Page 139 of Anywhere

Picking up the bowl, I bent and slipped off the dainty slippers to wash her feet and legs. I set the bowl aside and picked up the black onyx stone that seemed normal but, like everything in our world, was far from it. Laying it against her skin where she told us she wanted the symbol, I began drawing a line. It hurt a bit. It always did when the magical black ink was applied. These first two symbols were the symbols that represented Rhys and me.

I looked around, but I saw no sign of him. Now that we were in amongst all the shields, the ability to feel him was distorted, and I couldn’t pick up his feelings as clearly.

Elewyen hissed when I traced back over lines already created in the design. They were more sensitive. Once I finished my symbol, I drew Rhys’s for him, even though he was supposed to do it. Designs complete, I helped Elewyen stand, readjusted her dress, and helped her with the slippers before drawing up the large white hood that covered her face so completely in shadow that I could no longer see any features.

Pulling my hood up into place, I held out my hand for her to take.

“Remember, you are the sun. When they call you forward, you step up to the dais and stand on the symbol.”

She nodded, and I turned to the final shield. We needed to ask for passage and state our purpose. It was like the shields could decipher what was in our hearts and match it with our words.

“Spirits, we ask for safe passage,” I said in English and then again in the old language.

We made the symbol of the spirit at the same time. I was once more impressed with how quickly Elewyen had picked everything up.

“We have come to join our spirits.”

We held up our hands as if to show off our intention.

“We are here for the ritual of three becomes one. Éiríonn triúr ar cheann,” I finished and looked at Elewyen to see if there was any lingering doubt. Not seeing any, I looked over my shoulder, but the tunnel remained quiet and empty.

“You better already be in there, Rhys,” I mumbled.

The barrier shimmered and sparkled to let us know we could safely step through. As we did, Elewyen pressed herself up against me. The feeling of that final barrier was something that I never got used to. No matter where you were, they were all the same.

We couldn’t hear the chanting before crossing the barrier, but now we could make out multiple voices. The tunnel split, and I paused and pointed to the tunnel that had a sun etched into the stone.

“You’ll be fine, I promise,” I said.

She nodded and squeezed my hand before letting go and stepping into the darkness of the tunnel.

I stayed and watched until the white of her cloak disappeared, then continued until I reached the tunnel with the symbol of death carved into it. This was my tunnel, and as I entered, images from my life danced before my eyes. Was this a way to ensure that this was what we really wanted? Show us what we were giving up with each step.

I saw cheering crowds and women and men lined up outside my dressing room door. Everything from laughing with my brothers to flying here in the jet came to me. Then, like granules of sand in a storm, one by one, they blew away, leaving me feeling blank, like this was truly the beginning of my life and everything else was nothing but passing the time.

There was a mark on the floor that reminded me of a starting box for sprinters. Were we supposed to dash out and wave to the crowd? Now that the time had come, I didn’t feel like having sex in front of the group that was gathered. Not that I ever had a problem fucking someone in public—hell, I’d done it more than I could count—but this felt different. This was supposed to be meaningful, and instead, it was as if we were nothing more than farm animals needing to be supervised to ensure we did the job properly.

I understood that they called upon the spirits to bless and unify the union, but after that should be our time. Gregory’s deep voice stood out from the rest as he began the blessing. Even hooded, I knew which one he was. He stepped forward with Rhys’s uncle Rayland to represent the two families. It was pretty fucking ironic that my father insisted that I come here and create this union to become the next great triad but couldn’t be bothered showing up for it.

Here, son, I’m going to stud you out to the top McGregor and build up more power for the Faction, but don’t expect me actually to give a shit.

A sour taste settled in my mouth. My father never showed up for anything. Why I was still surprised was beyond me.

“It is now time,” Gregory said and held up a crystal that glowed so brightly that it looked like the moon had busted a small hole through the wall and was now shining into the dark ritual area with us.

“I call upon the sun,” he said, and the power flowing through the crystal throbbed like it was blinking.

I could make out Elewyen’s shadow moving across the floor. Anticipation notched up in my system as the connection spell binding us swirled around the room like it was ready to lasso us together as soon as all three of us were out there.

Elewyen stepped up onto the raised platform, her head lowered and hands clasped, but the white of her cloak reflected the glow of the crystal, and she became a beacon in the centre of the room. She was a symbol of hope and purity, and I licked my lips, wanting so badly to taste her. I was suddenly excited for them to call Rhys and me out so we could make this happen.

“We call upon the shadow,” Gregory said.

I watched the floor, waiting for the same shadow to cross into the light as Elewyen had, but no one came. My stomach sank, and panic mixed with anger began to rise.

“We call upon the shadow,” Gregory said again, louder this time, but still, no one walked across the floor.

My hands balled into fists, and I stomped out into the ritual area. All hoods turned in my direction. I didn’t hesitate as I stomped across the floor to where Rhys should be standing, but even before I stepped inside the dark tunnel, I knew he wasn’t there.