“Only among blood relatives.”
“So…Thorne could help?” A spark of hope flickered.
“Only with your earth magic. You could cut your palms and share power, but it would do nothing for your portal abilities since he does not have that.”
“Oh. Well, it was worth a shot.”
“It was. Now, why don’t we go ahead and walk through the portal? These only last a little while.”
Ava stood alongside Jorrar. With a deep breath, she stepped through, memories of the pain she experienced when she first went through the portal to Eorhan fresh in her mind.
Nothing significant happened. There was a slight sensation of weightlessness before she and Jorrar came through the other side, but nothing painful. That must only happen when traveling between realms. “Wow.”
“Amazing, isn’t it?” said Jorrar.
“Impressive, little frog.” Raine appeared through the portal behind them, sweat glistening along his brow as if he’d just finished his own training.
“Where did you come from?” Ava asked.
“I was on my way to meet you forourtraining session, then I saw the portal and wanted to try it. It felt strange,didn’t it? Like a tingle. I’d like to do that again.” He gave her a wink.
Ava rolled her eyes as the portals shrank and disappeared. “Well, time’s up. I guess you’ll have to find your pleasure elsewhere.”
“Good work, Ava,” Jorrar interrupted. “We’ll practice this one more tomorrow and begin to learn the others. I’ll leave the book on your desk.”
“I can’t read the language.”
“I’ve slipped in notes where I translated it.”
“Thank you.”
Jorrar left and Ava turned back to Raine. “What have you been up to while Cas and I were sleeping this last week? Have you talked to Maeryn any more?”
Raine whipped his head to her as they walked to one of the training rings. “Why, did she say something?”
Ava narrowed her eyes. “No…I haven’t really seen her since I woke up. I was just curious if you’ve tried to talk to her like a normal person since we rescued Cas.”
“Actually, I have. We had some good conversations on the way back to Mosshaven.”
“Really? No more awkward fumbling?”
He put his hands on his hips as they stopped in the dirt ring. “No.” He lowered his voice to a whisper. “May I ask you something?”
“Of course.”
“Will you promise not to tell anyone?”
“Hmm…Not sure I want to keep anything from Cas. Secrets haven’t done us any good.”
He sighed. “You can tell him. But you must swear him to secrecy.”
“This is all very dramatic. What’s the question?”
Raine took a deep breath and scanned the field for eavesdropping ears. “How did you know Cas was your soulbond?”
Her eyes widened. “What?”
Raine clamped his hand over her mouth. “Shhh.”
