Page 64 of Lore of the Tides

“I’ve never heard of an animal that relies on magic to reproduce.”

“Me neither.”

“But a radiance swell sounds similar to what we call ley lines.”

“What’s a ley line?”

“They’re natural paths of a sort that crisscross the earth.Sourceis abundant along those paths, especially at the junctions where the ley lines intersect.”

Lore tapped her chin, thinking. “You know, when I was rescuing Grey, I think I felt a ley line. I noticed that the land on which QueenRiella’s mansion was built was positively brimming withSource. I wondered at the time if she built her mansion there because of theSourceor if theSourcehad accumulated there because of the queen.”

“They’re extremely rare, very hard to pinpoint, and can cause magic to act strangely... but it makes sense that the queen would do something as mad as build her house on top of one. She would want to keep it for herself.”

“Right, but these radiance swells appear to move. And you make it seem like ley lines are fixed.”

“They are.”

“So, could these essentially be ley lines that move?”

“Possibly, but how would someone find one of these moving magic spots?”

“I suppose one would have to have the ability to seeSource, now, wouldn’t they?” Lore pushed back from the table and began to pace, her boots making no sound on the sandy floor. “And if that person could seeSource, they could harness it. Even channel it.”

Finndryl marked his spot with a stylus and placed his book down before standing up to follow Lore as she left the table area to enter the stacks. “Maybe the Nikoryxia can seeSource, too, and that’s how they know where to lay their eggs. Maybe the pearl was originally on a ley line, and it’s faltering... dissipating.” She chattered excitedly, turning a corner and heading into the ecology section. “Finn. IfIcould find a radiance swell, I could funnel theSourceinto the pearl; the magic might power the ley line itself.” She stilled for a moment, the book she’d chosen halfway off the shelf. “Or maybe it’s the pearl that powers the ley line. But no matter what, it seems like we must find one of these radiance swells.”

Finndryl’s arms crossed, the black fabric of his shirt straining against his muscled frame. “You’re suggesting leaving the safety of the shield and venturing into the unknown, aren’t you?”

Lore paused, tilting to face him. “I—yes, I might be suggesting that.” She placed a hand on her hip. She didn’t appreciate that hewore an expression of wry amusement plain on his face like that. “It’s not like I can send a scouting party out there andnotgo myself. They can’t seeSourcelike I can.” She searched his eyes, seeing more than amusement there. Worry. He was worried. “Finn... It has to be me.”

A low, gravelly sound rumbled in his chest. “Us,” he said, his voice dropping all indication of amusement as it morphed into a growl.

“What?” Lore crooked her head, confusion clouding her features.

“It ‘has to be’us, Lore. You won’t be going alone.”

The memory of the Exile resurfaced—Lore and Grey’s reckless vow to free the human captives of Wyndlin Castle, Isla and Finn’s selfless offer to help. Lore had been shocked, honored. But look at what it cost him... Finndryl had been forced to kill. He’d been taken captive. Separated from his twin.

He still hadn’t been able to return home.

She pushed the poised book back onto the shelf and turned fully toward him. “Once again, I would never assume or ask you to—”

Finndryl closed the distance between them. He was so damned tall that Lore was forced to crane her neck to meet his gaze.

“Once again,” he retorted, taking another step closer, “I am telling you that I’m not letting you go alone. I’ll never stop you from diving headfirst into danger.” He placed a hand on the shelf beside her, his grip tight, and leaned forward until their faces were mere inches apart. “As long as I’m there to dive with you.”

Lore’s breath hitched. Her heart hammered in her chest. Gods, his smoky, spiced scent was intoxicating.

She shook her head, opening her mouth to protest, but Finndryl silenced her with a kiss. His lips brushed against hers, featherlight, yet the fleeting touch sent a jolt through her, scattering her protests in the current as heat rushed through her.

His mouth brushed over hers again, and stars shone behind her closed lids. “As long as you’ll have me by your side, there’s no place I would rather be,” he whispered against her lips.

He pulled back and watched her with heavy-lidded eyes that swirled with craving.

The sudden loss of his warmth, his touch, was a sharp, painful thing.

Her hands ached to grab him, to pull him down until their lips crashed. To never, ever, come up for breath. But she looked at him, really looked at him, and knew that if she let that happen, it would be devastating for both of them. So she resisted the urge and said instead, “I’m poison, Finn. You don’t want this. You can’t want... this. I’m broken. I come from something so broken, and all I can promise is confusion and pain. Uncertainty.” The words felt heavy, and her voice was shaky. But she had to say it; she had to warn him... She could never make him happy, because she was being tugged in so many different directions, she felt like she’d been splintered. Fractured.

Save her people, provide a home for them. Her want to live her own life, to love without fear or uncertainty. Her desire for him... for Syrelle... She could never give herself to him while she did not belong to herself. She belonged to the humans of Duskmere. He would be better off far away from her. Her mistakes weighed heavy on her like a boulder. She felt trapped.

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