***
They dismount a mile out from the rift, when the horses begin dancing nervously against the reins. Evain feels the uneasy pull of magic too. It’s unnerving. Enticing. Bricks makes sure the mounts are secure, and Tally gives a final set of directions. “Skirt around the hill, don’t go up it.” His eyes flash a lighter green. “The sooner you get there, the better. It’s calling vaidkos already.”
“You’re not coming with us?” Marta shucks off one of her coats and two of her scarves. She still looks like a stuffed animal.
Tally adjusts his hood. “I’m no fighter.”
“I could—” Darren starts, but Bricks interrupts him.
“You could stay with the horses like you’re told,” she says sternly.
“Definitely what I was going to say.” Darren’s grin doesn’t falter.
When Evain negotiated help from Georgia, she was adamant that she didn’t want her darlings getting close to the rifts if they could avoid it. Her mercenaries are well-trained, and they know the area, but fighting other humans or even the occasional stray vaidkos is one thing. Diving into wild magic is quite another. There was steel in Georgia’s voice and painful fire in her eyes. Evain didn’t need to ask to know she’d already lost people to Lyrisenia’s dangers.
Leth fingers his scarf as if about to take it off, and Evain’s eyes narrow—but in the end Leth adjusts the steel pin and leaves the scarf on.
“If we’re not back by nightfall,” Evain starts, then grins. “We’re having too much fun, and we’ll see you by dawn.” He grabs Daziroth by the nose, staring deep into his eyes. “Behave.” Daziroth’s ears flick back and forth, before he wrestles out of Evain’s grip to continue inspecting the tree next to him. That’s as much of an agreement as Evain’s going to get.
Evain flips his hair over his shoulder and stalks off through the forest. He doesn’t really need Tally’s directions. This close, he could find the rift with his eyes closed.
Leth, Haldis, and Marta fall in behind him.
“This is very exciting,” Marta says. “I bet Freya and the others haven’t found a rift so quickly.”
“Do you miss her already?” Evain tosses back a wink.
“None of your business,” Haldis says.
But Marta laughs. “We’ll see her again. She’s not one to settle down, but, hm. Sometimes that’s fun too.” Her voice takes on a dreamy quality. “Such nice arms… Of course, your arms are the best, Haldis my love.”
A surge of power interrupts their conversation. As if the earth rises and falls around them, except nothing moves. Wild magic shivers through Evain’s soul. It’s worse for the humans. Leth staggers next to him, and Evain instinctively catches him by the elbow. Their bodies press together, and the moment of contact burns Leth’s attraction into Evain’s nerves. Evain lets go before he gives into the urge to pull him even closer.
One of the beads in Leth’s hair flashes silver, a prepared charm activating. “I suppose we’re close.”
“Very,” Evain says. “When we get there, which of you wants to try the spell first?”
He really means the question for Leth, and he watches those pretty eyes light up. But Leth takes too long to reply, and Marta answers first. “Could we? I assumed you would want to do it, since it’s your array and all.”
“I’ll take over if anything goes awry,” Evain says. “But hopefully, we’ll be doing a lot of this. I want to make sure everyone knows the spell, and what better way to practice than to practice?”
“I’d really love to.” Marta’s smile dimples.
“Then we’ll defend you valiantly, Sir Marta.” Evain sweeps a bow. He’s a little disappointed Leth didn’t speak up, when he can tell Leth wanted to, but now’s not the time to push. “Let’s go.”
Moments later, Haldis calls out, “Vaidkos ahead.”
White light flares. Sephine’s protective magic. “Two of them,” Marta adds.
“We’ll fight our way to the rift, then,” Evain says. “You two stick together, and Leth, stick with me. Whoever gets to the rift first, start the spell.”
“See you there,” Marta says, and follows Haldis into the trees. She moves with surprising grace considering her layers of coats.
With a soft exhalation, Evain releases his magic and manifests a sword of red shadows in the air. He grips the hilt, and the shadows smoke away to leave dark red steel. “How about a kiss for luck, little Leth?”
“Shut up,” Leth says, with the same annoyed vehemence as usual. It sounds sweeter every day. Sword in hand, he darts away at a different angle than the Sephinians.
Excitement buzzes under Evain’s skin. Leth’s retorts haven’t changed, but the way he glanced at Evain’s lips at the wordkisswas definitely new—and a welcome rush of power. This vaidkos is going to be a piece of cake.
