by Anna LaVerne
Before I know it, Gabal breaks free, laying me down upon the bed. The skirt of my dress edges up my thighs. “Yes, please Gabal, I want this,” I encourage him.
Gabal is animalistic right now, drawn on by the same instinct motivating me. Nothing is romantic or soft and sweet. Gabal’s first time will be fast and hard. We will have time to explore each other later. Right now, our want is too strong to hold back.
Gabal moves upon me naked. I get a brief glance at his size before he spreads my legs wide to accommodate his massive build. It is a good thing I am not a tiny woman. His member is thick and long, bigger than my other three men. I don’t have time to wonder if he will fit, because he plows into me hard, and I realize my body adjusts well for him.
He groans, and I lose my senses. The amount of energy pushing into me and back into him is too much to handle. It is as if fire is all around us, and I am unaware if it is all in my head or if it actually exists. Gabal pushes again and again leaving us both screaming in delight of each other and the magic we possess.
As if we are one, we both explode into ecstasy at the same time. The giant of a man falls upon me while still inside me. “Oh, Dina, I am so sorry. I am so sorry it happened like that.”
“Gabal, look at me.” He lifts his sweaty brow to look me in the eyes. “Don’t be ashamed. I wanted it as fast and as hard as you gave it. It solidified the marriage. We will have time to explore each other more intimately later, maybe even later tonight. I think a bath in the pool may be calling our names.” I give him my best smile.
“That is a brilliant idea,” he replies in a husky voice as he peels himself off of me and picks up his robe that I left on one chair. “Would you like me to pour you a glass of wine first?”
“Yes, I would love that.” I stand from the bed, readjusting my golden gown. I still don’t want to remove it. I am scared if I do, it might be lost in Lumbai forever.
“A knowing,” I say under my breath.
Gabal turns and asks with wide eyes, “What did you say?”
“It is a knowing. Something is coming. Put your pants on.” I say all too calmly. Gabal must trust me as he simply nods and slips back into his pants and goes to put on his boots.
“Can you tell me more about it?” he asks.
“It is hard to explain. In any normal circumstance, I would want to remove all of this.” I motion to my crown and my dress. “But tonight I don’t, and then it occurred to me, I don’t want to remove it because if I did it would be lost to Lumbai forever. We need to go find my mother. We need to open the portal now.”
“I don’t want to do that. The people are not ready.”
“We will send the warriors door to door gathering them. Something is wrong. I am telling you something is wrong,” I reiterate.
I close my eyes and reach out to the node asking aloud, “Am I right, is something wrong?” The steady hum of her energy finally perks up.
Yes, Celeste has portals prepared, comes the answer within my head.
“Portals? Portals! Why didn’t you warn us about the portals?” I yell into thin air, ignoring Gabal’s confusion.
Daughter, I didn’t sense them until now. Go, I can do nothing without you. Get the people to safety first.
“There are portal markers in and around Lumbai.” I grab my cloak and run out the door.
Gabal follows wearing nothing but his pants and boots. “I run towards my mother’s chambers but am met with Vex halfway there.”
“Where is mother? We need to open the portal!” I frantically yell at him.
“She knows, I was coming to get you two. She sent Bee and Tim to alert the warriors.” I nod and continue down the main road to the portal with both men following closely behind. I know my other three guys will be there waiting for me.
Mother has to open the portal, and then I have to go through first to open the barrier, so everyone can enter Lorcan. I will demand Mother and Bee go first. I can’t risk losing them. I stop to take off the too tight shoes I wore for the ceremony and leave them on the street.
As we approach the portal, I already see my mother standing there with it open. She is waving at me to hurry. I waste no time and jump through the portal not even considering I might get portal sickness again.
I hit the hard ground as I fall into the room in Lorcan. I move just in time for Gabal to land, and Trey follows behind him. They should have stayed helping others in Lumbai. Thankfully, I am not sick, probably because the crown has allowed me to stay connected to a node.
Closing my eyes, I raise my hands, willing the barrier to drop. “I am not sure it will stay down while I am back in Lumbai,” I say to no one in particular.
“It will.” I turn to see Gabal with his eyes closed and in deep focus.
“How?” I ask.
"I am tying the barrier down to the ley line. It won’t hold for long, but I think it should give us an hour, and then you will need to do the barriers again," he replies.
“We won’t be able to get everyone through within the hour,” I argue
“Well, it is a start, Dina. Listen to King Gabal. We need to get back to Lumbai, so people can move through.”
I nod to them both. Fine. We will work with whatever we can. We head back through the portal.
Chapter Twenty
When we arrive back in Lumbai, a line of people has formed. The warriors must have made good time getting word out. All the magi are easily discernible in their element-colored robes. They wear their element, except for Gabal who always is in gray or black.
I shake my head to get myself to focus. Queen Maris is standing next to Vex as he directs traffic and gets people in lines. When she sees me, she waves me over. Bee and Tim are standing close by with Tivian and wagons full of books and supplies.
“Dina, thank goodness. I sent a message through the mirror. Tig should be waiting for the first people to enter and direct them to open areas within Lorcan to gather.” She continues telling me her plans, but I interrupt her.
“No, you need to go through first to lead the people. We will stay back and deal with any portals that may open and protect those who are escaping.”
“Don’t you dare try to tell me what I can or cannot do. Your life is more valuable than mine. I am staying until the warriors enter at the very least!” Mother shouts at me over the noise of the crowds.
One of the magi who was at the wedding ceremony steps forward after speaking to Gabal. A funnel of wind forms from his mouth and when he talks his voice echoes throughout Lumbai. That is a handy talent to have.
“Line up behind the supply line. It is first come first serve through the portal. We will not tolerate chaos, no running. No livestock or farm animals can go. Please stay in an orderly line!”
I give Bee a hug and tell Tim thank you before they walk through the portal with carts full of books.
“B-b-be careful,” Tim stutters. I can tell all the action is playing on his sensitive nerves.
“You’d better come back, Dina, I won’t be the same if you don’t,” Bee warns.
“I will be there. I have to set off the volcano.” The realization of my words hit me. I will set off a volcano sometime tonight.
Rhett puts his hand on my shoulder, “We will be with you the entire time,” he says.
“But where is Manu?” I ask, noticing he is the only one gone from the front of the portal.
“He is assisting the warriors with setting up a barrier around the portal. We need to protect the portal in case she attacks during the evacuation.”
“We should go help,” I say.
“You shouldn’t do anything but supervise, you are a queen now,” Trey says in a voice that sounds like my mother’s.
“You realize I have to set off a volcano when everyone is safely through the portal, right?” I ask.
“I agree with Trey,” Gabal states, and Trey’s jaw drops in surprise. “We need to keep a calm face to keep the people calm. Plus, we will have to step through the portal again within the h
our to re-open your barriers. You know that. You will have plenty of action later. Right now, we are where we need to be.”
“Then I want Manu here, too!” I demand.
“Dina, he needs to help,” Trey tries to argue.
“But if something happens to him, and I can’t protect him . . .,” I trail off. My nerves are getting to me. I am sick to my stomach. It is as if I can sense the energy of the portals opening.
I can no longer argue. I stand there as everyone discusses plans and as the continual line of people go through the portal five at time. Entire families are going through together. I am surprised how fast the line is moving and realize we may get everyone through within two hours or fewer. It gives me hope.
Once everyone is saved, our goal changes. I have to destroy or take control of the crystals she will use to drain the node. I may not be able to save the node Celeste has already captured, but I can stop her from capturing this one. If I can kill her as well, that will just be a bonus.
“Braeden,” I say as I see the man walking towards us. Gabal is still missing his shirt and looks glorious in the firelight.
He adjusts his stance and crosses his arms.
“Brother,” Gabal says with no emotion.
“Hello, King Gabal. Congratulations on your marriage,” Braeden sneers. Turning to me he adds, “We have met before, albeit not formally.” He stretches his hand out, and I place mine in it out of duty.
Gabal stares darts into his brother, willing him to release me. “I am Dina, Queen of the Magi,” I reply, adding emphasis on the ‘queen’ part.
Breaden smirks, “For now,” he replies, and Trey takes that as a threat. He walks past me and Gabal and punches Braeden in the face. It is identical to what he did to Rhett in Cargil.
“Well done, Trey,” Gabal compliments him.
Rhett picks up Braeden from the ground by his arm, and Trey takes his other arm as they secure him. I pick up a long piece of leather that someone dropped before going through the portal to tie his hands, but Tivian jumps up.
“No, no, no that won’t do. Braeden is a mage, and he will break right through!” Braeden laughs at Tivian’s words, and Tivian answers with a louder manic laugh that makes people stare.
Tivian steps forward and pulls a powder from one pouch on his person, “This will do the trick,” he says as he approaches Braeden.
Braeden laughs, “Yes, but it is too late for it to do any good–”
Tivian doesn’t let Braeden do anymore talking as he blows the powder in his face, and Braeden goes limp.
“Put him in the wagon,” Gabal commands with a sad expression. He understands my hurt from Celeste's betrayal because he just experienced it from his own brother.
“Let’s go back through one more time to keep the barriers open, and then we will prepare for Celeste,” Gabal says, turning towards the portal, pausing the people who are next in line.
We step through the portal together for the second time. Once through, I note the people are all still in an orderly line extending out through the doors and into the wide hallways. I hear warriors guiding the way, telling them where to go.
“It is a good thing we came back early. I can sense the barrier wavering.”
“Me too,” Gabal replies.
I close my eyes and command the barrier to stay down. I can sense Gabal’s energy working in conjunction with mine anchoring the barrier in place.
“That should hold until the last people make it through.” I nod to Gabal.
“Let’s get back.”
We step back through the portal, and the minute we land, we are met with chaos. People scream as they start to rush through the portal. The first thing I do is try to find my mother.
Warriors have spread their way down the line to try keep the line moving in a more orderly manner. I am looking around trying to figure out what has everyone screaming and then I see it. A portal is trying to open outside the barrier around the portal.
I run towards it and find my mother working hard to close it. She has an intense concentration on her face, telling me it is taking everything she has to keep the portal from opening. Gabal is behind me, and I can sense his worry wafting off of him. My adrenaline picks up. What to do? What to do?
I pick up every little stone and start flipping them over, looking for portal symbols. “What are you doing?” Gabal shouts over the wind.
“Search for portal symbols. Destroy the symbol, destroy the portal!”
A flash of understanding crosses his face, and he drops to his hands and knees looking for the same thing. It has to be here beneath the portal somewhere. I close my eyes trying to close out the energy from the portal and focus on the anchor to the portal. The thing pulling the portal to this place.
When I open my eyes, I can see all the variations of energy around every object. I have never seen energy in such fine vibrations before. The world is lit with new colors. I look to the portal and follow the piece tethering it in place. Once I detect the mundane little rock, I dive for it. I go to pick it up but due the amount of energy tethered to it, I can’t touch it. So, I do the next best thing. I take a deep breath and blow my hottest fire on it.
The stream comes out bright blue. My focus is intent on destroying the stone. I don’t realize it is not having an effect. Suddenly, water splashes upon the hot stone causing it to crack into two.
Tivian dances with delight. “We did it! It takes two! Fire and water. Good job, Queeny!”
I go to stand. Gabal and Trey rush forward to help me to my feet. Vex is holding my mother who has a strange energy floating around her. I turn to Tivian and notice he has the same glow.
“Don’t worry about her. She will regenerate soon. She is tied to ley lines, don’t ya know?” Tivian says in his regular way.
“We can’t check all the stones around,” Gabal states.
“No, we will just have to attempt to close the portals as soon as they open, the problem is there is no way we can determine where the stones are placed.” I say while still staring at my mother who true to Tivian’s words is already perking up again.
“Look,” Rhett says and points towards our portal to Lorcan. The last of the people are making their way through.
I run to my mother’s side. “You need to go now. We will stay and fight. Someone needs to be in Lorcan to let the council know what is happening and organize all the people. Lorcan needs a leader, and I have to set off the volcano.”
“I love you more than Aster, Dina, and I will not leave you here to face this battle alone. Let the portal close. It will protect Lorcan, we can re-open it when all of this is done. Now let’s go on portal watch.”
I have lost this battle with Queen Maris. Vex yells out orders to the warriors to fortify the Lorcan border. In the same moment, a portal forms near where the warrior encampment was.
I run towards it. It still is in the process of forming. I close my eyes and open them looking for the same anchor of energy as before. Once I discover it, I waste no time blowing my hot fire upon the stone. Once everything glows a bright blue, Gabal dumps a small barrel of water upon it, causing the stone to crack and the portal to die.
As soon as one portal closes another starts to open. Thankfully, they are following a path. Three portals later, we are now working our way up the mountain. The only logical place for the next portal is at the top.
Only our adrenaline keeps us going as we climb the narrow path up the now active volcano. The steady hum of the node is getting louder. She is worried, and her energy has been constantly building, readying herself for an explosion of epic proportions. I am certain she will be weakened afterwards, but it is an act of self-preservation. The node’s energy will return to her over time.
As we near the top, we see a portal already open. A sharp stabbing sensation hits my head. I put my hands upon my crown and realize the pain is because the crystals are already in place. Celeste is starting the process and has distracted us by all the other portals.
Ang
er rushes through me, giving me another huge boost of energy. I will kill her. I reach the top of the mountain and to my surprise, Celeste isn’t there. Instead, I see the daughters of Gayla. My cousins, each working with their own crystal. All with a crystal holding stolen node energy around their necks.
I love Gayla, but I hate these girls, hate them. I refuse to give up this node, and with my own will power, I pull the node’s energy. Every drop I can contain, and my crown is holding it in place.
I notice Queen Maris setting a protection spell around her and I, while my men, even Manu, head in to engage them. Gabal calls upon the wind, surprising one sister and sending her over the edge into the lava. The other sisters take notice of us and are prepared for his use of magic.
They try to assault him with water, but I am fire, and I turn up the temperature. The water evaporates into thin air. I need Gabal to disable them, but they keep exchanging magical blow after magical blow. Not able to do anything else, I turn my attention to the crystal that belonged to the dead sister.
Stretching out my hand, I call upon the lava. I watch as the tips of my fingers begin to glow orange, and the ground vibrates with the power I am attempting to harness. I am grateful that my mother and men are able to distract the sisters while I focus. Lava gradually makes its way over the edge of the pit. Its flow is thick, slow, but menacing. I try to will it to move faster, but that is not the nature of lava.
Out of the corner of my eye, I see that my mother has joined in the battle. When the lava reaches the base of the crystal, it bursts into flames. Gabal turns and sends a giant gust of wind rushing towards the crystal, pushing it into the volcano.
The mountain grumbles in response causing everyone except for me to fall to their knees. With one crystal down, I know they can’t take the node. I move towards the sisters, but my mother appears by my side. I want to destroy the necklaces.
