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“This is amazing,” Marguerite said. “My Seer vision is tracking him. He’s flying to every colony and watching as the fire on each dome is quenched by the power we just released.”
Unbelievable, Fiona murmured within Grace’s mind.
Grace gloried in the achievement. How glad she was she had returned to serve as obsidian flame. Greaves had been so close to decimating all the hidden colonies, and the triad had stopped him.
* * *
Thorne was over the hidden colony above Nigeria One and watched the same miracle occur that had been happening all over the world. When obsidian flame had released the answering power that would counter the burning and destruction of the concealing mossy mist over the Seattle One colony, he’d been swept along in the wake.
Initially, he hadn’t understood why he was the one moving through space, but now he knew he served as a witness to what was happening. His report would further anchor the triad and support their power and reputation before the world. This alone would enhance Endelle’s reputation with all her allied High Administrators.
Watching the obsidian power quenching each dome of mist, then rebuilding what was burned, made him smile. This was a new world, a new beginning for Second Earth. He was sure of it.
The hot humid air rose from the continent beneath him as he continued to be caught in the stream of obsidian flame’s power. His silver aura glowed all around him. If he’d been visible to human eyes, he would have looked like a strange comet streaking through the dark night sky and even in the lightening dawn that appeared farther east.
When at last the stream of power brought him full circle back to Diallo’s garden, he explained what had happened and what the experience had been like. “Of course the most important part is that the colonies are safe once more.”
* * *
Leto had his arm around Grace’s waist, a natural place now for him to be. He listened to Thorne’s explanation of events and marveled at how different life was now among the Warriors of the Blood. Even Jean-Pierre looked relaxed as he leaned down to kiss Fiona on the cheek.
Marguerite had her arm around Thorne’s waist. She was beaming, as she should have been. The triad had done all that they’d needed to do and had saved all the colonists tonight, even more cause for celebration.
The air changed suddenly, as though charged with a new energy.
He looked around. Casimir? Leto sent.
The Fourth ascender returned. Let them know I’m here, and I’ll go visible.
Leto made the announcement, and Casimir materialized.
“Is something wrong?” Thorne asked. He looked from Leto to Casimir.
Casimir also glanced around the garden as though sensing someone was there. “Yes. But I’m not sure what’s going on? I don’t sense Greaves, though.”
Grace turned toward him. “My obsidian power is rising again.” She took a step past Leto, peering into the foliage near the south end of the patio. “Who’s there?”
Suddenly, swords were in hands as a figure materialized.
A woman, a very beautiful woman with cat’s eyes, appeared. She wore a provocative gown in a deep shade of peach. Her dark hair was dressed in waves. She looked harmless.
“It’s just me.”
Leto knew the woman, but not well. Her name was Julianna, and she was known to be Greaves’s companion. His uneasiness grew, especially when her gaze settled on Grace, so he kept his sword in hand.
“I have a score to settle, Grace of Albion. You know I do.”
“Julianna,” Casimir said. “You must leave. Nothing good can come of this.”
She turned toward Casimir, who was on her right. “What I will never understand,” she said, “is how you could have chosen Grace over me. You and I were soul mates, we understood each other, but as soon as you caught her scent, you were hers body and soul.”
“I used you ill,” Casimir said. “Blame me, not Grace. I pursued her when I should have attended to the woman sharing my bed. But I was a bastard then, and I’m trying to do better now. How can I make it up to you?”
“So that’s the way of it then?” Julianna’s eyes were wide. “You wish to redeem yourself? Greaves said you were immersing in water and trying to get yourself clean. But how does that make up for what you did to me?” Her gaze shifted to Grace. “For how that woman stole you from me.”
Leto’s uneasiness grew.
“Julianna,” Grace said. “I beg you to leave. If you do, all will be well and you can continue your life as it is now.”
“My life?” Julianna said, turning slowly to face her. “You dare to speak to me about my life? Casimir was mine, and you took him from me. You have done this, so you must die.”
Everything happened at once.
Julianna’s wrist flicked, and power flared, more power than Leto had ever seen a Second ascender deliver before. He threw Grace to the pavers and stepped over her body into the blast.
Oh, God, he would die.
But at the last moment, Casimir streaked in Leto’s direction, moving with his Fourth ability, protecting Leto as he had promised to protect him. Casimir took the full blast in the abdomen.
The air smelled of burned flesh.
Julianna screamed long and loud, “No.” Her voice echoed around the garden as she ran toward Casimir.
Leto lifted Grace up. She turned to stare at him. “Are you all right?”
“Yes. Casimir protected me.”
She turned slowly in Casimir’s direction. She put a hand to her mouth, then moved to drop down beside him. “Casimir, you must not die.” She began to weep.
Casimir shook badly as he turned to look at her, then at Leto. He nodded. “Good. You’re all right.” His eyes closed.
Leto glanced at Grace. This was what she had meant, the task that Casimir had been destined to fulfill. Leto would not have survived the blast, and the only way Casimir could have been here to act as a shield was if he had taken Grace to Fourth and been changed by her presence in his life. What had she said? Something to the effect that the only way to keep Leto was to love Casimir.
And now Casimir was dying.
Leto knew he had less than minute to change the future if he could. Whatever animosity he had felt toward Casimir a few months ago had died in the past few days.
He touched Grace on the shoulder. She turned to him weeping, but he said, “Obsidian flame. You can do this.”
She straightened suddenly, as though remembering. She reached toward Marguerite and Fiona. Both women came running and joined her on the ground next to Casimir. Thorne and Jean-Pierre moved with them. “I acquired Horace’s healing ability earlier. I want to try it now.”
