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“What?” Jenna laughs. “No, there’s no way my father, afarmhand, would have come upon something like that. It’s not possible for humans to have magic. There are none on Protheka like that.”
“Actually,” I add. “It’s quite possible.”
“Because of the curse,” Yeelus said quietly.
“Curse?” I watch as Jenna begins to panic. “What curse?”
“To keep it out of noble hands. It’s more of a blessing. It was created ages ago by a group of wizards who decided the power within it was too great for one person to hold. They blessed it so that it would never wind up in the hands of those who crave great power.”
“So it would wind up in the hands of …” Jenna pauses.
“Those who don’t have anything to do with royalty or politics, exactly,” I say.
“He’s going to kill us all,” Yeelus said, staring off into the distance.
“No, he’s not,” I say, walking toward Tiara. “Because,” I grunt as I hoist myself onto her back, “we’re going to get to it before he can figure out how to use it.”
I stare at Jenna and Yeelus as they look at each other in disbelief. They both begin to plead against my plan, and I have to hide a smile. I knew they would eventually agree on something.
“Listen,” I say, extending a hand and motioning for them to stop. “There’s no other option. Orcs aren’t a smart race of creatures.” I pause and lick my lips, thinking. “I highly doubt they have any sort of high mage there to warn them of the dangers of using it, and even if they did …”
“They wouldn’t care anyway,” Yeelus said, huffing again.
“What are the dangers?” Jenna asks, her voice trembling.
I look at her beautiful red curls and green eyes. I don’t want to scare her. That's the last thing I want, but she has to know, and I can’t hide anything from her.
“It could destroy everything. You see,” I hold out my hands to paint a better picture, moving them with my words, “magic draws from every corner of the universe, especially magic like this. Opening a portal to a new world would take significant energy, and the necklace would draw from anything it needs, even humans.”
“So if they use it, I would die?” Jenna asks, her face falling.
“That’s not something you need to be concerned about,” I say, holding out a hand for her.
She approached and took my hand. I pulled her onto Tiara and motioned for Yeelus to climb up. They took their positions, and I nudged Tiara to begin walking.
We rode in silence as my thoughts raced. Jenna could die if we don’t reach the orc chieftain in time.
She wrapped her arms around my chest, and I closed my eyes, exhaling slowly. Nothing terrible will happen to her. Nothing badcanhappen to her … I won’t allow it.
I put one hand over hers and stroked it with my thumb. Yeelus looked at me with disgust, and I glared at him. Disappointed, he turned around and placed his head on the back of Tiara’s neck.
My mind begins to quiet as we ride along the path. I am fully present for the first time in ages. My heart and mind are not at war. My core feels relaxed, and my shoulders drop slightly. Jenna begins breathing deeply behind me, and I smile as I realize she is sleeping.
I think of the first time I saw Jenna, the nights we’ve had due to my storm conjuring, the first night we made love, and feel my heart rise in my chest. I have a purpose now, and it is the only thing I am concerned with. I must keep Jenna safe at all costs.
EIGHTEEN
JENNA
I try not to glance at Yeelus as he mocks me over Verrin’s shoulder. I wonder why Verrin would have such an obnoxious, distasteful creature as I cross my arms in disapproval.
“You all right, Jenna?” Verrin asks while he turns Tiara to the left, following the path back to our small village.
“Yeah,” I chirp happily. I accidentally lock eyes with Yeelus and make a mean face.
Yeelus grinned slyly and rolled his eyes, turning to Verrin and whispering something in his ear. Verrin shooed the animal off him, and it climbed down to take its place on Tiara’s neck. I bite my tongue and sit back on Tiara, praying we are close, so I can get away from that creature.
We entered the village as the sun began to set, trotting through the gates without issue until we were stopped by a roaming guard holding out a large, ugly hand.
