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“Yeah, but you love that strong macho-type, don’t you?” Beth teased.
Alora planted a kiss on Kaevin’s cheek. “I only love this particular brute.”
“We’ve no time for this,” he groaned, as he hurried into the bedroom.
They arrived to find Daegreth attempting to chain himself to the bed. “I’ve got both feet, but I need help securing my arm.”
Kaevin gripped the warrior’s shoulder. “Daegreth, will you swear by your life’s blood to protect Stone Clan and the friends of Stone Clan, to follow the rule of the leader and the law of Tenavae?”
He blinked in confusion. “I... I can’t really control... If Vindrake comes through—”
“I ask only whether you are willing to make the commitment. Will you profess your loyalty with your whole heart?”
Sitting up straight in the bed, his legs still bound to the metal footboard, his chin lifted as he answered. “I will.”
“Very well, by my authority as Stone Clan leader, I pronounce you a citizen of Stone Clan. And I order you to unchain yourself and stand ready to defend the friends of Stone Clan should any enemy attempt to exit this portal.”
Daegreth’s face darkened as he recognized the trap. “This is not a wise order.”
Kaevin shrugged. “You’re welcome to your opinion.”
“I’ll help you,” said Arista, popping the two locks that fastened the chains around Daegreth’s feet, sending the chains rattling to the floor.
“Stone Clan leader or not, Kaevin, I still hold you to the vow you made in this very room.” Daegreth’s jaw muscles flexed, and Alora wondered how his teeth didn’t break to pieces.
Kaevin lifted his chin, his gaze unflinching as he returned Daegreth’s glare. “I keep my promises. Do you?”
Alora made a mental note to ask Kaevin about this ominous-sounding vow when she got the chance.
The two men—for Kaevin no longer seemed like a boy—did a stare-down that lasted almost forever before a loud noise distracted Daegreth.
Brian bumped his way into the room, with his arms full of bows and quivers. “I’ve got my compound bow and Wesley’s and a spare straight bow. Who wants it?”
“Me!” Arista snatched it from his hands, slinging the quiver over her shoulder.
Wesley arrived, hefting a cardboard box full of knives, including two long machetes, which a delighted Kaevin declared to be almost as fine as a sword. He fastened the accompanying back holster over his shoulder and handed the other to Jireo when he returned from his conversation with Darielle. Brian bragged about the recent machete purchases and how he ordered them right off Amazon.
“I’m ready!” called Uncle Charles, who made a quiet entrance. Having ditched the cowboy boots for sneakers, he no longer clomped when he walked. “We should hurry. The longer we wait the less chance we have of saving Markaeus.”
Arista stepped up about a foot onto an invisible platform and held out her hand, leading the others into the portal, one by one, where they literally disappeared into thin air.
“Wait!” Karen yelled, running into the room in full panic mode. “Brian didn’t kiss me goodbye. We always kiss goodbye. It’ll be bad luck if—”
Leaping back out of the portal, Brian reached Karen in three long strides and planted a kiss on her lips. When the kiss lasted more than a sec
ond, Wesley called out from inside the portal, “Get a room!”
Laughing, his father climbed back into the portal, throwing an “I love you” over his shoulder.
Sensing a volcano of frustration building in Daegreth, Alora held back until last, laying a hand on his arm. Laethan had taught her the subtle difference between “manipulating a person’s emotions” and “empathizing while relieving an emotional overload.” Properly using her gift, she felt his emotions boil over and spill out through her, no more uncomfortable than having someone scream in your ear.
Though Daegreth was angry at Kaevin, Alora knew her soulmate had done him a favor—forcing him to take on a responsible role of protection. Daegreth struggled with a lack of purpose living in Montana, unable to utilize his gifting in any useful way, the same frustration Kaevin had fought in himself.
As Daegreth’s shoulders relaxed, she leaned in and murmured, “We’re not going to stop until we’ve figured out how to remove Vindrake’s bloodbond. It’s not just for you. It’s our best chance of defeating Vindrake. I’m really hoping the answer is in that scroll. Okay? Do you believe me?”
He nodded, swallowing hard. “Go. Find Markaeus. And the scroll. You needn’t worry about me.”
Alora took Arista’s hand and stepped into the portal. Looking back, she spied a very awkward-looking Daegreth placing his arm around Beth’s trembling shoulders. The last thing Alora saw before the portal door obscured her view was Beth’s lips as she mouthed, “Be careful.”
