Charles groaned as he pulled out his phone. “I’m sure the hospital will be thrilled to have Daegreth back again.”
“Why would the healing house be thrilled?” asked Graely.
“Sorry. A bit of sarcasm. They might not let him in at all. Not after he attacked the lab guy who came to take his blood.”
“He can use my ID and be me,” Steven suggested, pulling out his wallet to retrieve his driver’s license. “With a shave and a haircut, no one will recognize him from before.”
Charles stared at the picture on Steven’s card. “It just might work. Certainly worth a try.”
“Meanwhile, I have other news from the council meeting last night in Laegenshire.” Graely raised his voice and waited until the room grew silent once again.
“The council has decided locating and sealing the portal is even more important than removing the soulmate bond between Alora and Kaevin. Using the same logic as us, Vindrake must realize a portal exists near the place he kept Wendelle imprisoned. We must prevent him from traveling to this realm via the portal.”
Steven sat up straight, with a rather eager expression. “So there are two different ways to travel between our two worlds? You can hitch a ride with Alora or walk through some kind of warped opening, like a wormhole?”
Wesley buried his face in his hands, muttering something unintelligible including the words, “shut up” and “wormhole.”
Graely’s brows creased together as he scratched the back of his head. “We can pass between our realms with a bearer and, at present, Alora is the only active bearer. We could also utilize the portal if the Tenavae opening weren’t located in the heart of Vindrake’s territory. Its location is the issue at hand. Should Vindrake find and utilize the portal, he would have access to all of this realm’s magick, and he wouldn’t hesitate to utilize this magick against the other clans.”
“Are you saying he could bring guns and ammunition and bombs and such back through the portal to Tenavae?” asked Charles.
“I’m not certain of the meaning of your words,” said Graely, his expression grave. “But anything can be carried through a portal; iron isn’t excluded as with Alora’s gift. His warriors could come here and retrieve any type of weapon in existence.”
Brian and Charles exchanged a look of horror. “Guns and bombs are the least of it,” said Charles. “He could bring people back through the portal. Imagine if he joined with terrorists or people with access to nuclear or chemical weapons. He could destroy their entire world,” said Charles.
Alora’s mouth felt dry as cotton. At her side, Kaevin wrapped a comforting arm around her shoulder, and she melted against him.
“Finding and closing the portal is imperative,” said Graely. “The weapon you hold in your hand could go through the portal, Brian.”
He nodded, staring at the gun as if it might explode at any moment. “We’ll help any way we can. What do you need?”
~ 9 ~
As had become their habit after breakfast, Alora washed the dishes while Kaevin attended to the outdoor chores that once were hers. Hanging the dishtowel to dry, she kissed Uncle Charles on the cheek, announcing her intent to take a shower. But from her bedroom, she transported to the stable for a few moments of alone-time with Kaevin. She cherished these tender moments, finding no enjoyment from holding hands or tender kisses with an audience, especially a hostile one such as her uncle. His suspicious and critical observation threw water on any spark that might have otherwise kindled.
“Good morning.” Kaevin leaned forward to press his lips to hers in a gentle kiss, tucking his chore-dirty hands behind him. Though his face wore a smile, Alora could sense something was wrong. And she suspected that “something” had to do with their heretofore-compulsory attendance at school.
“Are you ready for the science test today?”
His eyes narrowed as he turned away, retrieving the shovel and attacking the stall with vigor. “I’ve done what I can to prepare, but I doubt the results will be better than t
he last time.”
“So… I’ve been talking to Beth’s mom about the possibility of homeschooling.”
“Homeschooling? What’s homeschooling?” Kaevin continued to muck the stall, but she could tell his curiosity was piqued.
“I’d go to Beth’s house, and her mom would teach me there. Her mom—you know, her name is Janice—she used to teach high school before Beth’s dad died and she was stuck taking care of the ranch.”
“So you wouldn’t go to the high school any longer?”
“No, I’d just go to Beth’s house on the days I had classes and study from home the rest of the time.” Alora bit back a smile at his rapturous expression.
If only I had a camera to record the look on his face.
“And me? What would I do?”
“You’d go with me, of course. And you wouldn’t have to take any classes except for— Oh my gosh! Kaevin! What are you doing?”