Page 43 of Tangled Power
Aterra’s smile was feral, and his sole focus was on the Suden Point. Luc’s power pulsed around them. The room was thick with his magic. The scent and feel overwhelmed Rose as he held Aterra’s escape route closed. Luc’s eyes widened as he realized what he was doing. The earth shook again beneath them, and his attention returned to the god.
Aterra raised his palms together and made a show of separating them. This time, Luc’s magic couldn’t hold back the chasm he created. Rose tried to shoot wind and water across the crack like a sheet of ice, preventing Aterra from jumping in, but he plummeted right past it, his magic taking him deeper and deeper into the earth.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
“Well, that went spectacularly terribly,” Juliette said.
That was an understatement. But he didn’t particularly want to discuss it with the others. He wanted to discuss it with Rose. The one person he knew wouldn’t judge him for what they’d all just witnessed.
He held a god. His power—unaided—had momentarily rivaled Aterra’s.
Their attempt to contain Aterra had been a joke. They were woefully unprepared, and yet,somethinghad happened. He wished he understood it. His magic flared, and he pulled it tight. He needed to clear his head.
“I agree. I’m going to set up camp.” He didn’t wait to hear anyone’s objections as he walked toward the opening in the trees where they’d left the horses. Running his fingers through his hair, he replayed the battle in his head.
As he got further from the others, he let his magic unfurl. It should feel depleted from what he did in the cabin, but it seemed invigorated. Unleashed, his power lifted rocks and leaves, anything not rooted in the ground. He wasn’t sure what to make of it.
The Compass Points were supposed to be able to overcome a god—but as a group—not an individual. His mind returned to what Juliette had said about the communion between a Compass Point and their patron. Was she right? Was there something connecting him and Aterra? He didn’t want a connection to the god disrupting the balance. He wanted to stop him and return to his new life with Rose.
How had he held Aterra without the others? Were the others capable of this? No, Rose and Juliette’s power together barely contained Aterra for even less time than his, though, whatever they had done was certainly something that needed further exploration. That was what Rose had been trying to reproduce since Loch. He rolled his neck as he thought. Were all their elements able to merge like that? Or only like elements?
How could so much be unknown about connections between Compass Points and how they were supposed to fulfill their purpose? The connection between a Compass Point and their patron drew his attention back. If Juliette communed with Zrak in that way, was it possible for the rest of them?
In the moments his power had held Aterra, the Suden god’s gaze had locked on him as if he’d expected it. The moment tugged on a memory, one Luc couldn’t quite reach.
He stood on the cliff’s edge. He hadn’t realized he had wandered so far from the horses. Seeing the stark, deadly overlook made him reach for his magic. The large, jagged rocks below felt like clumps of sand he could crush between two fingers. He was far past believing that his power was normal, even for a Compass Point, but he envied Rose’s weapons-making ability at this moment. He would like to evaluate someone else’s magic, just for some reassurance that there were others with power as deep as his.
“Your magic is not normal, but you already know that.” Rose’s voice was soft as she approached.
She’d extricated herself from the others. Somehow, knowing that was exactly what he needed. He didn’t say anything as she continued her progress toward him. Standing on her toes, she wrapped her arms around his chest and rested her head on his shoulder so that her front was flush with his back. Wordlessly, he slouched to make the position more comfortable for her. They breathed together, silently staring at the waves crashing against the unforgiving cliffs.
Finally, he turned to her, unsure what he’d say. “I held him.”
Rose nodded. “You did.” She paused. “Do you know how?”
A chill rushed up his spine as the memory came forth. “Do you remember the scene I shared with you about my first Compass Point meeting?”
Rose nodded. This was the memory that had evaded him earlier.
“I want to show you another part…after the meeting.” He paused. “It was always a little odd, but it was the one time I know I saw Aiden with the gray eyes, and they looked at me just like they did today.”
Rose took Luc’s outstretched hands, and his mind shadow pulled her along as he remembered his first time alone with the ex-Norden Point.
The Vestenand Osten Points left the room immediately. Luc didn’t linger on purpose, but he hadn’t rushed to leave like the others. He organized his notes and papers, his gaze roaming the room, unexpectedly meeting the Norden Point’s.
“Congratulations on your first meeting,” Aiden said.
Luc nodded, unsure how to respond, given their interaction.
“You’ll get the hang of it quickly.”
“I’m not sure about that,” Luc said carefully. He didn’t want to make enemies, but he wouldn’t cave to the Norden Point like the others seemed to. It was then Luc noted a flash as the Norden Point’s eyes turned gray. Hadn’t his eyes been blue?
“Who are your parents?” the Norden Point asked. He studied Luc like he hadn’t just spent the last few hours in a room with him.
Luc’s brow furrowed. He didn’t get this question so directly anymore. Most were aware by now that his father was unknown. “I figured the Compass Points would already be well informed on that gossip,” he replied coldly.
“Humor me.”
