Page 107 of A Touch of Stars and Stones
“Are you saying I could take you on in a fight and might win?”
“Oh, let’s not get ahead of ourselves. I’ll still kick your arse, but it just might not shatter your bones.” His grin is full of confidence and ego, but in a kind way. It’s then that I realise that I like him and want to call him a friend, far more than his sister, despite the damage he inflicted.
“You spar with Ten and Crimson. Are you always dampening your power?”
“Most of the time, and when we’re training in class, unless it’s a specific exercise, like with you.”
“How? Do you lessen it, control it?”
“Think of it like a force within you. At least, that’s what I do. Strength might be an easier power to access and build or lessen because you do it every day anyway, like you did today. You ran, but not flat out.”
His words are another way to look at my magic. Simple. Straightforward. I’d assumed something as special as magic must be complicated, but clearly, it is just instinctual. Most of the time, I don’t have control. It just happens.
“And remember, it’s only the latent that’s within us that we need to dampen when sparing just one or one. Touch is what turns our gift into something else, to our advantage or against. Even turning someone deadly.”
Like what I’d done.Is that what he meant?
“Before the Transference, the three of us were pretty equally matched. Or at least, Ten would beat us, but we were both pretty adept at making him work for it. What we inherited shifted all of that. Ten’s still adjusting, so we’ve not had much practice at being at full strength since.” The additional personal detail isn’t expected, but I’m pleased he shared. He’s definitely not the internal brooding type like his friend.
“But it’s different for you. And by default, all of us. The rules aren’t the same when it comes to you. That’s why I’m here.”
“Not because Ten asked you?”
“He did. But he didn’t force me. I remember what it feels like to connect with you. Stars, Ever, when I think about it, what it could lead to, it’s pretty awesome. And a little terrifying.”
“Until the new moon.”
“Until then. And the full moon will be when we’re all at our strongest. Our powers are all tethered to Aslendrix, so they will rise and fall with her.”
Ten is waiting for us just outside the residence building as we arrive, his arms across his chest, his legs crossed at the ankles, with his head studying the ground. In the post-dawn light, he’s still cast in shadow, and a darkness clings to his body, obscuring his face.
It doesn’t hide the memory from last night. The realisation that for one day and night, there will be no power. No fear of touch.
It’s exactly what I need to hear, and it takes away the fear that has been mounting inside of me without me even really identifying it properly. Touch is such a simple thing, taken for granted before I arrived here in Kirrasia. And the thought that I wouldn’t be able to do that—a simple hug, a brush of contact, or more—had been slowly, steadily wearing me away.
“Hey! Checking up on us?” Calix calls to Ten, who raises his head to us. His eyes are shaded with smudges of bluey blackunder each one, and I know it’s not just the bruises from Calix that caused them.
“Hey.” His voice has more gravel to the timbre than usual, and I try to ignore how sexy that one syllable sounds. “You’re still walking, so I’m assuming he took it easy on you.”
“Hardly,” I scoff. “We’re taking baby steps.” I look at Calix and smile.
But Ten doesn’t smile back. He furrows his brow at Calix.
“We’re going to see Kamari,” he orders and turns without further greeting or explanation.
“Now? Can I eat first, or at least grab some water?” It’s hot, and I look like I’ve showered with my clothes on. My hair, the strands that refused to obey, have combined with those that worked free and now cling to my face, finally tamed with sweat.
“We’ll get something at The Court after we’ve met her. Come on. We need to be back before classes start.”
He pushes off the building and heads in the direction of the bridge.
Conversation over. Decision made.
I give a little shrug and mouth, ‘thank you’ to Calix before following after Ten, who seemingly isn’t in a great mood.
I fall into step beside him, my legs working hard to keep up with his punishing stride. He doesn’t say anything, so I follow his lead and keep my mouth shut.
But I do risk quieting my mind and concentrating on that well in my chest—the quiet—and use it to see if I can pick up on any sense from Ten, any feeling. We’ve both been able to do this before, unconsciously perhaps, but we were meant to be practising. That’s what all of this was about, so I reach for Ten. But all I feel is ice and cold.
