Page 38 of Their World

“And had traveled all across it,” Kayden said. “The portals have opened all over the world, not just in Jinla.”

My eyes widened. “He was able to open the portal in our lands because he saw it through the necklace.”

Branson, Triston, and Riddick growled at the realization.

“He is determined to start a war,” I whispered. “So, what can I do to stop him?”

“We,” Mason said. “What canwedo to stop him?”

“If too many of us go, King Jolmach is going to assume it’s to fight,” Nana Jolie said. “It’s better if we only send a couple people.”

“I don’t think you three should go,” Mom said softly to Mason, Trey, and Kayden. “You’ve been the main ones killing their people and I doubt they’re so quick to forgive.”

As much as I didn’t want to admit it, she was right.

“Kayden can’t go back,” I reminded them. “Jol wants revenge still.”

“What if that didn’t even happen?” Nana Jolie asked. “What if that is a planted memory, too?”

“I have to convince Jol he has a false memory in order for him to get rid of the false memories?” I asked.

Great Aunt Leona nodded. “It’s not easy to remove planted memories. Most of the time it’s only possible when the person with the false memories finds the crack in the spell that’s wrapped around their mind and breaks it. At least that’s how Jolie and I did it when it happened to us. Or using the spell I taught you to burn it all out. It can be done by someone else, if they are powerful enough, but most times it must be done by themselves.”

There was a way, though, I just had to convince Jol to look at his mind and memories to see if they truly were planted.

“I need some air,” I said and hurried out of the house. Heading to the barn, I shifted and slid into my pool, closing my eyes and holding my breath as I lay along the bottom of the shallow water.

This was all too much. I wasn’t strong enough or had the right powers to fight a siren-mage hybrid. As much as I hated to admit it, I needed at least Dad to go with me.

When Jol felt his power, I was certain he would simply attack him and not listen to me.

If I talked to Jol first, before we involved the others, perhaps that could work. I would avoid the Grand Advisor, speak to Jol, and return. Wait, I couldn’t return without the Grand Advisor opening a portal for me.

Mom was better at portals than Dad, but she didn’t have powers as strong as Dad when it came to siren and mage abilities. The perks of him being a true hybrid.

They couldn’t open a portal to the demon world because they’d never been there, but there might be a way with one of my powers.

Shifting into my human form, I sat on my heat rock and remembered all the times I’d watched Grandpa Nico training Mom and Dad on portals. I was part mage, so it was possible that I could do it.

Closing my eyes, I pictured the bedroom I’d used. Drawing on my powers, I started drawing a circle in the air, imagining it opening to the bedroom.

When I opened my eyes, I found no portal.

I did find a scowling Mason.

“Were you just trying to create a portal?” he asked and folded his arms across his chest.

“I was seeing if I could do it.” I shrugged nonchalantly, like he hadn’t just caught me. “Turns out I cannot.”

“You were going to leave without me,” he accused.

“No, I was seeing if I could create the portal,” I countered.

“And what if it worked? Would you have called me for to come or would you have stepped through?”

I was not answering that.

“I think I have a plan,” I said as I walked by him and toward the barn’s door. “I’ve just got to convince our dear king to it.”

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