Page 26 of The Aether

“I don’t know how.”

He held out a hand. “Place your palm over mine.”

Vivian did as he ordered, and she could feel the pulsing power wrap around her as she connected with his aura.

“Concentrate, and imagine yourself merging with him. Your body filling his.”

She did, but the result was unexpected.

In a flash, she was facing down Morgan.

Weak from the energy exchange, Vivian blacked out.

* * *

Damian came to the moment his spirit entered his physical form.

“Goddammit! What did you do?” he thundered. “Where’s Vivian?”

Evie gave her husband a small shove. “Go, Nate! Take Damian. I’ll protect Sabrina.”

Nathanial shook his head. “The wards…”

“I’ll weave a layer over top of the old ones, and I’ll take Sabrina to the Goddess if they fail. Go!”

The sight of Damian’s petite adoptive mother pushing around the towering form of Nate was amusing. He might’ve laughed had he not been so fucking worried about Vivian and Alastair.

“Let’s go, Nate. Time is of the essence.”

“You should goafterhim, Grandpa Nate,” Sabrina piped in.

Damian crossed to the doorway and knelt in front of her. “What did you see, Beastie?”

“He needs to cloak and take the long sword from your special room.” Wide-eyed, his daughter watched him as if she feared he’d not take her seriously.

“And if he does? What’s he to do?”

Lifting her doll, she snapped the head off.

“Morcant is a bad, bad man, Papa,” she whispered.

“That he is, my love.” He brushed the black curls from her brow. “Anything else to give us the upper hand?”

With shining eyes, she shook her head.

“Stay with Grandma Evie. She’ll take care of you if I don’t return.”

A stiff wind could’ve knocked Damian over when she flung herself at him and wrapped her arms tightly around his neck. “Watch out for the potion, Papa.”

“Potion?”

“He makes smoke with it, and people get weak.”

“Duly noted.” After kissing her temple, he hugged her to him. “Go with Evie, Beastie.”

“I don’t like the sound of the potion. What do you suppose is in it?” Nate asked after Evie and Sabrina exited the room.

“Doesn’t matter. We’ll have a protection spell at the ready.”

---