Page 13 of Boundless Magic

“Stuff it, Keat,” Nash replied good-naturedly. “Someone want to tell me why there’s a flannel-wearing clone of my father running about?”

“Perhaps we should adjourn to your office.” Alastair didn’t wait but led the way out of the vault, into the spacious executive suite. Without preamble, he said, “Your cousin’s children opened a portal to an alternate reality, and we need the items I used to revive Rorie. Do you have them handy, son?”

“Yes, but they won’t work for a portal without modification of the spell. But first, specifics. How in the world did two children open one without the tools? What spell did they use?”

“One from a copy of theBook of Thoth.” Keaton sighed and shook his head. “I had no idea my parents had one in the ceremony room.”

“An exact replica?” Nash frowned, appearing unconvinced such a thing existed.

“Spring seems to believe so,” Alastair said, absently touching items on his son’s desk and turning them so they were aligned a specific way.

Scowling, Nash crossed to the desk and rearranged what his father had moved.

A grin flashed across both Alastairs’ faces before they sobered.

“I’m proof positive the young’uns were able to open it,” LJ told Nash.

“Wait, so you’re my father from the alternate reality?” A harsh bark of laughter escaped Nash as he stared hard at the other man. “Incredible. What happened to you?”

“The better question would be, what didn’t?” Keaton said dryly. “But tell me why you don’t think Jolly and Chloe could’ve opened the portal on their own.”

“It would take more power than the two of them have combined,” Nash replied simply. “They don’t have enough juice between them to pull it off.”

“Even if Jolyon was untethered?” Alastair asked as he crossed his arms and leaned back against the desk. “Portals are rooted in Earth Witch magic, no?”

“Yes and no. They require both an Earth and an Air elemental. But I’m telling you, I honestly don’t believe two small kids without knowledge could accomplish it, Dad. They don’t have the skill needed to control the spell.”

“But it is possible?” LJ said with a frown.

After a significant pause, Nash nodded. “I suppose anything is possible. Probable? No.”

The answer was not what Keaton expected. “Then who could’ve opened it?”

Nash shot an expectant look at LJ. “Maybe you’d like to answer that?”

“I can’t. I don’t know.” The sincerity in LJ’s expression was confusing. As the one who’d traveled through the portal, he was the only person likely to have an agenda or the power. Yet looking at him now, he didn’t seem to be the instigator of their problem.

“We’ll have to get the details from Chloe when she returns. But can we please come up with a plan to get my children back?” Keaton wasn’t beyond begging in his desperation.

Nash’s expression was grim when he shook his head. “I don’t know how to help you.”

9

Keaton wanted to swear hard enough to conjure trash pandas, and it wasn’t even his curse to bear. Running trembling fingers through his hair, he did his best not to scream his frustration.

“You and Spring are basically our only hope,” he said to Nash.

“Not necessarily. You could call Damian Dethridge.”

“The Aether?” The tone of Keaton’s voice rose an octave. The idea of going to that powerful fucker was daunting. It wasn’t as if he had cause to fear the man. Hell, the guy’s child was Chloe’s best friend. But the Aether was also judge and jury to those who abused magic—as Keaton’s kids had just done—and he dreaded bringing this to Damian’s attention.

“I can consult with him on your behalf,” Alastair said with a compassionate look. “His daughter has been naughty a time or two. He’ll understand.”

“Yeah, I get that, but I’m also worried he’ll be forced to take action this time. You said yourself that the Goddess was blocked when you summoned her. That might be part of Jolly’s doing.” Dropping his chin to his chest, Keaton sighed and took a moment to compose himself. With three empaths present, he needed to get his fear under control. “What are we going to do?” he asked helplessly. “This is all my fault for leaving them unsupervised.”

“We’ve all left our children unsupervised a time or two, my boy,” Alastair replied gently. “You couldn’t have anticipated they’d open a portal in the few minutes you were gone. Your daughter is old enough to know better.” The last comment didn’t come across as judgmental, merely as an observation, adding to Alastair’s supportive statement. “I won’t rest until your children are returned. I promise.”

Deeply grateful but too emotional to verbally respond, Keaton nodded his thanks. He had little doubt Alastair would recognize his inability to speak and why.

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