Page 51 of Witch's Fate

“No. That opportunity has past. But you have the training. You know how to handle immense power. What I can do is link you to Malcolm. When you are in trouble, he can transfer power to you through the aether.”

“Won’t that weaken him?”

Corrier met his gaze. “Yes, though only if he gave you more than he could afford to lose. But if you were both fighting for your lives and your magical energy ran low, it’d be safer if he could transfer power to you and you could both continue to fight.”

“And he wouldn’t have to jump in and save me.” From the sound of her voice, Sofia liked that idea.

Malcolm sat back. Break up his power and share it with Sofia? He’d sacrificed everything for his power. Once, sharing it would have been out of the question. But it sounded like he’d have control of it. And Sofia needed it. “Yes. We’ll do that.”

“Hey! I haven’t agreed,” Sofia said.

“What’s to agree to?” Malcolm asked. “You’ll be twice as powerful. At least. With no downside, it sounds like.”

Her brow creased and her gaze was thoughtful. “There’s really no downside for me?”

“No. For Malcolm, yes. But not for you. You’ll have to get a small tattoo, and when you’re near Malcolm, you’ll feel him, but those are minor,” Corrier said.

“Feel him?”

Corrier nodded. “If you’re within a couple hundred yards of each other, you’ll be aware that he is there. But that’s all. And it will be useful when you’re fighting a battle together.”

She nodded. “Okay, I’ll do it. And thank you both.”

Something loosened in Malcolm’s chest. He’d been worried she wouldn’t take the offer. But it would make her stronger. Safer. Now that she would be both, he relaxed a bit. It wasn’t foolproof, but it was better than nothing. It’d give him more control, too. He hadn’t known how Corrier wouldbe able to help them, but he’d been certain they’d be better off if he agreed to assist them somehow.

“All right, then,” Corrier said as he rose. “The first step is to link the two of you, the tattoos will be imbued with magic that will connect you and allow you to transfer magical energy to Sofia.”

“I’ll go first,” Sofia said.

“You hold your wand with your right hand?”

“Yes.”

“Then you’ll get the tattoo on that arm.” Corrier retrieved a feather quill from a shelf, then returned to stand in front of the fire.

Sofia rolled up her shirt sleeve. Corrier held out a hand and opened a small portal to the aether. It glowed bright white, an orb about a foot in diameter that floated about four feet off the ground. Corrier extended the feather quill until it touched the light and waited until it glowed.

Once it gleamed with magical energy, he withdrew it and turned to Sofia. She held her arm out, forearm facing up.

“Picture Malcolm in your head.”

Sofia nodded and closed her eyes. She winced when Corrier pressed the quill to her skin, but held still as he drew.

When it was over, she sighed in relief and glanced at it. Surprise flashed in her gaze when she saw the tall, cloaked man on her inner arm.

Corrier turned to Malcolm. “The same for you now.”

“My shoulder,” Malcolm said as he stripped off his sweater.

“All right then. Picture Sofia.”

Malcolm closed his eyes and did as Corrier requested. An image didn’t form in his mind, though a feeling of her did. Isthis what Sofia had felt? He was about to tell Corrier when the man said, “Good, good. That’ll do.”

Pain sliced through Malcolm’s shoulder, a line of raging fire that made him clench his teeth. He held tight to the sense of Sofia. It felt as if her essence were within him, directing Corrier’s quill.

Finally, the pain faded. Malcolm opened his eyes to see Corrier stepping back.

“All done.” Corrier returned the quill to the shelf. “If Sofia is ever in a situation where she needs more magical power—say to fight a particularly evil witch—envision sending her some of your power. Focus on the tattoo and the link you feel. It should work.”

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