Page 86 of A Highland Gargoyle's Lucky Star
“Ahem,” I say, clearing my throat. “Let’s stay focused on our task.”
I glower at my fellow gargoyles, who just smirk back at me, amused.
With a resigned sigh, I ignore them and turn back to Noah. “Now, use your”—I cough—“mental tentacles”—Goddess, that sounds ridiculous, but there’s no turning back now—“and try to send some of that energy toward this group of eejits.”
Noah’s brow furrows. “Without physically touching them?”
“While it’s easier to do this with physical contact, especially at first, when it comes to a large-scale battle, you’re not going to be able to do that. We need to see if you can share energy at a distance.”
A glint of determination sparks in Noah’s eyes. “'Kay, I’ll give it a whirl.”
He closes his eyes and scrunches up his face in concentration. For a long minute or two, nothing happens, then a ripple of awareness passes through the group, and they jolt as if poked with a cattle prod.
Braewyn’s eyes go huge. “Bloody hell. That’s justleftoverpower? The charge it gave me feels like I’m riding high on about twelve Red Bulls and a pot of coffee. I think I could take on the entire Sluagh horde all by myself.”
Some of the other gargoyles laugh along, all clearly delighted by how much stronger they feel with Noah’s power coursing through them.
And I get it. I know what it’s like and just how amazing it is.
I have everyone do some of our usual training exercises while supercharged by Noah’s transmuted ley line energy, and the results are phenomenal. Everyone’s faster and stronger than I’ve ever seen them before. And as we continue, it becomes steadily easier for Noah to share that power with them.
After a time, though, Noah opens his eyes. “I think I’m running out of juice. I’ve used up whatever reserves I had left from the line.”
And that was already more than I’d expected.
“Good. Our next objective is for you to try accessing the ley line from a distance and conducting it to us.”
“I can do that?” He sounds unsure.
“Aye. As a Conduit, from what our historical accounts claim, it’s possible. Just like it’s easier to share power by touching directly, it’s also easier for you to tap the node when right on top of it, but that doesn’t mean it’s the only way you can access it. If you flex your mind and extend your feelers farther, they can reach quite a distance. But it can take time to build up to this level of concentration.”
Noah nibbles on his bottom lip as he considers what I’ve told him. “But won’t the barrier keep me out if I try to tap into it from out here?”
I shake my head slowly. “No. When I was recharging it, I modified the necessary rune to allow you access.”
“How does that even work?”
“The barrier doesn’t affect me because my energy charges it. It recognizes me as its Master. At the same time, I have the ability to fine-tune the runes to allow for certain people to also be accepted by the barrier. This is commonly done for fated mates whose powers become intertwined.”
Noah’s eyes widen. “Oh, that makes sense. Otherwise I couldn’t help you.”
“Exactly.”
He smiles. “Thanks for that. I’m glad you trust me enough to do that so soon.”
“We may not have had our final bonding ceremony yet, but we’re already connected more powerfully than you may realize. I trust you with my life, my home, and my heart.”
I never thought that would happen for me with anyone. It’s remarkable how quickly things can change under the right circumstances. Noah’s only been here a few days, yet it feels like I’ve known him for years.
“Thank you,” Noah whispers. “I won’t let you down.”
He grounds himself and takes several deep breaths before closing his eyes and attempting to access the ley line from the training field.
This is much harder to achieve, and I know that. We’ve asked a lot of him in such a short amount of time, and he hasn’t uttered a single complaint.
Well, apart from the harness for flying.
Just the thought of that makes me smile.
