by Stone, Leia
“I’ve been waiting for you to come,” she croaked.
“I’m sorry it took so long. Life is kind of crazy right now.”
She pulled back, smiling at me. “Tell me everything.”
I opened my mouth to speak when I saw my bio dad rise. I’d spent my entire life, thinking of my uncle as my father … but this man…
He stood just behind her, watching us with unshed tears in his eyes.
I swallowed hard and glanced to my mother.
She nodded. “He loves you too.”
Stepping away from my mother, I approached him.
“Hey, kiddo.” He rocked on the balls of his feet like he was nervous. “I know my brother raised you and that you consider him your father, and that doesn’t bother me one bit. We can take it slow. You can call me Mackay.”
I threw myself into his arms. “Hey, Bonus Dad.” I squeezed him. Hard.
He remained frozen at first, but then he brought his arms around me. As we hugged, I felt his chest shudder with a half-swallowed sob.
“I like Bonus Dad,” he said, his voice rough with emotion. He spun me around toward my mom, and I burst into giggles.
How was it possible … I hadn’t known until this very moment that something had been missing from my life? My father did a great job raising me, with help from Lon too. Rage was an amazing mate, but this … the love of my mom and bonus dad made me feel complete.
We both grinned with joy, and my mom stepped up to his side and wiped a tear from her cheek.
“We’re so glad you came, Nai.” She took a deep breath. “How’s my dad?”
Reality came crashing down. Our happy meeting was over; it was time to get down to business.
My mom and I sat down on the red blanket, knees touching, and my bonus dad made an excuse and went for a walk. I told Mom … everything, including all about Rage and our sealing of the mate bond. She listened to all of it raptly, her emotions dancing over her face as I spoke until I got to the part about the high mages threatening to close the portals. Then she let out a growl that would make any wolf-shifter proud.
“How dare they!” she snapped.
I nodded. “So Gramps thought I should see you for a pronto lesson on portals, in case they try to keep Rage and me apart.”
My mother raised one eyebrow. “Oh yes, let’s do, Nai. I’ll teach you how to create a portal at will. That way, you’ll never be kept from your mate again.”
A triumphant thrill rushed through me, and then we got to work. She walked me over to a quiet stretch of beach where a sharp cliff face rose into the air over twenty feet.
“Did you know all of the permanent portals were created by a high mage of spirit?” my mom asked.
I shook my head.
She nodded. “Only those who can spirit walk the worlds can create them. It’s true Kian and the other high mages on the council can close, open, or even destroy portals, and they can create temporary ones, but those are only good for them to walk through, but then they close. None of the other high mages can ever create new, permanent ones.”
Whoa.
I inched closer. “How do you make one?”
She nodded. “I won’t be able to create one here because it’s against the rules.” She pointed to the white castle where the Keeper lived. “But I can show you how to with an illusion, here in the Realm of the Dead, and you can practice for real when you get home.”
I rubbed my hands together, 110.4% ready to nail this new gift so that nothing could keep Rage and me apart.
“Have you spirit walked yet? You must’ve when you passed your spirit test,” she said.
I nodded. “Hey, how did you know I passed?”
My mom grinned. “Dad keeps me posted.”
My heart pinched at the thought that Gramps was keeping her informed, and through him, she was watching over me.
“When creating a portal, you’ll need to go into spirit form like this.” Suddenly there were two of her. Two ghost forms.
I leapt backward into the sand, and if I had a heart in this form, it would’ve been racing like lightning.
Mom—both of them—smiled. “This is just an illusion to illustrate to you. Pretend one is my human body and one is my spirit.”
Freaky. I nodded, creeping closer.
“For you, you’ll have your human form in one world, let’s say High Mage Island.” She pointed to her duplicate soul, which was still smiling at me creepily but thankfully not talking. “Then you’ll send your spirit form to the other place, wherever you want to create the portal between the two places. Let’s say Shifter Island.” Her duplicate soul walked into the rock face and disappeared.
No. Way.
Shocked, I blinked, but creepy duplicate Mom was really gone … through the rock. Facing my mom, I tried to put my muddled thoughts into words. “So you’re saying I spirit walk to the other place I want to go, and then…”
My mom nodded. “Then you mentally merge the two while using your spirit magic to open a space between your two halves. I can’t do it down here, of course, but it would look something like this.” She clapped her hands, and a shockwave burst out of them, knocking into me.
“Sorry.” She winked. When she opened her clasped hands, I gasped. A hole inside of the rock face was starting to open too.
What the…?
The hole opened wider as her hands moved farther apart, revealing her creepy duplicate spirit standing inside of the rock like in a cave.
“Whoa,” I breathed.
My mom grinned, and it was shocking because she looked so much like me. I totally had her smile. My mom then walked into the cave to join her duplicate self to symbolize walking into a portal. Her ghostly body disappeared, and she stepped out of the cave and faced me once more as it poofed closed behind her. Just an illusion.
“See. Easy enough. Now you try.” She pointed to the rock wall, now flat and cave-free.
I frowned looking down at my spectral body. “I’m not sure I can … my body is back in the spirit pools.”
My mom nodded. “It’ll just be practice. Anything you can think of here, you can create. One of the perks of being in a spirit realm. It’s like an illusion, but it’ll work pretty much the same in the real world. Now, you give it a try.”
“Okay…” I closed my eyes and envisioned my soul splitting in two, and then I opened my eyes to see my mom wincing.
“You’ll get better with practice, and remember it’s not real.”
My head jerked to the side, and I screamed. A freaky-looking Nai, with one eye and a droopy vacant expression, was watching me like a zombie.
“Now, have her scoot off to the rock so you can create the portal,” my mom coaxed.
One-eyed Zombie Nai just blinked at the wall and then walked over to it before disappearing inside.
I was totally going to need therapy after this.
Focusing on the task at hand, I imagined that I was in one world and zombie Nai was in another. Breathing in and out, I clapped my palms together like my mom did.
“Good. Now, as you pull your hands apart, imagine you are teasing open the space between the worlds. Hold awareness of both this place and inside the rock in your mind.”
I thought of the inside of the rock and how I needed to open it in order to get to Zombie Nai; then I slowly pulled my hands apart.
There was a cracking noise and my mom yelped. I looked at the rock to see a big chunk had fallen off and lay on the ground. Zombie Nai peeked out of the rock, looking at me vacantly.
“Oops.” I shrugged.
My mom chuckled. “It’s okay. Now, clear it and try again,” she told me.
I shook off my hands and cleared my mind. Just like that, Zombie Nai disappeared, and the rock mended before my eyes.
Whoa.
I tried again over the next several hours and came very close on the last try to opening a perfect pretend portal to Zombie Nai like my mom had done. But the most I managed was to reveal her head and upper body. Hopefully,
with practice in the real world, I could do it better than that.
When it was time to go back so that I could meet Rage, I stood there a little awkwardly, not ready to say goodbye.
“Thanks for the lesson.” I shuffled my feet.
She smoothed her hair, tucking pieces back into the braid lying over her shoulder. “Nai, I want you to know you don’t need a lesson to visit me, and if you want—”
I grinned. “I’d love that.”
She pulled me in for a hug then, and I squeezed her tightly. “Tell Bonus Dad I said bye.”
She giggled. “You got it, sweetie.”
As I floated away from the Realm of the Dead, I felt lighter than I had in years, and not because I was ghost Nai. Something about seeing my mom and bonus dad had healed something broken inside of me.
Plus, portals for the win.
Chapter Nine
I got out of the pool and dried off before getting dressed as fast as possible. Between finding my soul stone, seeing my mom, and learning how to make a portal, I had so much to tell Rage, but I was legit starving.
Stopping in the kitchen for a quick snack, I found Sariah, Reyna, and Grandpa at the table, a chocolate cake set between them.
Yum.
I glanced at the clock and saw that it would be twenty minutes before Rage was in the library, which meant there was plenty of time for a slice of cake.
“Nai,” my aunt called out, pushing her chair back. “Come join us.”
She grabbed an extra place setting while I settled in a chair and pulled the cake to me.
“How did it go?” Grandpa asked, his voice warbling slightly with weakness. “Did you learn to make portals?”
I dished myself a fat slice and then shrugged. “I think so. I mean, we only practiced within the confines of the Realm of the Dead, but I got a feel for it.”
Shoveling a large bite into my mouth, I nearly groaned aloud as the thick, fudgy icing melted on my tongue.
Grandpa was silent, and I dragged my attention away from the delicious confection to see why.
He offered me a wan smile. “Making a portal can take a lot of energy, even just a practice one. That’s partly why a mage must have so much capacity for spirit to be the high mage.”
Listening to him, I continued to shovel cake into my mouth, pausing only to guzzle the glass of milk my aunt set in front of me.
“It’s why I could never become the high master,” Sariah said, sitting down again. She cut another slice of cake and set it on my now empty plate. “Not that I envy you, Nai. The responsibility is significant.”
Rather than respond, I took another bite. They continued to chatter about how much power was necessary to do certain tasks, but my focus remained on filling the black hole that now occupied my stomach.
The room grew quiet, and I glanced up.
“I had no idea,” Reyna muttered.
Sariah chuckled, and a moment later, Grandpa joined in.
“What?” I asked.
“If you spent all day practicing, that’s probably why you’ve devoured the cake. Next time, take a break for lunch,” Reyna said, her eyebrows raised as she pointed at the platter.
Oh. My. Mage.
“Did I really just eat half a cake?” My gaze bounced from Sariah, who’d been serving me, to Grandpa, and finally back to Reyna.
She nodded. “That really happened.”
Yikes.
“I guess I was more hungry than I thought.” I washed the last bite on my plate down with the rest of my milk and then turned to Gramps. “Maybe I should wait until tomorrow to practice portals in this realm?”
“Probably a good idea,” he said.
Annette stepped into the kitchen, and her eyes widened when she saw the damage to her cake.
“It’s a really good cake,” I said lamely.
Sariah laughed.
“Will you be staying for dinner?” Annette asked, clearing my plate and glass.
“No,” I replied with a shake of my head for added emphasis. “I’m going to see Rage.”
“Oh good,” Gramps said, pushing his chair back. “Make sure you chat with him about the contract he inherited, including his responsibilities within Mageville. Kian came by this morning after you left—”
“About how he tried to murder me and Reyna last night?” I snapped, balling my fists. He was on my kill list. I’d never had one before, but after last night and the scuffle with my soul stone … it was probably a good idea.
Reyna bit her lip, but she looked about as pissed as me. Kian was evil incarnate.
“No,” he said. “Kian actually apologized for the misunderstanding.”
Misunderstanding?
“He said you were trespassing, and he didn’t realize—”
“That … liar,” I shouted.
Grandpa held his hand up to stop my protests. “He said he didn’t know why you were there, or even that it was you. He asked me to pass along an additional message to your mate.”
“What’s the message?” I all but growled.
“Kian will require another shield from the alpha heir graduates,” Gramps said.
I snorted. There was no way Rage would help that d-bag. “I doubt Rage will be very quick to make that happen, considering.”
Hadn’t Reyna told Grandpa everything last night?
Grandpa took a deep breath and then pushed himself up to standing. “I’m just relaying the message, dear.” Reyna jumped out of her chair and grabbed him as he started to wobble. Once he regained his balance with Reyna’s help, he looked me in the eyes. “Maybe he needs a reminder about choosing his battles … as well as the timing of those battles. Not that I’m telling you, or him, what to do, mind you. Just something to consider.”
He was probably right. Denying Kian a shield would be an act of war.
“All right. I’ll tell him what Kian wants, but no promises.”
Gramps patted Reyna’s arm. “Help me to bed?”
The two of them shuffled out of the room, and as soon as they were gone, Sariah cleared her throat.
“He’s worried,” she said. “Even if he doesn’t show it.”
I waited to see if she would elaborate, even though I was pretty sure I knew what she meant.
“My dad is nearly a thousand years old. He’s seen … a lot, I’m sure. He can see the writing on the wall, all the tension between the high mages and the alpha heirs. I think he just wants you to get all the training you can before…”
“Before all hell breaks loose?” I asked ruefully.
Sariah grimaced. “It does feel like it’s headed that way, doesn’t it? I really hope it doesn’t come to that. The last time the high mages and alpha heirs warred, it was devastating for both races. I don’t think it would be any better now.”
I shook my head, stunned. “Are you saying you’re okay with how things are? That Kian nearly killing me last night is okay?”
“It’s not,” she said. “Not at all.”
I frowned at the contradictions she’d said … or rather what I’d heard. “Then help me understand what you are saying.”
Sariah took a deep breath. “I want you to inherit my father’s power, but you can’t do it if you’re dead. You have to play the game with Kian for now until you get spirit power.” She stepped closer to me and lowered her voice. “Then, at the right time, you can take care of Kian.”
Whoa. My aunt was totally on board with me taking out Kian eventually? Sweet.
I nodded. “No one wants to jeopardize the power of spirit going to Kian and the other mages.”
Which meant we—both me and Rage—should keep the peace until after Grandpa died.
After giving Sariah a hug, I ran down the corridor toward the library.
‘Rage?’ I loved that now that our mating bond was sealed we could speak to each other, no matter where we were.
‘Where are you, Crescent?’ he replied. ‘I’m not known for my patience.’ His tone was playful.
‘Yeah, yeah, I’
m coming!’
Picking up my pace, I ran at a full-on sprint through the high mage library, down the hall … and burst through the portal and into Rage’s open arms.
Our bodies collided, and I raised up onto my tiptoes to press my lips to his. One kiss became many, and my toes curled as he licked the outside of my ear.
“I saw my mom and bonus dad,” I said, breathlessly.
Rage kneaded my hips, coaxing our bodies closer.
“I don’t want to talk about your parents right now,” he said in a voice like hot embers. He lifted the hem of my shirt, and his fingertips skimmed over my skin.
My thoughts fritzed as he nipped and sucked his way down my neck.
“Do you?” he asked.
“I … I’m sorry … what were we talking about?”
“Not talking,” he replied.
* * *
A heavy pounding at the door made us both freeze.
“Rage!” Noble bellowed. “I know you’re in there, bro.”
Crap!
My gaze bounced from the front of the library to Rage, my eyes wide.
“Go away!” Rage yelled back to his brother. “We’ll be done in an hour.”
I blushed and mouthed, ‘An hour?’
“Maybe two,” he amended.
Grinning like a lunatic, I snickered.
“No can do,” Noble replied. “The Dark Row mages are here, demanding an audience with you.”
I frowned. “Why are they here?”
“Hi, Nai!” Noble called. “I’m glad you’re here and all, but we really do need the alpha king in the throne room. If you’re not there in five minutes, Rage, the mages said they are leaving and won’t come back. It’s about the plans for fortifications.”
“Damn,” he growled.
“Uh, what fortifications?” I asked, rummaging around for my clothes and realizing I needed to have that serious chat with Rage sooner rather than later. This damn fresh mating bond was getting in the way of my ability to think straight. I was supposed to tell him everything that went down in the high mage meeting.
Rage growled. “I’m having our earth elementals build some walls around Dark Row to help protect the mages so my people don’t have to. It will also be easier if all the lower mages live in one area, not spread out over the continent.” He shook his head. “I’m sick of losing wolves to the blood mages.”
