Page 90 of Research with Rivals
Carter’s brow furrowed. “The metaphysical representation of the magic can be destroyed … by magic?”
“Yes. Ambrose and I were able to separate yesterday. With no trace of the strain of our connection.”
My words didn’t feel quite accurate, and I saw the same reflected in the flex of Ambrose’s hand. Part of me knew that had nothing to do with the blood magic, though. Ambrose and I were on a precipice. The next hour would usher in a massive changein one of our futures, and I wasn’t sure this new and fragile connection we’d forged would be strong enough to hold.
“Which one of you burned the rope?” Carter asked.
“Ambrose did,” I replied before he could hem and haw over it. It had been the right move. Ambrose needed to free himself from his father’s beliefs. He needed to be allowed to experiment intuitively.
“Evelyn was the one who even discovered the rope and guided me to it. I don’t think I would have found it on my own,” Ambrose added.
Carter looked contemplative, but he gave a swift dip of his chin. “Shall we, Arctos?”
“I think I should get to burn it down,” the god replied.
“As you wish.” Carter sounded tired but fond. “If I tried to object, you’d just remind me of your godhood.”
Lord Arctos hmphed, like maybe being granted the request so easily meant he no longer wanted it.
I sucked in a breath as they closed their eyes. It was odd watching them, having no feeling as to whether progress was being made. At least with Ambrose burning our connection, I’d felt the change to the rope as it happened. I studied their features. The careful furrow of Carter’s brow and the softening of Lord Arctos’s shoulders told me they searched their magic and found the connection. Pride filled me as they did. Pride that we’d developed this solution through our own experimentation and expertise. Pride that we had a solution to offer.
Gabriel drifted near Ambrose and me while the pair worked. “You two exceeded my already high expectations.”
“It hasn’t succeeded yet,” I said.
Ambrose rolled his eyes fondly.
Lord Arctos called out at the same moment, “I’ve got it. Ready, Carter?”
“As ready as we’re going to be.”
This was the scary part. This was the leap into the unknown, with inherently unpredictable magic. My and Ambrose’s connection had severed easily, but we’d also known the precise parameters of the bond. Lord Arctos had shared that most of the gods weren’t aware of this connection, and the Compass Points were utterly in the dark.
I held my breath, letting it puff my cheeks. Even though the work they did wasn’t apparent to our eyes, the temperature rose as Lord Arctos’s used his flame. Neither he nor Carter flinched, but I could no longer ignore the sweat dripping from my brow. Ambrose fared no better when I glanced at him. He swiped his arm across his forehead and murmured, “It’ll work.”
I nodded. I wanted to believe that. Another part of me didn’t want to get my hopes up. This connection between Compass Point and god had been forged hundreds of years ago. Who knew what really lay at its root? Who knew how hot the Vesten God’s fire would need to burn to break it? Perhaps more terrifying—what if they did break it? Ambrose and I would have to face what came next.
A large hand wrapped around mine, firm, warm, reassuring. I glanced up at Ambrose and heard Mom’s words from last night in my head.Having hope doesn’t mean you don’t experience pain or disappointment.The words were somehow a comfort. I had taken every step I could in preparation for this moment. I could hope, and I could deal with whatever came after.
As if the thought manifested the outcome we desired, Lord Arctos raised his hands in celebration and declared, “I’ve done it.”
The temperature in the room dropped immediately. Any fire the Vesten God wielded must have been dismissed. Lord Arctos and Carter stared at each other, blinking as if unsure they’d really succeeded.
Suddenly, they were flung away from each other like a too-tight bow snapping.
“Ooof!” Carter grunted as he slammed against a bookcase.
Gabriel ran to where Carter had landed against the eastern wall, kneeling beside him. The Vesten Point sat up quickly and glanced at Arctos, in a similar position on the other side of the room. “You alright?”
Arctos pushed from the floor and glared at Ambrose and me. “I notice I did not have anyone fawning atmyside to see if I was alright.”
“You keep reminding us that you’re a god.” I put my hands on my hips, deciding that if he could sass us, he must not be hurt. “You’ll be fine.”
He smirked and rubbed his chest. Carter did the same.
“I think it’s gone,” Carter said. “Which is odd, because I didn’t really notice it was there before.”
“It really does open up a whole new line of study for us,” Ambrose said. “The hypothesis that all blood magic has some connective tissue. Like, even when an anchor is not employed, there is a magical tether that could be manipulated.”
