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“It is too coincidental,” Vulsan argued. “And I do not like coincidences.”
“There is no coincidence. She doesn’t even have magic, except that which I provide her. She’s no threat. She’s nothing.”
Vulsan took one more look at Kerrigan before dismissing her. “You will come to my bed tonight,” Vulsan ordered Keres.
“Of course, love.” And somehow, she sounded sincere.
“We will try again.”
“With pleasure.”
Vulsan stepped toward the doorway but stopped before going through. “What will you do with them? They need careful handling. I could … take one for you.”
“Rest assured, I know how to handle a Daijan. My father taught me well,” she said easily. “Don’t concern yourself with them. They’ll be in order soon enough.”
“Fine.”
Then, Vulsan strode out of the room, taking all the air with him. They remained silent until they could no longer hear the stomp of his feet down the corridor or hear any of his entourage as they scurried after him.
Even then, Keres held a finger to her lips. She ushered them toward her, locking hands with them in a circle.
She mouthed, I’m sorry, to Fordham, who furrowed his brow.
Then, his shadows crept into the room. They were small, curling around his ankles at first before encompassing much of the space. His eyes were wild with alarm, and he opened his mouth to ask what was happening. But Keres just shook her head. She was doing it. She was controlling his powers. They belonged to him, and yet he could do nothing as she directed them. He struggled unsuccessfully to release himself from the circle, and she shot him a sad look before the entire room went black as night. Kerrigan could see nothing at all.
An uncomfortable tug pulled in her stomach. She gasped as everything disappeared around her. The next second, she was on hard ground again. Her legs buckled underneath her as the shadows disappeared.
She dropped to one knee and took in the palatial surroundings. The open, towering, columned windows that led to a stunning green garden. The enormous bed, complete with gauzy curtains and piles of feathered pillows. The hard tiles had been covered with overlapping rugs so thick that she sank into them. Tapestries hung on the walls, and sculptures were displayed ornamentally around the room large enough for a ballroom.
“Where … where are we?” Kerrigan croaked.
This time, Keres finally smiled, warm and welcoming. “My home.”
36
The Escape
Fordham was as still as a statue. He didn’t take in the surroundings. Just glared at Keres unapologetically.
“I know,” she said, holding up her hand. “I apologize for the violation.”
“You used my magic. How?”
“You are Daijan,” she said on a sigh as she fluttered around the room, drawing the curtains.
“Explain.”
“The powers that you have are yours. The ones that I bonded to myself are mine. You are an extension of me. It is why your powers were amplified in the arena. My powers are of that magnitude if I choose, and they’re easier to wield through another. Becoming Daijan means that you have access to what I offered you, but it doesn’t mean they’re yours. It’s a Gift. Not a gift.” She put different emphasis on the words. An emphasis that Kerrigan had realized was significant too late. Keres shot Fordham a reluctant smile. “I wish there had been another way, but Vulsan never would have walked away otherwise.”
“Are you going to forcefully use my powers often?” he demanded, his back tight with discomfort.
“Blessings, no,” she said. “I hope that I never have to again. I wouldn’t have this time if we hadn’t needed a quick escape.”
“I could have—”
She cut him off, “We couldn’t speak without Vulsan hearing. You didn’t have any idea where my sanctuary was. Let alone the experience to travel several miles at a time.”
“Miles?” He choked on the word. “The most I’ve ever done is a mile, and I nearly died.”
“Precisely. With my new powers, yours are not unlimited, but they are massively extended, and I know how to use them. I’d be happy to train you to do so as well, but I do not currently have the time to continue arguing with you.”
Kerrigan slowly rose to her feet. “What are we doing here?”
Keres finally stilled. “Vulsan will want to parade you both through the city. He’ll want to appear as if he’s the champion, especially considering I stole his Daijan. I could sense the relationship between you two and knew that I had to intervene. Also that doing so would be unpleasant.”
“Because of Vulsan? What is with you two? You’re clearly more powerful.”
Keres sighed. “We don’t have time for that conversation. What’s important is getting you two out of the city and figuring out the problem with your magic.”
Kerrigan winced. “You saw that?”
“Clear as daylight.” She shuddered. “I didn’t know that was even possible against a Doma. That news in the wrong hands …” She looked green around the edges. “We don’t want that to get out in Domara. It would be devastating.”
