Page 18 of Bound Paths
“This is what we’ve been looking for!” Cee said. Her voice was excited, out of line with what they had just witnessed.
Andie stared at the bush, unable to put her thoughts into words. She reached wordlessly for the journal. Cee handed it to her without question, and Andie began to write.
“My blood offerings for growth never work. But this—” Cee was so animated. More excited than Andie had seen her in weeks. “If one spirit could grow a bush to ten times its standard size, what might we do with multiple spirits and a field sown of crops ready to grow?”
Cee was right. It had done more, faster than any blood magic Andie had seen, but she couldn’t shake the feeling that it wasn’t what Nona had wanted for herself.
CHAPTER SEVEN
Lela’s gaze continuously bounced between Rose and Carter. The fae protected Juliette, even guarding her back as they walked through Osten house.
The first floor was a maze of hallways. They passed a kitchen, a grand formal dining room, and an endless stream of guest rooms. Osten house didn’t have the large ballroom that Norden did, but it had much more charm. Rose wondered how many Osten visited regularly to use these rooms. She dreamed of using Norden house’s capacity in the future.
Rose grunted, running into Carter as they stopped before a door. Rose couldn’t see much difference between this door and the others they had passed, but the longer she stared at it, the more familiar it felt. Sage and citrus filled her nostrils. Rose searched the hall for attackers, thinking Juliette had readied her wind for protection. Finding no one, a soft click from the door drew her attention back. There was a momentary pause, and then the door swung open of its own accord.
“Did your wind open that?” Rose asked.
She caught Lela’s brow-rise as Rose questioned Juliette.
“You can sense that little magic use from the Osten Point?” Lela asked.
Rose was a little surprised by the question. She nodded though. “Yes, I’m a weapons master. I’m well attuned to the scents of magic.”
“Juliette had said, but I didn’t…” Lela trailed off. Rose couldn’t tell if she was impressed or horrified by Rose’s talent for scents.
“Yes,” Juliette cut in. “Only wind magic can open the door.”
“Any wind magic?” Rose asked.
Juliette’s lip quirked at the question. “The wind has to be strong and well controlled. But I’m sure you could do it.”
Rose felt herself stand a little taller. She may be Norden Point, but she relished Juliette’s validation. As a magic she’d long had to hide, she appreciated someone noticing the strength of her wind.
She coughed to cover her embarrassment. Carter smirked at her, indicating she’d failed at doing so. She pointedly ignored him and turned toward the open door. A gasp slipped out in recognition.
The door wasn’t similar because of the repetition in the hallway. The door and the stairs she now saw were a different kind of familiar—something she’d only ever seen in the heart of her magic.
Juliette turned to Rose. “Everything okay?”
“The door. The stairs…” Rose struggled to form complete sentences. “I’ve seen them before.”
Juliette’s eyes widened. “Where?”
“When I evaluated your power, it started like this… And in the heart of my magic, I opened a door just like this to initiate the link between us.” Rose peered down the stairs. They descended into darkness. “I went down these stairs when I needed to ask you for more magic—to deepen our connection.”
Carter’s mouth opened and closed, but no words came out. Juliette’s face held a similar surprise. No one seemed willing or able to comment on what it might mean.
“What does the connection to my magic look like?” Carter asked hesitantly.
Rose thought of the tree and the odd metamorphosis it went through to allow her access to his magic. “It looks just like the willow tree on Vesten property,” Rose said. “But I can’t even begin describing how the tree…opens.”
Carter tilted his head. He had more questions. Juliette coughed, gesturing back to the staircase. “Do you know what is required to go down the stairs then?” she asked Rose.
“What is required?” Rose echoed. What did that mean? Opening the door with magic wasn’t enough?
“I’ll take that as a no,” Juliette said. “The portal is at the bottom, but part of what keeps it safe is what you must face to get there.” Juliette laced her fingers together as she explained.
“What must we face?” Carter asked.
