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“Am I ready to try and use a token that could give me the same powers as the Mother? I’m not sure my brain even knows how to comprehend that sort of power, but I’ll do what needs to be done. What about you, Randsin?” I raised my brows at my old keeper.
He dipped his chin in response. Together we would try. No one was sure if the powers could be split by two people who combined the tokens, or how it would affect us in the long run, but we all agreed it was necessary. Half the token was my responsibility now. The other half was Randsin’s.
“Just be careful,” Shavarra said sternly under her breath from where she stood quietly by King Windre and Hattie.
“Thanks for the advice,” I laughed. Inhaling deeply, I let go of Dace’s hand and stepped forward into the circle we’d created on the lawn.
Randsin did the same, glancing back at Eydis, who smiled weakly. He held his piece of the token out for me to place the jagged edge of mine onto. We could only guess at the power we would be holding in a matter of seconds.
“Wait!” a voice chimed from behind us, breathlessly.
I dropped my hand, turning to follow the voice. Daethian, with fresh bandages wrapped tightly around his chest, hobbled across the green grass, clutching his wound.
“What in the name of Havala are you doing?!” I snapped. “You should be resting!”
“Do you think,” he panted, “I would miss this?”
Someone had taken the time to style his hair in the messy way he liked it. Two dimples pressed into his cheeks as he smiled and chewed at his lip.
“You drive me insane. If you pop open your wound and bleed out, it’s your own fault.” I pointed at him, smiling broadly so he didn’t take me seriously.
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
“Come here,” Dace sighed, rolling his eyes.
Daethian stopped at my king’s side, waiting with one lifted brow to see what he’d do. Dace wrapped an arm around Daethian, propping him up.
“I can stand on my own,” Daethian argued.
“Shut up, you’re breathing so hard you’re going to put your barely-beating heart into cardiac arrest,” Dace hissed, holding him tighter at his side.
“You know what…” Daethian pursed his lips. “I can see the appeal, Ryker. His hands are so strong, but soft at the same time. I imagine you’d be a gentle lover.”
“Please stop making this weird before I drop you.” Dace turned, a kiss of crimson highlighting his cheeks as the group chuckled.
“Very well,” Daethian smiled. “You may continue now.”
“Thank you for your permission.” I pushed my long curls over my shoulder as I turned back to Randsin. He lifted his token again, his expression impatient.
“Close the open portals, except the one in the Heathern Court where you will enter Tierasia, which will then close behind you. Create a small portal for correspondence.” I repeated the plan out loud, waiting for any further disagreement.
Randsin looked around the group, shaking the token at me impatiently. I snapped my hand up, pushing my half into his. Squeezing my eyes shut, I waited to feel some sort of power that would pulse into my bloodstream or to find myself buzzing with energy.
I felt nothing.
“Is anything happening?” I heard Graceson whisper.
Popping my eyes open, Randsin stared back. Blinking again, I narrowed my gaze on him. Sparks caught as thoughts ran inside his head, if I reached out I was sure that I could pluck them out of his skull and hear them aloud.
“I can see the magic you’re made out of,” Randsin said out loud. His voice was about the same as what I’d heard in my head throughout my time with him. Eydis gasped, holding her heart as she smiled.
I looked around Randsin, finding myself able to see the light of each living thing. Each blade of grass glowed with a fire that I could snuff out, should I choose to. I could see the very veins of the trees in the courtyard that carried nutrients from the soil up throughout it. My mind grasped ideas that I’d never be able to understand otherwise. The infinity of our universe. The power of the Mother and the gods that breathed into it.
“Concentrate,” I told myself. This wasn’t power I should play with.
My mind traveled across the hills and valleys that separated the Acture Court and the Obtune Court. The journey was as real as if I was a bird flying over the terrain at that very moment. It moved fast, but I still caught every detail, down to the insects crawling on the ground as I went. I could feel Randsin’s mind following me to the portal's entrance. His thoughts were like a shadow of my own. Tears in our realm patched together. He followed me to the Heathern Court, our bodies still firmly planted in the Acture Court.
Milo had already been through the portal; we could feel the presence of him and Red even now that they were gone. We told the portal to close, commanded it with the powers of the gods to only allow Randsin and Eydis to complete their journey, and then knit the universe back together.
