“This is crazy.” She leaned toward her friend, placing a comforting hand over his. “But it’s not your fault, Kansas. She’s always been overprotective and adamant about keeping wizards away at all costs. I just had no idea she’d go this far. Or that she even could.”
Dorothy felt a snap from her mental connection with Z and glanced over to find him frozen in shock as he looked between them.
“What?” Z? What’s going on?
“I just realized a few things. Three actually.”
“Only three?” The king lifted his head with a chuckle. “Tell us, old friend. We are in short supply of wisdom of late.”
“I was considering jealousy.”
Dorothy frowned at him. “I don’t think this is the time, Z.”
I told you Kansas was my best friend, didn’t I?
His smile was tender. “Why does your aunt hate wizards, Dorothy?”
“She has for as long as I can remember.” Dorothy shrugged. “I never knew why.”
Z nodded. “She’s very specific about what they’ll do though, isn’t she? Steal your power, be unfaithful, break your heart.”
“Yes. All those things. Do you think she’s had her powers stolen before?”
“Not just that.” Kansas snapped his fingers. “He thinks this is about a particular man. She was never a big fan of those either, now that I think about it.”
Dorothy hit him again. “So your theory is that a wizard done her wrong and she’s still so torn up about it she wants to destroy the world?” She rolled her eyes. “You know how powerful she is, don’t you? Strong women don’t need men to be happy.”
I’m powerful. I travel through the storm between worlds. And I need you to be happy.
Dorothy pressed her lips together and looked down at the table as he spoke aloud. “I think everyone here has experienced jealousy when their partner even looks at someone else, no matter how innocent. What if you had all that power, and someone betrayed you? Or you believed they did.”
“You, Z? Jealous?” The king sounded surprised.
Z didn’t bother to hide his scowl. “Every damn second since I met her.”
Really?
Kansas laughed. “Welcome to the club. At least you don’t have to share her with every clan in the world.”
“I wouldn’t be so sure.”
Dorothy glanced up again. “What does that mean, Mr. Cryptic?”
He got to his feet. “That’s my second realization. But it will have to wait. I have an urgent message to send. Stay with Kansas, and I’ll come back for you as soon as I can.”
He leaned in and kissed her, tugging on her lower lip with his teeth, tempting her to open for him. He smiled against her lips when she relaxed against him. No matter how much he irritated her, the wizard definitely knew how to kiss.
She groaned when he pulled away. Z winked, turning on his heel and leaving without a backward glance.
“What’s the third thing,” she called out after him.
I’ll show you tonight.
***
Her heart grew heavier with every step she took away from the king’s tent. She’d left them after a few hours of reminiscing; when it finally became clear Z wasn’t coming back tonight. Kansas tried to get her to stay, but she needed to find Emily and assuage her guilt for leaving her sister alone with a group of randy equines.
She saw the families huddling close to the fires outside their tents, people who should be safe and warm in their own beds. That her aunt was the reason they couldn’t be was a hard and bitter pill to swallow.