‘I heard screaming and whispers before.’
My father nods. ‘Specters of the ether. But your strength has increased. You have enough food and rest now…and other things that a father would not speak of to his daughter, that are based in the carnal nature of the Gods.’
‘I’m a god?’ I ask dubiously, wondering errantly if that’s why the attacks of need came upon me, and why I felt stronger after each one.
He lets out a soft chuckle. ‘Not quite, but carnal energy is sometimes needed from those whom Fate decides are worthy and our gifts come from the same source. The lake.’
‘The Black Lake that I saw in my dreams,’ I guess.
He nods.
‘An ancient and sacred place. Lost long ago. There are those who would do anything to find it. The gifts it can bestow. Beautiful. Terrible. But you have more than Fate to draw upon, now. Other gifts will emerge.’
‘Others?' I ask.
'Yes. The reason my friend turned on me was because he realized my power could consume his.'
'I don't understand.'
'He was a mage. Kismet have the very rare ability to drain them of their magicks, for a short time, or, more permanently, if we desire, and their conjures cannot kill us. He feared it, and me, greatly.'
My eyes widen. 'In the Dark Realms,' I say, remembering Locke keeling over in the cave. ‘I didn't know what I was doing, but I think I did take a mage’s power for a moment.'
He nods. 'It will be easier to find it, that well within you. Be careful.'
He looks over his shoulder, his brow creasing as if listening to something I can't hear. 'You must go. You can stay no longer without the ether trying to bind itself to you as it has to me. It’s drawn to us. If it finds you, you’ll be stuck here with me. Never spend too long in the Breach.'
He cups my face with both his hands.
‘Daughter, I could not ask for more than this. To know that you have the power that you need to survive. You are the most important thing. I can die happily now. Go.'
He pushes me away.
'No, wait—' I say, but it's too late.
The Breach ejects me and I find myself in a wooded glen with Jak, Morgan, and Locke. The sun is just setting here over the horizon now that we’re not high in the mountains. I look around. The wood isn’t thick, it’s just a smattering of trees with a path running through it really.
I glance at the others, wondering how long I was gone for, but they aren't looking as if they missed me, or that anything untoward happened to them in the Breach at all.
In fact, Jak, still looking as angry as he did at Gwen’s home, strides forward and hits Locke across his cheek, hard enough for the bigger fae to stagger back against a tree.
‘You cunt!’ Jak snarls.
JAK
I hit him again,and the satisfying crunch of his jaw is something I will cherish for a very long time.
'Youcunt,' I hiss again.
He doesn't speak, doesn’t even try to defend himself.
'I don't understand,' Bryn says.
She's looking upset, and keeps peeping over her shoulder where we came through the Breach, though it’s closed now.
I turn away from Locke with an angry noise in his general direction, focusing on who truly matters.
'Are you all right, Bryn?' I ask.
