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Five
“What exactly do you mean by linked?”
The Weaver stepped forward, taking my hand. My own magic began to rise as swirls of cosmic dust surrounded our entwined fingers, weaving in and out and around our wrists.
“As I’ve said, sharing your magic with me is what will bring balance to mine.” He smiled. “It’s all good things. And as partners, we can weave entire new worlds together.”
The magic trailed between our hands, shifting from a silver flow to a deep purple and blue. The cosmic dust swelled, expanding farther into a whole new galaxy. Tiny planets swirled within the miniature world, shooting stars blazing trails between our fingertips. I stared into the cloud, shocked beyond words.
“There is no limit to our combined power, Milly. You just need to trust me in order for it to work.”
Trust. There was that word again.
I pulled my hand away, the stars fading back to nothing more than a speck. “I mean no disrespect, but why should I trust you? Honestly, we barely know each other. And right now, I don’t even trust myself. This is all so new. So rushed. And while I do want to be here, I still don’t know enough about your world for this to all make sense yet.” I reached for his hand again. “I’m flattered you want me to be your queen, but I’m just not sure about anything right now.”
Roarke’s head dipped, his faced painted in genuine sorrow.
It wasn’t my intent to hurt him, but if we were talking truths, I had to be willing to speak my own. And it wasn’t as though my questions were only for him. I was questioning myself too. Why was I so willing to jump at this opportunity? Was it because I’d grown up isolated and alone, or was it something deeper? Something my heart understood before my head could catch up?
Pushing past my fears, I closed my eyes and searched for the point at which our magic connected. There, in the center of my palm, I felt a twitch. Right where the bloodstone lay back in the real world. I focused harder, reaching for the link. The twitch morphed into an intense throb, growing to an almost painful measure before subsiding abruptly.
My eyes shot open, and the magic was gone. “What was that?”
“I’m not sure. Do you have something on you that could be blocking our connection?”
His question brought me up short. “I fell asleep with a piece of bloodstone in my hand. It usually helps me in all my dream work, but I’m thinking this”—I gestured between us—“may be completely different, beyond that somehow. Because of you.”
He hesitated a moment. “Yes. Most dream-type talismans won’t have the same effect when you’re in my presence. I’m sorry. I should have told you before.”
I pulled my hand from his. “Perhaps you should just guide me around a bit. Show me what your magic can do before we try to connect again.”
The urge to buy myself some time overwhelmed me. I needed to test things out before giving myself—and my magic—completely over to him.
“Okay. Where would you like to begin?”
I looked around the English countryside, not sure what he meant. “I don’t know.”
He stood still, his jaw twitching a moment before he took my hand again. “How about this?” With nothing more than a flick of his wrist, another slice appeared. And beyond it, my cottage.
“Wait, you’re taking me back already?”
“No, I thought we could venture somewhere familiar first. Somewhere you’ll be more comfortable exploring.”
I glanced at the plush pink flowers surrounding me, their swollen petals wavering in the wind. “I’m comfortable right here.”
The Weaver smiled and sealed the rip. “All right, Milly. Then let’s go visit the queen.”
Shadows enveloped me and wind whipped my face as we appeared atop the steps of the stone castle moments later.
“How did you do that?” I asked.
“Here, all you have to do is give thought to what you want, and it will be done.” He pushed open a large wooden door and guided me inside.
The enormous castle was understated but somehow still lavish with its brass sconces and crystal chandeliers lighting wide carpeted hallways.
I stood still, taking it all in. “Whose castle is this?”
“This is Windsor Castle.”
