Page 79 of Power Shift
Ash reached for Tess’s magic, guiding it toward the pendant. The spell caught her power and sucked it inside the obsidian, there and gone in an instant.
“Moira.”
At Ash’s urging, Moira smiled and let her eyes drift shut. The room temperature dropped by several degrees, and a swirl of crimson power flowed from Moira’s fingertip. He once again guided Moira’s power until it soaked into the obsidian.
For his turn, Ash merely touched the pendant. Emerald magic coated the pendant in a bright green glitter before sinking in and disappearing.
“Evie.”
Six months ago, I wouldn’t bat an eye at his request. Now, with my power going a little wonky, I was afraid I’d break the pendant. Caelan gave my hand a comforting squeeze.
I closed my eyes and calmed my breathing. When I was settled, I sent out a seeking tendril of watermelon tourmaline colored magic, tinged with a hint of crimson. At my touch against the pendant, my skin heated, the soft brush of fur against my mind, gentle yet inquisitive.
I sucked in a breath and opened my eyes. The pendant lifted in the air, swirling in a counterclockwise circle. My magic encased the necklace, glowing the green and pink of watermelon tourmaline.
“Ash?” My heartbeat picked up.
“Just wait,” he assured me. “There’s nothing wrong. Your magic is curious about what’s happening.”
“Tonight is not the night for curiosity,” I mumbled.
A whoosh of wind and a pop of sound and my magic soaked into the pendant. Seconds later, it fell to the earth.
Ash’s hand reached out and caught it a second before it crashed against the table.
Caelan’s breath of relief sounded in the silence.
“That would have been bad,” Moira said.
“Round two,” Tess said.
“Let’s not joke about breaking the priceless artifact,” Ash murmured. “Alright. Caelan, come closer and pick up the pendant.”
Caelan stepped forward and took the pendant in his hands. Ash leaned forward and murmured something in his ear.
At Caelan’s nod, Ash rested his hand on the Lord’s shoulder.
Power grew in the room, a heady sensation prickling the back of my neck. Caelan’s eyes turned from a stormy gray with flecks of gold into warm pyrite, casting light over us all.
Within his palms, the pendant hummed, Caelan’s power flowing into the pendant, Ash’s power keeping the link between himself and the Lord.
All the candles blew out, the smell of sulfur rising from the table.
Ash whispered something I couldn’t make out. Caelan nodded and opened his palms.
The dryad reached for the pendant and held it to his lips. A soft breath of emerald power and the pendant exploded in multi-colored light. Green for Ash. Silver for Tess. Watermelon tourmaline tinged with blood red for me, pure crimson for Moira, and a mix of forest green and gold for Caelan.
“It’s beautiful,” I whispered.
Ash smiled as the light faded away, leaving the pendant inert in his palm.
“It worked.” He motioned for me to come over.
I turned and was about to brush my hair away from my neck when Caelan spoke.
“I’ll do it.” A soft growling note in his voice made goosebumps rise on my skin.
Warm calloused fingers brushed against the side of my neck, gently moving my hair aside.
