Page 38 of The Oracle's Journey

“We will worry about that later. Do you think you could try it? Even a half elf should be able to summon a candlelight.”

She pursed her lips, closed her eyes, then snapped her fingers, but nothing happened.

“Let’s try it together,” I suggested. In unison, we snapped, and her fingers sparked.

Her eyes shot open and she met my gaze. “I felt that!”

And I knew she had also seen it, through my eyes.

“Again,” I said, heart pounding with excitement. We snapped in unison a second time. A tiny candle-like flame appeared at her fingertip and flickered for a heartbeat before fading away.

“Lhoris!” She beamed at me, her eyes silver with unshed tears. I pulled my hair out of her fingers as I felt her emotions swell. It was a little too intense for me. Though I would cherish knowing what this tiny light meant to her, I couldn’t afford to get swept away. Nor did I want to get used to knowing her mind that way.

“Now try it without me,” I said, battling the surge of my own emotions. Pride, that I had been able to give her light, elation at her growth, and the growing drive to care for her while she carried my offspring.

She took a deep breath and closed her eyes again. When she snapped, that little candle flame appeared, dancing on her fingertip.

“No fucking way,” drawled Lobikno from the loft.

Oz giggled as the light faded away again. Lobikno hopped down and landed lightly, though the horses snorted at his appearance.

“You taught her to do that?” he asked, incredulously.

“Yeah, the plait helped.” I answered, grinning with pride. “And look,” I said, summoning my new fist full of light.

“Huh,” Lobikno said, brows furrowed in thought. “We should start some training tomorrow. Both of you.

Oz giggled a little drunkenly. She’d used a lot of energy on that little light. Her eyes sagged.

“She clearly needs to build up some stamina,” Lobikno added critically.

“Are you going to charge me like Eve?” she asked.

Lobikno showed her his teeth and said, “I’m not charging him. I won’t charge you.”

“Oh,” I said to my brother, seeing an opportunity for some payback. “You should charge her a hug.”

Lobikno eyed me with suspicion. “I don’t do hugs.”

But Ozanna had taken the bait. She got up and put her arms around Lobikno’s neck, and he didn’t try to stop her. The old softie. “Thank you, both.”

Lobikno pursed his lips in a fake grimace, then jerked, pried her off and held her by the shoulders for a moment. His expression softened as he looked down at her startled face.

“Sister,” he murmured before letting her go.

“I’m not your sister.”

“It’s early though,” I said to him, “you may not need to think of her as a sister yet.”

“You could have just told me,” He scolded in elvish.

“It was more fun to see your reaction,” I said, crossing my arms and leaning back in the chair, taking a little harmless revenge for Lobikno’s recent pranks.

Lobikno narrowed his eyes. “She needs to sleep. Go make your mate safe.” He spoke in the trade language, so that Ozanna could understand.

“Mate?” she asked, her nose scrunched up.

“Yes,” Lobikno said in a condescending tone, “when a mommy elf and a daddy elf love each other very much and make a baby elf, they’re called mates.”

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