Page 56 of Prince of Storms
“Don’t fall,” he teased, guiding me out of the secret hallway. His steps were slow, measured, giving me time to walk without hurrying in his wake.
I expected him to take me upstairs. Instead, we went the other direction, deeper into the basement. Toward the room where I’d seen the portal thingy. Where the other dragon had emerged.
“This,” he said, flinging the door open after pressing his palm to a certain area, “is what we call The Rift.”
“The Rift,” I said.
“Yes. It connects my home to Earth. It’s one of four locations on Earth, leading to the one location back home, buried deep under the central mountain at the core of our home, Mount Drakonus. That one master Rift, I suppose you could call it, guides the members of their clan to their respective portals on Earth.”
“You lost me,” I said. “Clan? Mount Drakonus?”
“Yes, come on,” he said, dragging me into the room against my will. “I’ll show you.”
The space under the bronzed arch looked entirely different. Instead of the buzzing crackle of blue-white lightning that had filled it before, it had a brilliant silver glow, like water rippling on a vertical surface.
“That’s beautiful,” I murmured, entranced by the constantly shifting display.
Tor paused to look at it, and when he spoke, his voice was soft, reverent. “Yes, I suppose it is. Thank you.”
I glanced at him. “What? Why are you thanking me?”
“For reminding me,” he said, gesturing at the arch, “to appreciate the beauty in the simple things in life. Things that we become accustomed to. Like this.”
“Oh.”
“Now, are you ready to see the truth of it all? Of what I am?”
“Maybe?” I squeaked. “I don’t know. Am I?”
Tor grinned. “Probably not. But only because you have no idea what to expect. I’m eager to see how resilient you are.”
“Can’t you just tell me?”
“No. I have to show you. You wouldn’t believe my words.”
“Oh.” I eyed the rift-portal thing suspiciously. “You’re going to make me go through it, aren’t you?”
Tor beamed. “I knew you were smart. Yes, I am. Come on.”
He gripped my hand tighter—I realized he’d never let go. I’d simply become used to his hand on mine—and he dragged me forward. As we went, he lifted his other hand. Blue-white lightning gathered in his palm, then shot out to the Rift.
“Holy shit!” I gasped as the silver water disappeared, replaced by the lightning show I’d seen before. “You can …”
“Yes, I can,” he said. “That is what ensures the Rift knows one of my kind is trying to use it. On the other side, it also ensures you reach the appropriate Rift on Earth. You have to link it. Now come on, let me show you my home!”
The eagerness in his voice surprised me enough that I let him get me halfway to the Rift before my brain clicked in. It waslightning, and he was trying to drag me into it! Hell, no. My heels dug in—and did absolutely nothing as I slid across the surface. Tor was too strong.
“It’s perfectly safe,” he said, hauling me back to his side. “You aren’t going to be harmed, Mia. In fact, quite the opposite.”
“What?”
“Come and see!” he laughed and pulled me through the Rift.
My scream cut off as I emerged through the other side, completely unharmed.
“Wow,” I whispered, first giving my body a shakedown to ensure all appendages were still attached. Then I looked outward.
Finally, I lookedupward. Way up. We were in the middle of an underground cavern. The size of it defied understanding. Far, far above, I could see four massive holes spaced at even intervals leading at an upward angle toward what I had to assume was the surface. The holes were gargantuan, though distance seemed to warp them, making them seem closer and, therefore, smaller.
