Page 44 of A Highland Gargoyle's Lucky Star
Then there were the times after that when I would experience similar electrical zings when I touched certain folks.
“Many Otherkind sensed you the moment you arrived and alerted us to your presence. Do you recall anything that happened that might corroborate what I am saying?”
I swallow nervously. “Maybe.”
She nods. “You have not yet learned how to use your ability, Noah, but
we can teach you. And we must if you are to help us.”
Shit just got real and went in a direction I was not expecting.
“Look, I’m not exactly ‘Chosen One’ material. I have a legacy of bad luck and attracting trouble that’s far from desirable in a savior-type. Trust me, I don’t think I could possibly be of benefit to your clan. For real. I’m more likely to cause problems for you.”
“The bad luck you speak of is no doubt some misfortune because your powers have been unable to materialize until now. Your so-called bad luck means they’ve been trying to manifestbut you needed to be here, in the lands of your forebears, before that could happen.”
“I don’t know what that means,” I admit.
“Most likely, one of your ancestors was fae and passed down an ability rarely found outside of their kind,” Kelwyn says. “Most Conduits that we’ve documented have at least some fae in their lineage.”
I try not to lose it as my whole world shifts on its axis.
“I know I have some ancestors from England and Scotland way back in our family tree. It’s one of the reasons I always wanted to come here, but it’s probably from quite a long time ago. How could I possibly possess some kind of power no one else in our family has had for as long as any of us can remember?”
“Fae genetics are… complicated,” Kelwyn says. “Sometimes powers skip multiple generations before manifesting again.”
“For the sake of argument, let’s say that’s true. If I have these powers, what are they and what exactly does a Conduit do with them?”
I’m getting more and more nervous that nobody’s explained this to me, yet.
The Oracle turns her attention to Elryk. “Would you care to explain to your fated mate, Barrier Master?”
Elryk’s hands clench around the pillow in his lap, the short dark claws at his fingertips scoring the fabric for a moment. Finally, he looks into my eyes. “A Conduit has the ability to share magical energy with others. They can draw energy out of someone or give them more than they possess on their own. They can also tap into raw magical energy sources, like the ley line, and funnel that energy to others to greatly enhance their existing powers and abilities.”
My eyes widen. “So, like a supercharger battery pack?”
Braewyn snickers. “Not a bad analogy.”
Elryk scowls at him.
I hesitantly reach out a hand and touch Elryk’s arm, feeling that familiar zing that courses through me before I pull back.
“Is that electrical charge I feel when I touch you or other Otherkind part of this Conduit power?”
Because now that I’m thinking back on it, the only times I’ve experienced this sensation were when I met the little old lady brownie at the airport and that hunky orc paramedic, and then Elryk. It hasn’t happened with a human. It didn’t happen with Malcolm on the train.
Elryk nods. “Aye, ’tis a power that can only enhance magical powers of species that already possess magic of some kind.”
“In other words, most humans are out?”
He nods. “Apart from mages or witches and their ilk, who are human in appearance but technically part-fae in their genetics.”
“I know this must be a lot to take in right now, Noah,” Kelwyn says, “but we need your help. Elryk is our last and only Barrier Master in the clan. No others have been born to us for far too long. When his grandfather passed, the burden of maintaining the barrier fell to him alone. Elryk is incredibly powerful, even among our kind and the many barrier masters who came before him, but the barrier is too much to be maintained by one person alone—especially against powerful threats. That’s where your ability can aid him as nothing else can.”
I stare at Elryk. “Is that true?”
He gives a solemn nod.
I swallow. “And is it true that I’m your fated mate?”
