Page 60 of Knightfall
“Can you really control your power that precisely?” he challenged.
I stood. I straightened my sleeves, making sure my wrists were covered. I grabbed his hand. I met his eyes, trying not to get lost in their blue depths. I took a deep breath to center myself. Then I sent a tiny pulse of peace through his fingertips, up his arm, and across his chest. I spiraled peace down his torso like a snake. And when it reached his dick, I made the power pulse. Again. And again. Driving home the point.
Declan’s eyes widened. His breath caught. His back arched a bit like he was in pain. He gave an involuntary little moan. “Wha—what?” Declan looked down in alarm. “You can do that?”
“It’s just concentration.”
“It’s not. You made me—” He shut his mouth and widened his eyes for emphasis.
It took me a second. I glanced down at his trousers. There might have been a damp patch underneath the berry juice. “Declan, did you …?” I grinned. “I’ve never had that effect before.” I mentally filed that away. It might come in handy the next time I saw Quinn.
Declan groaned. “Now, we really have to go clean up.”
“No.”
“But people will see—”
“They’ll see your purple-stained pants. Move to the next bush. Try again. Tiny pulses. Like ants.”
“But—”
“Do it, Declan. Or I’ll pulse you with peace again until you scream my name and make everyone turn and stare.”
He went to the next bush. And a third. And a fourth. But on his fifth bush, he turned every thorn to berries. After he realized what he’d done, he turned to me in shock.
“I … I did it.”
I squealed. But we were on a steep ridge full of rocks. So, I couldn’t hug or jump or do much more than wildly clap my hands.
After Declan changed bushes six and seven, I let out a loud farm-girl whistle. Nearly every head on the hill turned toward me. “Can everyone step back from your bushes please? Two feet ought to do! And then our amazing Knight, Declan Hale, will transform all the thorns into more berries!”
I got a lot of strange and questioning looks, but the title of crown princess came in handy for eclectic requests.
Declan just stared at me, aghast. “I’ve done three bushes. Three! And now you want to ask me to do this in front of everyone!”
“Declan, you already know how to do it on a huge scale. It’s easy. Just let your power rip.”
He did. For a moment, the bright yellow pulse made it feel like a midsummer afternoon. And when the pulse faded, the bushes were so loaded with berries that the branches sagged to the ground.
A laugh and a cheer went up through the crowd.
I used my booming voice once more. “Let’s declare this Declan Day! A half-holiday!”
A cheer went up around us.
“To the genius of Evaness! Who can trade thorns for berries and turn weeds to wheat!” I shouted.
The little group around us all shouted, “The genius of Evaness!”
Declan turned an adorable shade of pink. I think the tips of his ears might even have turned full red. Or it could have been the berry juice. “I … it was nothing.”
“I’m having beer and food delivered to the town square. Meet us down there!” I screeched to the people.
A roar went up. And it was smiles and hugs all around.
“I really didn’t do anything … like you said, the big part is easy.”
I stood on my tiptoes and bopped his nose. “No getting out of it. The palace is throwing these people a party. And they deserve a little rest. So shut your trap.” I turned back to the crowd. “Declan deserves a party. Am I right?”
