Page 157 of A Dance of Water

The well inside her swelled.

Her breaths were loud, and she focused on every inhale and exhale, counting the moments between, feeling the way her chest rose… and fell.

She dove deep inside her, hands curling around tendrils of power like starlight in her palms.

A sharp tug as she yanked the tendrils out from inside the well of her soul. They were free.

For what may have been the first time in her life, she took a full breath of air, feeling her lungs expand.

Relief—it was sweet.

Something sparked playfully between her fingertips, little zaps dancing over her skin.

Luella was one with the power. It was as much a part of her as her arms and legs. So, she extended it like she would any limb, forcing it out, away from her body, and into the expanse around her.

Further.

Sweat beaded her brow.

A little further.

She whimpered. The beginnings of fear trickled in.

The intense heat cooled, fizzling out in short bursts as her magic dispelled Tharen’s flame.

Her heart pounded dangerously.

The males around her did not speak as if scared to disrupt her concentration, but the quiet praise she felt running along the threads made her want to push further.

She moved the tendrils away, spanning out, reaching up, brushing against the treetops, and winding their way to the lake. She felt every ripple of water.

And she pushed…

A.

Little.

Too.

Far.

53

LOATHE TO LOVE (LOVE TO LOATHE)

VALE

Gold and blue tendrils crackled around Luella like living electricity. Her hair was coated in shimmers, and standing there, amid the snuffed-out flames, Vale could only stare.

The bond between them was a constant pull. His dragon roared, desperate to go to her.

Not okay, not safe.

Take, take, take.

The dragon stilled, teeth bared, as he waited.

Vale held his breath.

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