Page 26 of Cruel Queen
“Positive,” he states.
I close my eyes and immediately begin to feel the pull of his power as it slithers into me. Max’s power is unlike any other I have felt. It holds something I’m not quite sure how to describe, like a feeling of home, I guess. It’s comforting, in every way possible, and it’s as if his power was meant to be shared with me.
I pull away and open my eyes. Max is watching me with an eager expression, not sure what is happening.
“You are so beautiful.” I cup his cheek.
Maxilliam lets my touch linger for a moment before he looks past me to Alan. “Do it.”
When Alan lays his palm on me, a relief washes over me yet again. I feel myself drain from the high, but not as if I am coming down and need to sleep. It’s more of an alertness, a sharpening of my senses.
“Miss, I’m to whisper the words to you, and you will need to say them loud enough for the gods to hear.”
I look at him, confused.Gods?No one uses that term anymore. Where I am from, Gods don’t exist, just the one who sent the Angels.
Nodding, I glance back to Max. He stands and drops my hands, then backs away. He starts pushing everyone back, so it’s just Alan and me now with a large space around us.
Then Alan quietly recites the words I am to say.
"Worlds apart.
Worlds collide.
Give me worlds to combine."
Irepeat his words aloud, and I feel something being sucked from me when I do. When Alan lifts his hands, the high comes right back, but I feel it being pulled from me in an instant, like a snake releasing its hold and slithering away to something else.
When I finally get my wits about me and manage to glance down, I see a portal. Max pushes his people through as soon as it is wide enough. I’m unable to move, as it takes all of Max’s power from me. I drop down to all fours when I feel it start to touch my own power. As soon as I do, Max is there, lifting and throwing me over his shoulder.
“As soon as you are through, it will close.”
I feel him moving, but I’m too drained. It’s a similar sensation to when I give someone their power back. Exhausting. Almost debilitating. However, this time is worse. This time it’s my power.
“Hold on, Talia.”
Goddamnit! I can’t do what he is saying, but I feel the pull when he leaps into the opening, and then a drop. Maxilliam holds me to him as we fall, as if he can protect me.
Maybe he can.
I have no idea.
My eyes become heavy, and soon everything stops moving.
* * *
“Talia, can you hear me?” Someone caresses my face. I manage to open my eyes. “Talia, take what you need.” I feel something warm and smooth under my palms. When I look at them, I see they are under Max’s shirt, resting against his bare skin. “Talia.” He basically growls my name. “Take.”
And I do.
I pull as little as I can because it’s hard to do so. I feel it right away, and when I’ve gotten enough, I stop and drop my head back.
“Where are we?”
“Is this your world?” Max asks, angling my head so I can see where we are. He lifts me up again, and this time he carries me gently instead of putting me over his shoulder.
“Alan?” I ask.
“It took a lot out of Alan. He has passed out.” Tearing my gaze away from those icy-blue eyes, I check my surroundings.
