Page 134 of A Touch of Stars and Stones
“So, she didn’t just walk out of your room before dawn?” I want to make sure I’m very clear and not jumping to conclusions.
“No.” His jaw tenses. “There is nothing between us. I promise.”
“Okay, well, I don’t think Crim believes the same, Ten. So, you might want to go over it with her again. Now, are wetraining?” Calix’s carefree tone is gone, and he’s back to all business as he looks to Ten, then at me.
“No training this morning. I owe Ever an explanation,” Ten says.
“It’s fine, Ten. I believe you. You don’t—” I start, shaking my head and looking forward to some exercise—and some space.
“I thought you wanted to see the conversation between me and my father?” His voice hardens.
I’d forgotten he’d agreed.
“You told her?” Calix looks between us.
“He knew?” My eyes widen as my voice hitches, and I stare at Calix.
Ten moves, backing me up and back into my room, Calix shutting us all in.
“He wasn’t in the room with me. He knows we argued. Not the specifics.”
“True. His dad can be a real piece of work.” Calix shrugs. Will he ever find anything too serious to shrug off?
“Oh, I’m starting to see that.”
“Do you still want to try this?” Ten asks me.
I nod, although I’m more hesitant now that my anger has calmed overnight. “Can you stay, Calix? In case I…”hurt Ten. I keep that in my head, but I think we all know what I mean.
Ten lights a few more candles in the room, as the windows are only letting in the inky light of pre-dawn.
“Ten, you’re gonna have to tell me if you want me to pull you two apart.”
He nods to Calix, and I wait, my heart picking up pace at what we’re about to do. Yesterday, it seemed so simple. Something I was determined to do—no question of if we’d be able to.
Now, that nagging fear of what might happen between us takes root.
My emotions are key. The Maker said I needed to master them, but so far, that hasn’t gone so well.
Calm. That still well of water in my chest isn’t the mirrored surface that I need. Closing my eyes, I will it to be still, take a few deep breaths, and pretend that this is just practice with Kyra. My mind runs a gentle breeze over the water, smoothing the ripples and evening the surface.
“Any idea how we’ll do this?” I ask Ten.
“I’ll think back to the argument. I’ll focus on that. You look at what’s in my mind. Find what I’m thinking about. Like the other?—”
“Okay. Okay. Got it.” Now isn’t the time to remind me what we can do with our minds. “Do we need to… touch?” I ask, wondering if we could do this with something between us again, dampen the magic.
“What’s she talking about?” Calix asks.
Ten just shakes his head.
“Take my hand, and hopefully, if I’m thinking about the argument, picturing it, you’ll be able to see it. But it’s going to be different…” He doesn’t finish, and I fill in the blanks for him. It’s going to be different to the other night.
He shakes out his shoulders and then holds out his hand for me, holding it out so he can clasp his in mine. An easy gesture, something simple between us, my instinct, to take it. It’s Ten. Of course, I want to take his hand, but I hesitate. “Ready?”
I grab hold of his gaze with my eyes and hope that this works.
“Just focus on my thoughts. Nothing else.” He flexes his hand, encouraging me to take it this time.
