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“Sounds complicated.”

“Oh, it is, but we only need you to focus on yourself. Find that link to your brothers, to your colony, and pry it open. We’ll take it from there.”

Enid nodded, not sure she could. Magic was so innate that she rarely thought about how it felt or what the mechanics of it were. She just did it. But she closed her eyes as the witches began their chant in Entailish. At first there was nothing, then the air pressure changed, her hair lifting, and something snapped and popped along her skin.

“Let it inside,” Hevena whispered, her voice dipping back to Entailish almost as quickly as she finished.

Enid searched within her. She’d felt that connection most keenly during the special rite all those years ago. But there hadn’t been one she’d attended since that day. She tried to recall that feeling while tiptoeing around the memory, trying to push the other feelings and thoughts away, trying to just clasp onto that one sensation. She reached out to her bond with her brothers, but it felt as it always did and she didn’t think she’d be able to identify it more than she could her lungs expanding as she breathed. It had always been there. She would note the absence more than the presence.

But she felt that now familiar thread, golden and light, and she tugged on it, letting something unravel in her. There it was, a spot thatwas not fully sealed. She pried it open, gasping as she did at the cold sensation that washed over her, like she’d let in a draft.

“That’s good,” Hevena said. “You’re letting the magic out so we can let some in.”

The horn in her hand beat like a heart, and nausea rose in Enid’s throat again. Sweat formed on her brow and she desperately clung to the spot, desperate to keep it open. But it felt slippery, as if each touch of her fingers made it slide away a little more. She desperately reached for it again, her internal senses straining, but fear and doubt whispered in her ear.

She wasn’t good enough. She couldn’t do this. She’d fail again, unable to keep those she loved safe.

The grip glided away again, and she felt that opening close, the power from the witches slamming into her and stinging. She jerked her hand away as Onora did too, hissing.

Hevena sighed but gave her a rueful smile. “Rest for now. That was a good start, and we have time. It will all work out in the end. You’ll need to recover your power, so rest up for the next three days and we will try again. Itwillwork, Enid.”

Enid hoped she was right. But her stomach tightened at the thought, having no proof in herself that she could.

Chapter 25: Avenay

Evolis was quiet in the early morning hours as a cool breeze stole over the streets and between the stacked houses. Avenay clutched her satchel as she walked to the temple, not wanting to delay another moment of research. Vasu had approached her after dinner the night before, telling her that the temple had a vast library she would love. Which she was certain she would, but that was less of a concern. She needed to find a way to make the ritual safer. Surely history could shed some light on it.

What if Enid died? She said it wouldn’t happen, but what if it did? Avenay had to investigate for herself. She had doubts it would do any good, but she felt helpless and out of control. The same way she’d felt all her life. Desperate to save those she loved and completely unable to.

Loved.

Avenay didn’t quite know what she felt for Enid. Was it love? It was feverish and all-consuming, but could it be lust alone? Interest? Avenay was known to hyper-fixate on her interests. Perhaps romance was no different? Whatever it was, it was distracting her to no end. Enid was affectionate with her in such a casual way that she couldn’t discern if there was any romance behind the gestures, or if demons were just more physical and uninhibited.

Their moment in the alley certainly said enough about the attraction between them. She blushed at the memory. Fucking in an alleyway, hidden by bushes, was hardly a normal Avenay occurrence. The most wild place she’d had sex was in her paramour’s parlor.

Still, Enid hadn’t shared her room or sought her out again and it left her wondering, feeling untethered.

Avenay made it to the temple and wound down the hall in search of Vasu. She passed various rooms, many open and large, filled with flickering or filtered light and acolytes. The acolytes were of alldifferent races and genders, wearing the scant robes that she’d become accustomed to versus the modest ones Vasu wore. Some lounged, or cleaned, or worked, but in some rooms the people lay tangled around each other, some kissing, others asleep.

She turned down the hall at the end and came to a set of double doors. Opening them carefully, she took a peek, drawing in a sharp, awe filled breath.

The library was only lit by the windows on the dome and magical moonstone lights. She assumed it was to keep the risk of a fire low. The walls were covered in floor to ceiling shelves, and books were stacked in neatly. She could almost faint on the spot from how overwhelming the sight was. What else could she discover here? More languages? More ancient secrets lost to time?

Vasu sat at a table near the back, posture perfectly straight as he pored over the scripts in front of him. She made her way to him, cursing how loud her steps sounded against the stone floor in the silent room. A few acolytes looked up as she passed, smiling lazily, then going back to their studies.

Vasu was so engrossed in his work that even when she stood next to him, he didn’t notice. “Hello, Vasu.”

No response.

She cleared her throat.

Still no response.

She tapped him on the shoulder, and he started so quickly that she backed up a step and he stared at her in terror before chuckling weakly.

“I’m so sorry,” she apologized. “I get like that too when I’m studying.”

Vasu gestured to the chair next to him. “I’m so glad you came. There’s a wealth of knowledge in this library. My head hasn’t stopped spinning since I got here.”