Page 74 of In the Dark

“Careful, she has great hearing.” Morgan drew his coat tighter around his lanky form and prepared for the cold. “You can never tell what she’s able to ferret out from a simple whisper.”

The breeze smacked him in the face like an invisible hand and stole his breath. Risking exposure, Morgan called on his own gift and increased the fat deposits in the pertinent areas of his body. Instantly his stomach pooched and his thighs pressed against the material of his pants. His knees protested the extra weight but he knew it was necessary. Especially considering he’d forgotten his gloves.

With his hands shoved into his pockets, he walked to Karsia and cleared his throat. “This is what you wanted, isn’t it?” he asked her, teeth chattering.

“It’s what I’m supposed to want,” she confided. Black eyes slashed across the forest floor and took in everything they saw. Stored the information and moved on. “I like being this way.”

She turned to him and the look in her eyes had Morgan taking an involuntary step back. “You don’t mean that.”

“Oh, but I do.” White teeth gleamed when she drew back her lips. “I do mean it. You can only imagine the power I feel. I can do anything.” She breathed in deep and smiled. “Punishing the Claddium would be the start of it. This world could be mine if I desired it. I have raw strength flowing through my veins and I love it.”

He wanted to tell her not to say those things, not to talk at all. Instead, he came out with “We’ll see what happens later, my dear. You might change your mind along the way. I believe we have a good walk through the woods ahead of us.”

“You believe correctly.” Aisanna shouldered her pack of supplies and stared at them. The large furry hat hid the majority of her face from view, the ensemble completed with scarf and mittens. The abominable snowman in an adorable package. Astix didn’t burden herself with such things, relying instead on a simple hat and jacket for warmth.

Aisanna pointed to a small deer path winding through the trees. “We head this way.”

“How are we going to see when it gets dark?” Morgan asked.

Karsia shoved him aside. “Leave it to me, Professor.” Calling on her magic, she held out a fist. It immediately burst into flame. “See?”

Morgan swallowed hard. “Try not to burn the whole forest to the ground.”

“But think of what a lovely sight it would be.” Marching ahead, Karsia kept her arm lifted to light their way.

The others trailed reluctantly behind her with footsteps silenced by the powdery snow. None of them looked at each other.

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