Page 58 of Family Found

I had to go get him.

“Rory!” Kinnek shouted when I pushed out from under his arms. He tried but failed to grab me. “We need to get back!”

He shouted to the others in Lugarra. I couldn’t pay attention.

I rounded the Stone. “Ink! Aragis is over there, by the Mound. Get him!”

And my mate, the bestest of mates, didn’t ask a single question, he just ran. With a sword out. Okay, so maybe you were allowed to do that if you were good with a sword after all.

Land! Help! I considered. Yeah, it was time I did something really memorable. Bring the fucking lightning.

Was I being dramatic? Sure. Was I a badass twink dispensomancer? Check. Honestly, who would say no to throwing lighting like an effing thunder god?

Inkiri ran full speed, and I waited until he’d grabbed Aragis. That’s when I unleashed it.

The lightning came with the force of a truck hitting my funny bone. It was bright, the light of a dozen suns made into a blade, and it was loud enough to drown out everything else.

For reasons beyond me, I giggled when the first bolt struck. It struck the Koa Esher closest to Ink and Aragis, not leaving much behind at all.

I had the energy for maybe three more bolts, and I called them down, one after another. I aimed for the Koa Esher, hoping they would hit everyone who’d hurt the survivors we’d saved. It was in no way enough, but it felt effing amazing.

I passed out right while the light was still searing my corneas, but that was fine. We had won. Nothing else mattered.

Chapter 18

I floated on my sense of knowing, which meant I could still see what was happening.

“Rory!” Fellisse scooped me up from where I’d collapsed.

Vergis came running, Charles right behind him. “Is he okay?”

Fellisse leaned over me so he could hear my breath with all the commotion going on. “He lives.”

And Vergis…Vergis looked sort of mad, his eyes wide, the hard lines of his mouth smoother, uncertain what to do now that he wasn’t glaring at all.

“Muffin! I need you! We have to leave now.” Kinnek waved Vergis over, and Charles turned to the Raikengana, calling them and beckoning them forward.

Vergis and Kinnek both pulled their conduit knives out once everyone was back at the Stone to get us home. In the commotion, before they hopped veils, Kinnek stared at Aragis as if he barely recognized him. Aragis wasn’t looking anywhere, wasn’t moving. Inkiri had to carry him.

Then Inkiri saw me in Fellisse’s arms. “Sadir!” He came over and put Aragis down. “Let me hold him, Lisse.”

Without a word, Fellisse put me in Inkiri’s arms and held up Aragis instead. Aragis started trembling, the light behind his eyes coming on again. His lips moved, but he made no sound at all.

It was then that I realized I wasn’t even fully out yet, but it was close. With titanic effort, I opened my eyes.

“Ink.”

He clicked and looked at me.

“Sadir, my brave mate.”

“Stone.” I pointed.

“Fuck, he’s still awake?” Vergis looked furious. “Could’ve said something, Princess.”

Hove shouted in Lugarra. There was so much movement. My eyes hurt.

“Stone,” I said again, and this time, Inkiri moved me toward it.