FOREVER KNIGHTS: #17 Marked As Mine

Whiting Hall, Paladines

RAESE

Raese had been pacing his Townhouse like a caged animal. He’d truly thought that he would be able to free Calisto. He’d thought everything would flood back. That I’d be able to step back into who I was.

“Do you know what it is, you’re trying to do?” Rodger cocked his head at him.

He blew a long breath, knowing full well what was missing. What the critical piece he needed to return to that life was. But my previous attempts had all proven to be failures.

“I need my wife back! I can’t fail again.” Raese drew a steadying breath. Massaging his forehead.

I won’t. He pictured Calisto’s face and saw her from that first he’d spoken to her on Lily Lake. Serene, solemn and beautiful. To the warmth of her walking through Feglen Forest, gently running her fingers through his black fur. To their wedding day when she stood lovely and regal in the white lace circlet and laced gown whispering her unending love. To all the shadows of her face he’d seen over the last few years. The blurred images of her yearning and reaching for him. Crossing through shadows and fighting her way through time.

“She’s suffering. She’s done everything she can for only a few moments to be close to me.”

Calisto…I want you back. I made you a promise…

Rodger leaned forward from his seat. “Use all that emotion, Raese. Summon it together.”

And Raese did. Gathering his grief, his pain, his anger, rage and love and winding it together into a billowing force that rattled crystal decanters on the shelves of his parlor. Making the furniture vibrate in place.

“It’s time.” Rodger murmured. “Time you go find them.”

Raese nodded slowly. “You’re right. I need to rejoin them.” He rotated to leave the parlor.

Rodger opened his hand and released the box he’d bound Raese’s powers in. Freeing the magic.

Raese in an instinctive response to the swell of magic turned his left wrist in a violent motion. Wrenching open the front door with his other hand.

Rodger stood and followed him.

Raese stepped through the door and lifted what he gripped in his fist, in shock.

WaterRose, Meadow Mountain, Grier Country

TEVERIUS

Teverius stepped into the marbled foyer in WaterRose. Beneath the triple tiered chandelier, he paused to look at the staff that’d been missing for so long. Awestruck by the energy he felt moving through it in currents.

I haven’t seen it in so long. He fingered the rough wood. Feeling its familiar lines.

As he moved to walk the rest of the way the staff began shaking in his hands. Oscillating with a motion all its own. The feel of the currents surged making it feel almost alive.

Then without a sound he felt a blast of energy and the spear vanished. Leaving his hand empty.

What the Hell! He hadn’t realized he’d shouted the words until the other men spilled from the library into the foyer.

Turning wide eyed gazes on him then skimming the foyer looking for the object that was so obviously missing.

“Where’d it go?” Deragan demanded.

I have no idea!

Tev stared at him in shock. How could I lose something so precious…Again.

How could this happen!

“Teverius!” Deragan roared.

“I didn’t do anything! It was in my hand. And…now-it-I…” He gave a helpless gesture.

“Where is it?” Deragan demanded.

“I don’t know.” Tev was in shock.

“How could you not know?” Bast joined the Captain’s annoyance.

“It was in my hand. Now it’s not. That’s all I know.” Tev gestured to the empty fist still outstretched before him as though he gripped it.

Everyone was shouting at Tev then at each other for shouting at Tev.

But it was Deragan, ever the calm presence, that pushed between them. “It’s Merlinus.” He breathed.

“What?” Bast rounded.

“He’s awake.”

“Awake?” Mardichi boomed.

“He knows. He remembers.” Bast supplied what they were all piecing together.

“He’s…coming…” Bast’s head fell back and the black markings winding his arms began to climb under his shirt as he was overtaken with the premonition.

“To WaterRose?” Tev cried.

Bast’s head fell forward and gold eyes glowed. “Yes.”