Page 40 of Wind and Water
Crossing the circle, Liam stands in front of Corell. “It is not my business. I apologize if I overstep. Can you give your mate a message to head north?”
“You ask a lot. If it were just for me, I would agree and risk everything to help.” He sighs. “A moment.”
Liam returns to my side while Corell closes his large, red eyes.
“What’s happening?” I lean toward Liam and whisper.
Voice hushed, Liam speaks into my ear. “Corell and Farress are true mates and can speak with their minds. They also rule the Western Centaurs together. He’ll not make such a decision without her full agreement and while ensuring the safety of his people.”
“How can you know all of that?”
He stares into my eyes. “Because it’s what I would do in his place.”
My heart expands inside my chest, and I cannot look away from his gaze. I swallow hard and try to wrap my mind around how perfect he is while remembering why we’re sitting in this damp, horrible place, in a strange world, with very little chance of survival. “How will we get Momma out of there without getting all of these centaurs killed or me taken by Venora?”
“Magic, sweetheart. You’re going to have to use your magic.” He shares his sexiest grin.
“You’ve lost your mind. I don’t even know how my magic works. Why don’t you use your own magic? Do you have magic besides mind control over unsuspecting humans?” My anger rises, but it’s more fear than rage.
“I do. You and I are going to work together. Magic is something we have to learn, but it’s also innate. I’ll hide the centaurs and create a distraction. With my help, you can make this work, but you’re going to have to trust me the same way I trust in you.” In front of a dozen centaurs, Liam cups my face in both of his hands. “I have complete faith in you, Wren. Your magic is exactly what this situation calls for.”
“Is this all some crazy leap of faith about oracles and prophesies?” There’s no hiding my sarcastic tone.
Smiling even brighter, he kisses the tip of my nose. “I doubted the oracle and the prophecy until now. We all need to believe for this to work.” He turns his attention to the centaurs, who are all watching.
“Do we even know if centaur magic and elf magic will meld?” Pallon sits beside his brother, shaking his head.
“Let’s find out.” Liam opens his palm facing the sky. He mutters something I don’t understand. A golden ball of light forms in his hand. It’s like a small universe with swirling light and shadow. Rising, it hovers over his flesh, then moves to the center of the circle. Liam looks at Pallon. “Make my magic larger. I give you leave to alter what is mine.”
The words feel important.
Pallon stares at the golden ball of light. He says something in the centaur’s guttural language.
The light grows larger and brighter, doubling in size.
Corell cocks his head. “Good.” He makes a grabbing motion with his left hand and the light disappears. “Farress agrees that we must join in the fight for Domhan. She will move the centaurs north and hopes to meet us by the river after we have retrieved Birdie.”
“I am honored, and my people will be grateful.” Liam bows his head.
Worry mars Corell’s handsome face. “Since you plan to make a showing and gain the witch’s attention, I assume we shall wait for daylight.”
“Yes.” Liam meets the centaur leader’s gaze. “The shadow demons are not as strong in daylight.”
“They carried our foals away before the sun went down.” Jadar’s tone is matter-of-fact.
“We can only use the knowledge we have, my friend. Shadow demons are less likely to mount a successful attack in daylight. It’s strange what happened with the young. Perhaps in time, we’ll better understand the dark magic.”
“I wonder if that will be a blessing or a curse.” Jadar stands. “I will take the first watch.”
Belloc walks with him to the perimeter of the magic that shields us.
Returning to sit beside me, Liam says, “He’s not wrong.”
Corell lowers to the sand in a position that reminds me of how a cat might rest. “No, but we have little choice if we are to defeat the evil and send their souls to rest.”
Sliding to the soft sand, I lean against the log.
Jadar trots over and hands me the blanket that had been my cushion during the ride here. “This will keep the damp away.”
