Page 37 of Gates of Rapture
Grace sighed and looked away.“I’m going out of my mind.I mean, he had a life while I was gone.”
“Leto wasn’t sleeping with her.I know that for a fact.Bryn and I are good friends.She’s good people.You can trust her.”
Grace looked down at Marguerite and turned a shoulder to the warm exchange five feet away that was driving her crazy.“I know and I wasn’t exactly a saint while I was gone.The whole thing is too ridiculous for words.I just can’t seem to control how I feel.It’s thebreh-hedden.”
“You know, usually it’s the other way around.The men get horribly possessive, although I did see it once with Parisa when I hit on Medichi.”
“Wait, you hit on Antony?When?Oh, my God, Thorne must have gone ballistic.”
“Yeah, you could say that.”
“And Parisa?”
“She wanted to tear my face off.She had just launched herself at me, and was ready to get into a serious catfight, when Endelle intervened and used her stasis skill to stop the action.”Marguerite sighed.“I admit I was behaving badly but in my defense, I didn’t quite understand at the time what thebreh-heddenmeant.”
“But you had been with Thorne all that time in the Convent.”
“Yeah, I know.But I was also intent on making my escape to Mortal Earth and living my own life.”
“You changed pretty soon after that.”
Marguerite glanced at Thorne, who was deep in conversation with Jean-Pierre and Fiona.“Everything changed.I did, my obsidian power emerged, and Thorne really changed.He’s spent the last five months building Endelle’s army.He’s done an amazing job.”
“He looks wonderful.Do you remember how red-rimmed his eyes used to be?”
“Too much Ketel One.”
“Yes.”She met Marguerite’s gaze once more.“I wanted to thank you again for being there for Thorne all those years.I was so grateful to you and I know I thanked you, but it never felt like enough.I think you saved his life.”
“Well, he saved mine, too.Maybe that’s why we were meant to be together—because we ended up saving each other, repeatedly.”
Grace looked at Leto, who was still praising Brynna and laughing with her.She thought about what Marguerite had said.Was she meant to be with Leto because they could save each other?And in her case, exactly what would that look like?
Leto glanced at Brynna.“Do you need to report somewhere?”
“Yeah, the coordinator wants all the participants to sign in then head to bed.I’ll catch up with you tomorrow.”
Leto nodded.“Good.I’ll see you then.”
Brynna shifted her gaze to Grace and drew close.“It’s great to see you again.I’m so glad you’ve come home to us.”She slid her gaze briefly toward Leto, then back.“We’ve needed you here.”
Brynna was being too nice, which made Grace feel guilty and very foolish.“Again, congratulations on winning your event.”
Her smile broadened to a grin and she fingered her medal once more.“Thanks.It was a thrill.Well, I need to do some serious stretching, then find my bed.Good night.”
“Night, Bryn.”Leto’s voice carried a hint of affection, which brought Grace’s beast rising once more.
As Brynna walked away, however, Grace felt vibrations from deep within the earth that had nothing to do with jealousy.Instead, her obsidian flame power was coming online very suddenly.
Her skirt flowed around her ankles, and as the power rose it moved the long sides of her blouse, then lifted the tips of her hair.She glanced from Thorne to Marguerite to Fiona and back.Each turned toward her.
She didn’t understand what was happening.She remembered earlier that something similar had occurred when all three of them were together, yet this still felt different.
Leto’s eyes popped wide and he drew close.“You have a blue aura, Grace.What’s going on?”
She lifted her hand, waiting.She felt something or someone calling to her, calling for help.By now the power was flowing uninterrupted through the top of her head.She lifted both hands palms up, as if in supplication.A sense of urgency flew through her now in rippling waves, but urgency for what?
She closed her eyes and focused on the call, for she could think of it no other way, as though forces out there were summoning her.Unfortunately it hurt, because her obsidian power wasn’t opened all the way yet.
