Page 124 of The Storm of the Empire

“Can you stay while Luka tries to use his foresight to see if Kol will wake up?”

Gran looked around the room. “Now?”

“Yes,” Nyx cut in. “Tell us what you think and how big you feel the danger is. I can’t ask him to try if it’s going to make him worse. I can’t make anyone else suffer the way I am.”

A pang of guilt hit me in the chest, and my heart broke for him all over again. I was so concerned about Luka and the possibility of suffering while Nyx had been in hell for more than a year. Luka was doing the right thing, even if I’d end up suffering for it. Maybe we all had to suffer to fix the wrongs.

“He should be safe to try with us all on hand.” Gran confirmed.

Not waiting for further opinions, Luka walked over to Kol and inhaled, closing his eyes.

He drew some power from me, but not much. He also pulled it from around him.

I stepped up next to him, joining our hands. If we were to practice, Gran said start now. I fed him magic slowly, letting him get used to it. He’d only ever given me his, so I didn’t want to overwhelm him the first time.

His breathing changed, and his heart rate picked up, but he wasn’t growing distant or unrecognizable like he was before. I held steady for him, ready to pull power back as soon as it seemed to overwhelm him, but before I sensed anything like that, I felt my own power draining and realized Luka was drawing it off—fast. I clamped down and drew back like my life depended on it, and I managed to extract myself. Luka dropped to a knee, gasping.

I flew to him, dazed myself but grasping his face to inspect it for signs of him lost to it. His eyes were clear, though, and his face had color. “What happened?”

“I couldn’t—” He broke off in a sob, and I realized he was overcome, but with emotion not foresight.

He turned to Nyx, who looked ashen with concern. “I’m sorry. I want to see for you and for him, but I can’t.”

“What did you see?” Kiera asked.

“Nothing. Nothing at all.” Luka sniffed. It was clear to everyone it was important to him to do this for Nyx, and he obviously felt like he’d failed. I pulled him into my chest and wrapped my arms around him.

“I’m sorry,” he whispered. “Did I hurt you?”

“No, I’m fine, just a little shocked you pulled so much from me. I wasn’t expecting it.”

“It wasn’t planned. I just needed the extra to try and reach for—something. But there was nothing there.”

“Perhaps it’s too unconnected to you?” Gran mused. “Maybe you only see things that immediately affect you or those you love.”

“All the more reason I should see this then!” Luka snapped, losing sight of who he was speaking to.

“Calm down,” I cautioned.

“It’s very new,” Gran said soothingly, unconcerned by his irritation. “You’ll get there if it’s the Goddess’ will.”

Luka sighed.

Nyx approached and held out his hand to Luka. Luka looked up and accepted it, letting Nyx pull him to a stand, and I followed.

“I’m sorry, Luka. I was being selfish.”

“No, I wanted to do it,” Luka insisted.

Nyx shook his head. “I’m being impatient. Gran is right. If it’s the Goddess’ will, it will happen. Please, don’t let this add to your burden. We are all carrying too many of those right now.”

“I’ll try again. If it’s about my connection to the situation, then it will come because you have to know I care about this. I want him to wake up and be well as much as you all do.”

Nyx smiled. “I never doubted that, friend.”

They embraced, and I felt Luka’s emotions settle. He worked so hard to be a part of what we had here, this family of ours, that I understood the overwhelming need in him to make them all feel his devotion. But he was wrong if he thought he had to prove otherwise. He did that every day.

We all dispersed, and I took Luka back to my rooms.

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