Page 114 of The Storm of the Empire

“Distance, I think. Or those are the times I notice it. I hate to admit this, but I’ve been spending half my time in his head to make sure he’s not revealing this too publicly. So I can tell he’s worse then than when we are together.”

Kiera’s expression turned pained. “You’ve got to be exhausted.”

“I am.” I didn’t know how to ask what I needed to, so I just tried to spit it out. “If he keeps getting worse at this rate…” I couldn’t bring myself to finish the question.

“You think he’ll be lost to it soon?” Jaxus asked when Kiera didn’t speak.

She smoothed a hand over the page, avoiding both our eyes. “There is no way to tell. It might level out.”

“Do you really believe that?” I asked, needing the answer.

“It’s hard to know. I’m reading all the material we have on foresight, but there’s not a lot.” she sighed. “This feels like Nyx all over again.”

I bit my lip to stop myself from weeping at the thought.

Kiera was perceptive, though, and tried to reassure me. “If I need to go home to look for more, I will.”

“How long can we wait?”

“How many episodes is he having a day?” Kiera asked, tapping the page of the book.

“A dozen, maybe more. And that’s not including the dreams.”

“Are they all like the first?” She exhaled. “Or worse?”

“Most are not as bad as the first, I guess. I’m not really sure. He doesn’t really like to talk about it.”

“Even with you?” Jaxus cut in, confused.

“He can tell it’s worrying me.”

“So you spy?” he asked, fixing me in his gaze.

“Sometimes. I feel terrible.” I picked up the stack of reports, needing a distraction, but nothing worked.

“What have you two tried?” Kiera sat forward, leaning her elbows on the desk. She’d been working double time between her duties with the healers, her place in the army, and now researching foresight. I felt bad that because of us, everyone was pulling extra weight, but I had to help Luka.

“Not much. We haven’t had time. What if we put the pendant back on him? Would that slow it down? He seemed to be able to use it a little even with that on.”

Kiera grew very serious. “You realize what that will do to you right?”

“What?”

“You saw how Nyx was with Kol missing. That was all seemingly done with a similar kind of block. The pendant and the shackles were all made with Draco Fulgurite.”

“But it was fine before. Could it be that because I’m a storm dragon, it doesn’t affect me the same?”

Kiera shook her head. “That was before you melded. Now that the connection is there, you can’t just cut it off. Even if the method doesn’t disrupt your magic like it does others, the loss of the bond would still almost destroy you.” She looked frantic.

I held up my hands. “Okay. That’s a bad idea. I get it.”

Kiera turned to Jaxus. “Have we thought of any of the more advanced instructors, to see if they can get a read on his magic? I know Rakan did something like that with Zaria.”

“Nyx doesn’t trust anyone else to be involved right now, and he said he doesn’t want the King to find out yet. The King is pushing back against a lot of his decisions of late.” Jaxus sighed, taking the stack of reports right out of my hands. “If proximity to you helps, we have to keep you two together more often. At least that might slow it down.”

“I think he’s right. It will only benefit you two. Besides, you need more time to learn to train his power.” Kiera looked at Jaxus. “You have to give them more time.”

“I’m trying. The King expects everyone to be doing their duty, and because they are already melded, it’s hard to argue with him.” Jaxus rubbed his forehead. “Maybe I can get Nyx involved. Get our heads together to see if we can come up with a reason. Or figure out another duty we can claim for you two as cover.”

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