my mind that I have trouble.”
“Has anyone other than my brother been able to
control your mind?” he asked worriedly.
“No, but I know some of the teachers here can hear my
thoughts. Professor Nightshade did once. Of course, it was just a little thing.
But I told you how Heather kept contacting me in my sleep. That’s the same
thing, isn’t it?”
“Sort of. She was using your visions as a weak spot
to contact you while your defenses were down. The lessons I have taught you and
your reliance on your ring has strengthened your mind.”
“So that’s why she can’t talk to me? Then tell me how
to break it. Making a deal with Heather is the only way Langril will let me get
Astrid back.”
“No.”
“No, what?”
“No to all of it. No, if you are receptive to her,
then it’s not my training that is preventing you from contacting her. If it
were, you would still be able to talk to Astrid. No, I will not help you make a
deal with her; your soul is worth too much. And no, Heather is not the only way
to get to Keigan. She is his daughter and I know he loves her in his own
twisted way, but only as much as I loved Star. To him, we are all just humans,
Heather included. There is something much closer to his heart.”
“Power?”
“Yes. When you gain the final key, Keigan will do two
things; try to make a new deal with you and try to kill you to get it from you.
Which one he does first depends on how much he fears you. Ironically, Krechea
will be exactly the same.”
“Who do I have to worry about more?”
“I know very little about Krechea. Unfortunately, I
do know Keigan. Keigan will never be on anyone’s side but his own, and he will
never hesitate to stab you in the back if you stop being more useful to him
alive than dead.”
“What did he give up for his key?”
“Logan once told me it was his heart, but I doubt he
knows for sure.”
“What do you mean his heart? As in his ability to
love?”
“I mean his heart. There are many ancient rituals to
achieve immortality, and I believe Keigan has done more horrible things than
any beating heart could handle. Logan once stabbed him in the chest with a
sword, right through the heart. He didn’t even need stitches. Everyone from
Dothra can heal at an incredible rate, but what creature can survive a blade to
the heart?”
I took a sip of my coffee, grimacing because it had
gone cold. Vincent reached across the table to touch my cup, and it started
steaming. “Thank you, but isn’t that a bit frivolous?”
He made a face that reminded me of him when he met my
mother (which was really weird considering I hadn’t been born yet). “What good
is being a wizard if you cannot have a hot cup of coffee in the morning?”
I enjoyed the following comfortable silence as much
as my coffee. Vincent never wasted time in our training, almost as if he wanted
to avoid being asked any personal questions. I believed that he didn’t know he
was my father. There was definitely some reason he thought otherwise, but until
I figured it out, I would just be happy knowing I wasn’t John’s son.
“If we waste any more time, you’ll be late for
class,” Vincent said regretfully, pushing his tea aside. We both stood and he
waved his hand in a loose motion that made the furniture move away from us.
“Clear your mind of everything.”
As he had taught me, I started by closing my eyes and
counting my breaths. Five in, five out. For an unknowable amount of time, I was
able to think of nothing. Then my instincts fired up and I ducked. I heard a
thump, opened my eyes, and turned to look behind me. A dagger was stuck in the
bookshelf. I turned back to my uncle just as he motioned with his hand and the
dagger flew back to him.
“What was it you said about a physical attack being
easier?” he asked snidely.
“I dodged it.”
“And broke your concentration. You must separate your
mind and body. Trust your instincts to protect your body while your mind does
its magic. Do
“Has anyone other than my brother been able to
control your mind?” he asked worriedly.
“No, but I know some of the teachers here can hear my
thoughts. Professor Nightshade did once. Of course, it was just a little thing.
But I told you how Heather kept contacting me in my sleep. That’s the same
thing, isn’t it?”
“Sort of. She was using your visions as a weak spot
to contact you while your defenses were down. The lessons I have taught you and
your reliance on your ring has strengthened your mind.”
“So that’s why she can’t talk to me? Then tell me how
to break it. Making a deal with Heather is the only way Langril will let me get
Astrid back.”
“No.”
“No, what?”
“No to all of it. No, if you are receptive to her,
then it’s not my training that is preventing you from contacting her. If it
were, you would still be able to talk to Astrid. No, I will not help you make a
deal with her; your soul is worth too much. And no, Heather is not the only way
to get to Keigan. She is his daughter and I know he loves her in his own
twisted way, but only as much as I loved Star. To him, we are all just humans,
Heather included. There is something much closer to his heart.”
“Power?”
“Yes. When you gain the final key, Keigan will do two
things; try to make a new deal with you and try to kill you to get it from you.
Which one he does first depends on how much he fears you. Ironically, Krechea
will be exactly the same.”
“Who do I have to worry about more?”
“I know very little about Krechea. Unfortunately, I
do know Keigan. Keigan will never be on anyone’s side but his own, and he will
never hesitate to stab you in the back if you stop being more useful to him
alive than dead.”
“What did he give up for his key?”
“Logan once told me it was his heart, but I doubt he
knows for sure.”
“What do you mean his heart? As in his ability to
love?”
“I mean his heart. There are many ancient rituals to
achieve immortality, and I believe Keigan has done more horrible things than
any beating heart could handle. Logan once stabbed him in the chest with a
sword, right through the heart. He didn’t even need stitches. Everyone from
Dothra can heal at an incredible rate, but what creature can survive a blade to
the heart?”
I took a sip of my coffee, grimacing because it had
gone cold. Vincent reached across the table to touch my cup, and it started
steaming. “Thank you, but isn’t that a bit frivolous?”
He made a face that reminded me of him when he met my
mother (which was really weird considering I hadn’t been born yet). “What good
is being a wizard if you cannot have a hot cup of coffee in the morning?”
I enjoyed the following comfortable silence as much
as my coffee. Vincent never wasted time in our training, almost as if he wanted
to avoid being asked any personal questions. I believed that he didn’t know he
was my father. There was definitely some reason he thought otherwise, but until
I figured it out, I would just be happy knowing I wasn’t John’s son.
“If we waste any more time, you’ll be late for
class,” Vincent said regretfully, pushing his tea aside. We both stood and he
waved his hand in a loose motion that made the furniture move away from us.
“Clear your mind of everything.”
As he had taught me, I started by closing my eyes and
counting my breaths. Five in, five out. For an unknowable amount of time, I was
able to think of nothing. Then my instincts fired up and I ducked. I heard a
thump, opened my eyes, and turned to look behind me. A dagger was stuck in the
bookshelf. I turned back to my uncle just as he motioned with his hand and the
dagger flew back to him.
“What was it you said about a physical attack being
easier?” he asked snidely.
“I dodged it.”
“And broke your concentration. You must separate your
mind and body. Trust your instincts to protect your body while your mind does
its magic. Do
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