Shimmer_The Revelations of Oriceran by S. M. Boyce & Martha Carr & Michael Anderle

Author:S. M. Boyce & Martha Carr & Michael Anderle [Boyce, S. M. & Carr, Martha & Anderle, Michael]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: LMBPN Publishing
Published: 2017-10-31T06:00:00+00:00

Chapter 16

Victoria sat in yet another of the caves, leaning against a wall and watching Audrey dip her fingers into the cool water. In all their time together, Victoria had never seen Audrey so happy. It was almost like watching someone discover beauty for the first time. Audrey danced her finger along the pool’s surface, mesmerizing the fish beneath her. They swam after her, circling as each tried to nibble on her fingertip. She laughed, an enchanting smile on her face. Styx, meanwhile, buzzed the water, his tiny fingers grazing the surface as he flew.

The sound of footsteps on the sandy floor broke Victoria's reverie, and she looked up at the wizard as he sat down beside her. He nestled close to her, their shoulders touching despite there being plenty of wall to lean against, but she didn't bother sighing or rolling her eyes. It wouldn’t have done any good, so she wasn't going to waste her energy complaining.

Besides, it had become chilly as they descended into the labyrinth, and he was warm.

He set his staff against the wall beside him and rested one elbow on his knee as he, too, watched Audrey play with the water. “She's like a different person down here.”

“I hadn't noticed,” Victoria lied. It was an impulsive lie, one she didn't fully understand. After she thought it over for a few seconds, she figured she had spoken so quickly because she didn't want to show her cards to Diesel. Her goal was to keep him at a distance emotionally. It would have been great if she could keep them at a distance physically, too, but that was a fight she wouldn't win. What he lacked in humility, he made up for in persistence.

He nudged her gently with the shoulder. “It's okay to be a little jealous.”

Victoria didn't bother censoring herself. She shot him a glare full of annoyance and frustration. “I'm happy for her, not jealous.”

“Are you sure?”

“Why on Earth would—”

“We’re not on Earth, at least not the Earth you know. We’re in Atlantis, her home country, where she will be welcomed like family. That incantation wasn’t for us, Victoria. It was for her. We’re not Atlantean. We are not their family. You may find that she likes it here better than back in Fairhaven.”

Victoria shook her head. “You wizards. You fight and bicker, but you're all the same. You're full of ominous warnings and vague threats, but offer nothing of substance except your spells. Audrey is my friend, and she will always be my friend. She's discovering a part of herself she didn’t know existed, magic she didn’t know was there, and I'm going to support her every second of the way through it.”

Diesel lifted his hands in gentle surrender and leaned his head against the wall as he stared straight ahead. “I didn't mean to offend you, Victoria. I merely want you to be prepared.”

She didn't bother responding. It was uncanny how like Fyrn Diesel could be, and not in the fun ways. Fyrn challenged her, made her better.

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