is going on here.
“Why can’t you just tell me the truth and solve both our problems?”
He shook his head. “You are a fierce woman. I do not wish to battle with you.”
My right eyebrow shot up. It does that when I’m amused. “Yeah, can’t say I’m excited about fighting you to the death either.” I had an icky feeling about how that might end. “So we need a compromise. You tell me why it’s so important and I’ll help you.”
That made him laugh, but it wasn’t a happy sound like before.
“Very well,” he grumbled. “I will tell you this. There are those in my world who wish to do great harm to your people. You call it revenge. While I am not fond of the humans, I do not wish them dead. Hence, I shall close the portals.”
“That’s not really news. The demons have hated humans for centuries.”
“Yes, but unfortunately for you, now they have the power to do something about it. Please, Guardian, trust me. We must do this quickly, before any more can cross over.”
I had a feeling he still wasn’t telling me everything, but technically it was my job to keep his kind out of my world.
“Fine. Do we do it here?”
He moved to the door. “Follow me.”
We went back out into the hall and through the door to the left. The light was dim, but I could make out an ornate marble altar filled with candles. I noticed several piles of jewelry. Some looked like papal rings. There was artwork, and weapons. It looked like a large pile of gifts.
I cleared my throat.
Arath followed my line of sight. “I will explain later.”
There was no use arguing with him. “Okay, now what?”
With a wave of his hand the door shut. “You must remove your weapons. The magic will make metal extremely hot.”
A guardian never laid down her weapons, especially when visiting another world.
“You will come to no harm in my company.” It really was as if he could read my mind. That is a scary thought.
I sighed as I took out my sword, knives, and gun and laid them on the counter behind me.
“Take my hands in yours.” He reached out to me.
I did what he asked. The energy sizzled when we touched. His hands were rough, like they were used to hard labor. Not surprising, since before he was a king, he’d been a great warrior. Still his grip was gentle.
“You must close your eyes before we begin and keep them so. The magic could blind you, if you open them. You must trust me.”
I liked being able to see so I did what he said. Weird doesn’t begin to explain how it felt holding hands with my eyes closed as if we were playing a game of some sort. Only this time the fate of many worlds depended on just how well we played.
“Lak, nak to dol amp storn de ku.” He repeated the phrase over and over again and the power built within us both. It began in my core, a deep warmth, and shot out through my hands.
I’d taken out my translator so it wouldn’t burn my ear. I had no idea what the chant meant, but I could feel its power—his power. The louder his voice became the stronger the bond between us. I no longer knew where my hands ended and his began.
Even with my eyes closed I could see the bright light coming from his body. As tempted as I was to look, I remembered his warning. He hadn’t exaggerated.
“You must concentrate, Guardian.” Embarrassed that I’d been so easily distracted, I focused my mind on the glow I felt around me.
The energy pulled in every direction and suddenly I saw from Arath’s eyes. They were focused on several dark swirling holes in a great expanse of the universe. As many times as I’d traveled through portals, I’d never actually seen one from space. The mass, which looked like several dark tornadoes, twirled so fast it made me feel unsteady to watch it.
“I am with you. Guide my power as you need.” Arath’s voice seemed to come from a great distance.
For a moment I didn’t know what to do.
“Follow your instincts,” he encouraged. “You have the power.”
I took the
“Why can’t you just tell me the truth and solve both our problems?”
He shook his head. “You are a fierce woman. I do not wish to battle with you.”
My right eyebrow shot up. It does that when I’m amused. “Yeah, can’t say I’m excited about fighting you to the death either.” I had an icky feeling about how that might end. “So we need a compromise. You tell me why it’s so important and I’ll help you.”
That made him laugh, but it wasn’t a happy sound like before.
“Very well,” he grumbled. “I will tell you this. There are those in my world who wish to do great harm to your people. You call it revenge. While I am not fond of the humans, I do not wish them dead. Hence, I shall close the portals.”
“That’s not really news. The demons have hated humans for centuries.”
“Yes, but unfortunately for you, now they have the power to do something about it. Please, Guardian, trust me. We must do this quickly, before any more can cross over.”
I had a feeling he still wasn’t telling me everything, but technically it was my job to keep his kind out of my world.
“Fine. Do we do it here?”
He moved to the door. “Follow me.”
We went back out into the hall and through the door to the left. The light was dim, but I could make out an ornate marble altar filled with candles. I noticed several piles of jewelry. Some looked like papal rings. There was artwork, and weapons. It looked like a large pile of gifts.
I cleared my throat.
Arath followed my line of sight. “I will explain later.”
There was no use arguing with him. “Okay, now what?”
With a wave of his hand the door shut. “You must remove your weapons. The magic will make metal extremely hot.”
A guardian never laid down her weapons, especially when visiting another world.
“You will come to no harm in my company.” It really was as if he could read my mind. That is a scary thought.
I sighed as I took out my sword, knives, and gun and laid them on the counter behind me.
“Take my hands in yours.” He reached out to me.
I did what he asked. The energy sizzled when we touched. His hands were rough, like they were used to hard labor. Not surprising, since before he was a king, he’d been a great warrior. Still his grip was gentle.
“You must close your eyes before we begin and keep them so. The magic could blind you, if you open them. You must trust me.”
I liked being able to see so I did what he said. Weird doesn’t begin to explain how it felt holding hands with my eyes closed as if we were playing a game of some sort. Only this time the fate of many worlds depended on just how well we played.
“Lak, nak to dol amp storn de ku.” He repeated the phrase over and over again and the power built within us both. It began in my core, a deep warmth, and shot out through my hands.
I’d taken out my translator so it wouldn’t burn my ear. I had no idea what the chant meant, but I could feel its power—his power. The louder his voice became the stronger the bond between us. I no longer knew where my hands ended and his began.
Even with my eyes closed I could see the bright light coming from his body. As tempted as I was to look, I remembered his warning. He hadn’t exaggerated.
“You must concentrate, Guardian.” Embarrassed that I’d been so easily distracted, I focused my mind on the glow I felt around me.
The energy pulled in every direction and suddenly I saw from Arath’s eyes. They were focused on several dark swirling holes in a great expanse of the universe. As many times as I’d traveled through portals, I’d never actually seen one from space. The mass, which looked like several dark tornadoes, twirled so fast it made me feel unsteady to watch it.
“I am with you. Guide my power as you need.” Arath’s voice seemed to come from a great distance.
For a moment I didn’t know what to do.
“Follow your instincts,” he encouraged. “You have the power.”
I took the
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