physical energy level was also draining. She watched the looks of fatigue enter the eyes of her sisters, as well.
Uh-oh , she thought.
But she had to hold it together until the very last of the energy had been expelled. There was no way she was going to risk it all simply because she was tired.
Once again, she closed her eyes. She focused on pushing the energy out…into the atmosphere…every last ounce of energy…gone.
“What do you mean, you cannot get through?”
Grolkinei paced as he awaited Layla’s response.
“I mean exactly that,” she snapped. “I have been trying for the past hour to send my thoughts through. All of the sudden, it is impossible. It is as though a new barrier has been erected.”
Frustration had Grolkinei’s eyes blazing red. “Try harder,” he said through gritted teeth.
“You do not seem to understand,” she said in slow, condescending tones. “I have attempted every way I know to get through. It is no longer possible. Apparently, our earlier breech was the one that finally prompted them to shore up their mental defenses.”
Growling dangerously, he lashed out with his fist and caught her across the face in a vicious backhand. “Do not tell me you cannot get through. We just did it a few hours ago, by unholy light. I had her in my grasp—felt her beneath me!”
Trembling where she huddled on the floor, Layla wisely changed her tone. “Of course, my lord. I was not thinking of attempting the intrusion while we were joined. We can certainly try that again.”
“Yes,” he responded, running his hands through his hair with something approaching desperation. “I want to get back to her. You made it so real. I must get to her again.”
So they did, following the exact pattern they had used the first time. Only now, there was a definite barrier in place. An unbeliveably powerful one. It seemed to saturate the entire Estilorian stronghold.
And when he realized they would not get through, his scream of rage shook the walls.
Chapter Ten
The sisters fell one after another as the remaining power was fully dispersed. Amber first, then Olivia and finally Skye. Their wings winked out as they collapsed.
Caleb grabbed Skye as she fell, much as Gabriel caught Amber and James did Olivia. But Caleb’s knees almost failed him as he lifted her and he had to sink to the ground, holding her in his lap. James was in a very similar condition and stumbled over to lean against a wall. It was like half of their strength had been drained.
Gabriel, however, remained standing. As an elder with millennia more experience and power than the two young Gloresti, he was more used to wielding power of this magnitude. And even then, Caleb was rather surprised to note that Gabriel’s step toward Ini-herit was a bit faltering, as though even he was experiencing fatigue.
Ini-herit moved forward. Gabriel had evidently conveyed a thought to the Corgloresti elder, who had some healing ability. Walking up to Amber, he placed one hand on her forehead and another on her lower abdomen. His silver eyes flashed briefly.
“They sleep,” he said at last in his unemotional monotone. “All is well.”
Caleb exchanged a relieved look with James. Neither of them had wanted to consider the alternative, but they had felt each other’s alarmed thoughts when they watched the sisters fall. Since Skye was sitting in his lap, her head resting against his chest, he leaned down slightly to smell her soft hair.
She had amazed them all, he thought. An eighteen-year-old being should not have been able to do what she did. He didn’t think she had even noticed the expressions of the elders as she had taken over the flow of the ritual with such calm and confidence. He was very proud of her.
He would never have thought to do what she did. Taking on the power of the elders? Not possible. But she did.
And she had further determined that he and James were required to finish the ritual. As soon as Gabriel sent the
Uh-oh , she thought.
But she had to hold it together until the very last of the energy had been expelled. There was no way she was going to risk it all simply because she was tired.
Once again, she closed her eyes. She focused on pushing the energy out…into the atmosphere…every last ounce of energy…gone.
“What do you mean, you cannot get through?”
Grolkinei paced as he awaited Layla’s response.
“I mean exactly that,” she snapped. “I have been trying for the past hour to send my thoughts through. All of the sudden, it is impossible. It is as though a new barrier has been erected.”
Frustration had Grolkinei’s eyes blazing red. “Try harder,” he said through gritted teeth.
“You do not seem to understand,” she said in slow, condescending tones. “I have attempted every way I know to get through. It is no longer possible. Apparently, our earlier breech was the one that finally prompted them to shore up their mental defenses.”
Growling dangerously, he lashed out with his fist and caught her across the face in a vicious backhand. “Do not tell me you cannot get through. We just did it a few hours ago, by unholy light. I had her in my grasp—felt her beneath me!”
Trembling where she huddled on the floor, Layla wisely changed her tone. “Of course, my lord. I was not thinking of attempting the intrusion while we were joined. We can certainly try that again.”
“Yes,” he responded, running his hands through his hair with something approaching desperation. “I want to get back to her. You made it so real. I must get to her again.”
So they did, following the exact pattern they had used the first time. Only now, there was a definite barrier in place. An unbeliveably powerful one. It seemed to saturate the entire Estilorian stronghold.
And when he realized they would not get through, his scream of rage shook the walls.
Chapter Ten
The sisters fell one after another as the remaining power was fully dispersed. Amber first, then Olivia and finally Skye. Their wings winked out as they collapsed.
Caleb grabbed Skye as she fell, much as Gabriel caught Amber and James did Olivia. But Caleb’s knees almost failed him as he lifted her and he had to sink to the ground, holding her in his lap. James was in a very similar condition and stumbled over to lean against a wall. It was like half of their strength had been drained.
Gabriel, however, remained standing. As an elder with millennia more experience and power than the two young Gloresti, he was more used to wielding power of this magnitude. And even then, Caleb was rather surprised to note that Gabriel’s step toward Ini-herit was a bit faltering, as though even he was experiencing fatigue.
Ini-herit moved forward. Gabriel had evidently conveyed a thought to the Corgloresti elder, who had some healing ability. Walking up to Amber, he placed one hand on her forehead and another on her lower abdomen. His silver eyes flashed briefly.
“They sleep,” he said at last in his unemotional monotone. “All is well.”
Caleb exchanged a relieved look with James. Neither of them had wanted to consider the alternative, but they had felt each other’s alarmed thoughts when they watched the sisters fall. Since Skye was sitting in his lap, her head resting against his chest, he leaned down slightly to smell her soft hair.
She had amazed them all, he thought. An eighteen-year-old being should not have been able to do what she did. He didn’t think she had even noticed the expressions of the elders as she had taken over the flow of the ritual with such calm and confidence. He was very proud of her.
He would never have thought to do what she did. Taking on the power of the elders? Not possible. But she did.
And she had further determined that he and James were required to finish the ritual. As soon as Gabriel sent the
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