Stone & Shadows (The Fire & Shadow Series Book 1) by Melissa Toppen

Author:Melissa Toppen [Toppen, Melissa]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Author Melissa Toppen
Published: 2024-03-15T00:00:00+00:00

“I CAN’T DO THIS.” MY stomach twists, threatening to expel the scrambled eggs and toast I had for breakfast, which are now churning uncomfortably in my stomach.

“Yes, you can.” She squeezes my hand. “I’m here with you. There’s no place you can take us that I can’t get us back from. Just trust yourself.”

“Haytham used to always say that.”

“Well, in this one instance, he was right. You can do this.” She squeezes my hand again. “We’re just going from here to the porch. Easy.”

“Easy for you maybe,” I grumble.

“Focus. Envision the door opening in front of you.”

I press my weight forward, trying to will my whole body into it.

“Just let it happen naturally. Focus, but don’t force it.”

I let out a slow breath, trying to follow her direction.

Within seconds, a rift begins to tear, small at first but then suddenly much larger. Large enough to step right through.

Closing my eyes, I grip Sylvie’s arm tightly and take a step. My stomach drops the same as it did when I did it with Haytham, but this time I’m more prepared for it. And when I open my eyes, I’m exactly where I intended to be, standing behind Sylvie’s house, looking up at the back porch.

“I did it!” I turn to Sylvie, who looks seven shades of green like she might vomit at any moment.

“Maybe don’t close your eyes next time.” She sways.

“Was that wrong?”

“When you don’t have sight, you tend to spin. You couldn’t tell because your eyes were closed.” She dry heaves, covering her mouth with her hand.

“I’m sorry.” I bark out a laugh.

“Give me a minute and we’ll go again,” she tells me, holding up a finger.

“Farther this time?” I ask.

“Do you think you’re ready for it?”

“I do.” I don’t hesitate to say.

“Okay. This time, take me to the shoreline.” She rights herself, once again taking my hand. “And for the love of God, keep your eyes open.”

“Okay.” Laughter vibrates my words.

“Same as before. Envision your path. Don’t force it. Lean into it.”

I do as she says, watching the rift open, still not fully believing it’s me doing it and not her.

“Do you see the shore?” she asks.

“I do.” I nod.

“Take us through.”

I step, fighting the urge to close my eyes again. I barely even notice the dip in my stomach this time as my feet sink into wet, rocky sand.

I look at Sylvie, who blows out a sigh of relief.

“Better?” I ask, grinning.

“Much.” She nods. “Though maybe I should have been more specific when I said the shore.” She braces just as a wave hits us both about knee high.

Sylvie is able to keep herself upright, but the power of the water knocks me off balance and I stumble backward, grabbing at air as I hit the wet ground with a thud.

The laughter bubbling in my throat dies the instant I register Sylvie’s expression. Before I even realize what’s happened, she forms a rift and practically throws me back through it. I stumble again, nearly falling to the ground a second time before catching myself on the porch rail.

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