I know. He gripped her tighter around the waist.
Then, at a distance of forty feet, Glissane and Julio suddenly emerged from Glissane’s invisibility shield.
The secretive wizard had revealed himself at last.
~ ~ ~
Kiara felt Warren ease his grip on her waist. She wasn’t sure why. Maybe from the shock of seeing the man who was causing so much trouble.
Glissane was rail thin, just as Warren had described him. His hair was honey-blond and he wore it in waves to his shoulders. His eyes may have been light at one time, but they were now the kind of black that had no end. He wore a strange shimmery gold coat, tight black pants and a medallion around his neck. A green aura clung to him.
He was a wizard fully engaged in the dark powers of the path he’d chosen.
Julio, on the other hand, was a bully and enjoyed it. He floated in the air, smiling, with his arms crossed over his chest. He’d chosen a wizard of power to fulfill his plans and he believed the world was his. He was dressed in black: shirt, leathers, boots. His long-sleeved t-shirt clung to bulging muscles. His arrogant smile revealed white, even teeth.
Kiara knew the truth. Julio was a pawn and a fool, nothing more.
She ignored him and instead, carefully extended her witch senses toward Glissane. He fixed his gaze on her, not Warren. She recalled the sensation of releasing her own wave power knowing the wizard had a similar ability. For the first time she wondered if she was what Glissane was after. But why? In the same way he lived a completely hidden life, she also knew how to live behind powerful security spells. She would always be able to avoid him.
Yet here she was, out in the open.
But so was he.
He’s staring at you. Warren’s deep voice flowed through her mind. What does he want?
I’m not sure.
I think he’s testing you. Or intends to. Whatever the case, Julio looks smug as hell.
Yes, he does. Warren? What should we do here?
We wait. Let them show their hand. In the meantime, I’m revving my storm power.
I can tell.
Without warning, electricity suddenly arced in the air from Glissane’s position to Warren’s.
Are you doing this? Kiara asked.
No. I don’t know what’s going on.
Slowly, Glissane switched his focus to Warren, a smooth glide of his gaze that robbed Kiara of breath. Glissane began to move toward Warren, a slow flight in which he sustained his arc of power.
Kiara, I can’t break it. He’s shut down my storm ability. Get out of here. Now.
Like hell I’m going anywhere.
Julio stuck close as he tracked with Glissane.
She heard Warren grunting. She glanced at him and saw that his back was arching, and his jaw ground his molars. You’re in pain.
She glanced at the parking lot below. They were still thirty feet up and she knew what would happen next. She pulled away from Warren, but took hold of his arm and descended swiftly. Whatever hold Glissane had on Warren, she was able to pull him all the way to the asphalt between car rows.
Glissane was closing in at twenty feet. The change in air position didn’t affect his hold on Warren. Kiara could tell Warren was battling hard, trying to break free. Knowing it was important, she stayed connected.
Warren, he’ll kill you if he can. We’ve got to work together. Stop fighting like a wolf. Use your new warlock gifts.
He’s holding my storm power in check. It’s still very much alive, but I can’t cross that arc on my own.