the world rips open, I step to the edge, feeling the sudden and startlingly cold, briny world. The oceans are furious, they are thunderous. I’ve never heard it like this. The waves rise and crash into the surface of the water with bone-breaking intensity. The sound is deafening.
The cold buffets me, and the wind snatches me up. I fight against it, then realise I’m wasting time.
Chapter 40
Mei
