CHAPTER XIII

Anya wasn’t the only one frustrated by the blizzard that engulfed the area. As Corolon watched the storm reduce the visibility to zero, he heaved a great sigh. “If I had known this was about to strike, I would have opened a gateway earlier. The storm would have scattered all the signs that we had stayed here to the four corners of the world, and Anya would never have been able to follow our trail.”

Lyra wasn’t about to let Corolon beat himself up over something he had no control over. None of them had known there was a storm pending when they had decided to come here, although they were aware of the fact quickly enough after they arrived. Even if they had known, Corolon hadn’t been in good enough condition to use his magic to their advantage after opening the last portal. Corolon had needed to rest before he could use his talents again. The storm would give him the chance to regain his strength. “You know as well as the rest of us that you weren’t in any shape to create another portal after we got here. There is something about this part of the world that seems to make the use of magic difficult. We noticed this in the past, and although it didn’t affect those who lived near the portals as much as it did the others, the problem was widespread.”

“Our father used to say that as the portals failed, the problem would become more noticeable,” Raine added. “We are going to need to conserve our talents and energy now, or we won’t have the power to travel to where we need to go to get home.”

Talion wondered, “How did your father know about this, and are you sure of your source?”

Raine admitted, “Everything is written in the books we are going to collect. It is important that our histories from on this side of the boundary leaves with us so that nothing is left behind for the humans to tell them of our people.”

Corolon agreed, he knew they were going to need to make plans before they could move on. To do this, he needed to know how long this storm would last so they could gather energy from the elements to use their magic. The blizzard would be the perfect way to refuel their power.

Talion spun a seeking thread out into the lashing winds for a few moments, to find out how long they were going to be stranded in the area. When he got the information he wanted, he reported, “This will blow itself out during the night. When morning comes, we can leave. In the meantime, I suggest we spend our time fortifying our energies for what is to come.”

Raine was quick to ask, “How do we do this, and why?”

Talion answered, “We mustn’t travel while we are tired or hungry. Our energy levels must be at their highest so we are safe. As for how, you will know the answer by instinct if you allow your inner spirit to act.”

Lyra looked at Talion in suspicion. “There is a lot more to what you are saying than what your words imply, isn’t there?”

Talion laughed as he replied, “Corolon, your Life Mate is quick to catch hints but not as fast to read the message implied. Lyra, to keep Corolon’s energy level at its peak, he will need the help of his Life Mate. To guarantee that this is working, the bond you share with him must be completed. It is not.”

Lyra understood what Talion was saying. She and Corolon needed to speak the words of bonding, but this wasn’t anything Corolon had mentioned to her. What if Corolon wasn’t ready to complete their bond? Maybe he never would be. Some men would never be prepared to fully commit to a relationship no matter how old they got. It was something Lyra had seen on this side of the boundary time and time again, although this did not pertain to her people.

Corolon could read Lyra’s thoughts and understood the reason for her hesitation. She didn’t know what a real Life Mate bond was like. She had no experience with this sort of connection. He had to be the one to take the lead.

Corolon held out his hands to take Lyra’s and asked, “Are you willing to say the words of bonding with me? I would not force you or make you feel obligated in any manner.”

Lyra, feeling suddenly shy, yet definitely desired, answered, “From the moment our eyes met, I knew I had met the man I wanted to spend my life with. Corolon, if you feel the same way about me, I am yours.”

Corolon smiled widely as Lyra placed her hands into his and looked deeply into his eyes. He didn’t make her wait, for this was not the time to play games. “Lyra, you are the only woman I will ever want, my dream come true. In my eyes there will never be another more beautiful. Lyra, I am yours.”

Lyra answered, “Corolon, as I am yours, you are mine. I will love you beyond forever.”

Corolon replied, “I will never leave you wanting. What I am, I will share with you gladly, for you are mine, my own Lyra.”

As Corolon finished speaking his part of the bonding, Lyra joined her voice to his so they could complete the bond. “Together, we are one.” The newly joined couple then embraced to seal their vows with a kiss.

Raine looked at Talion and asked, “Do you think our emperor expected this to happen?”

Talion laughed. “You can count on it. Lothriel hasn’t sent an Elf to this side of the boundary who hasn’t found his Life Mate yet.”

Raine chuckled as she decided it was time for them to follow this event up with a meal before they retired. “Our food is getting cold. We should eat, clean up after ourselves, and we will leave the moment the storm abates in the morning.”

Corolon asked, even as he continued to look into his bride’s eyes, “Do you have any idea where we need to go from here?”

Raine nodded and admitted, “We deliberately misled you before, mainly because we weren’t sure what to think of you. You have to admit this is all rather overwhelming and even a little unbelievable. But now that we are sure it’s real, we will tell you the truth. The books rest near a volcano in the state of Washington. We will need to gather them quickly when we get there, and the moment we have them in our hands, we will have to leave immediately. Do you think you can do this, Corolon?”

He could, but he was going to need to find somewhere he could gather the necessary power from and rest before moving on after that. More than ever, this side of the boundary was proving to be a challenge to him.

As they sat before the fire together while they ate their hastily created meal, Corolon asked, “Do either of you know where there is a meeting of natural powers on this side of the boundary?”

Lyra nodded. She had a feeling she knew what Corolon was talking about. Corolon would want a place where he could replenish his energy after making two gateways in succession. He was going to need power only the Earth itself could provide. “There is an island not far from the volcano where the ocean meets the land. We can spend a night held safely in the wilds of a primal forest. As we share our magic with the land, it will return what we offer tenfold. We will leave fortified with enough strength to face whatever is to come. If I am not mistaken, the portal you intend to open when we are through with that area will be to a place far away from the island.”

“Do you know where that jump will take us to?” Corolon wondered.

Lyra shook her head and admitted, “No, but the books will tell us what we need to know.”

Talion was surprised. “The books?”

Lyra smiled and explained. “You would be surprised how much information is written in the books, from the past as well as for the future. We will also need to find a place where we can borrow or use a computer for a short period of time before we continue onward.”

Corolon frowned. “A computer?”

Raine nodded. “None of us know where to open the portal because we have never been to the lands we needed to travel to. A computer will be able to provide us with the view of a place where we can travel safely that is close to our destination.”

Corolon and Talion exchanged a look. Neither Elf knew what a computer was, but they were willing to trust their Life Mates on this matter. After all, Lyra and Raine had lived on this side of the boundary all of their lives and knew what they were talking about.