Indigo Spell (44 page)

She succumbed to the ancient charm. “You have a silver tongue.”

“And don’t you like what I can do with it?” Jaxon’s laughter stopped abruptly and his head lifted, tilted toward the ceiling.

Chimes rang around them, resounding against the windowpanes. “Are we being summoned?”

“You heard that?”

“Wasn’t I supposed to?”

Jaxon swung his legs over the side of the bed and stood, leaning down to take her hands in his. “I’m not sure. We’d better find out.”

Tess gripped his fingers. “Do we have to go right this minute?”

He blinked down at her. “What did you want to do first?”

“I want to go outside. I want to stand on the mountain and just look. Can we do that for a moment? Just a few minutes?”

He cupped the back of her neck. “Of course we can. The Assembly will wait.”

“You know, when you’re in charge you should really think about getting rid of that gong thing. It could become quite annoying.”

“It’s rarely used. Most times, the wizards are within shouting distance.”

“I’ve never heard any of the wizards shout for a gathering.”

“That’s because you’ve missed some of the old times. Now hold tight.”

“No.” She pressed her hand over his mouth.

He peeled her fingers away. “I thought you wanted to go outside.”

“I do, but couldn’t we just walk outside? I mean the front door is just around the corner. Would it be so difficult to walk?”

He frowned. “If that’s what you want. It seems like a complete waste of energy now that you’re capable of so much more.” He shrugged shoulders roped with muscle.

“I’m not yet ready to attempt your mode of transportation on my own.”

He smiled secretively. “You will be. Possibly sooner than you think.”

Epilogue

Two months later

“Falcon wants to see us.”

Tess gripped the edge of the comforter. “Do you think it’s time?”

He closed his eyes, nodded slightly. “I don’t think he’s willing to wait much longer.”

“Is there anything you can do to stop him?”

Shifting, he settled her back against his chest. “He wouldn’t allow it, Tess. We’ve had this conversation before. He believes his path is different. He has to follow the Fates.”

The urge to roll her eyes was almost too strong to resist. “He’s a wizard, for Pete’s sake. You can’t tell me he can’t control his own destiny.”

“We make our own destiny but we cannot control the Fates. Our choices are what makes our destiny.”

She kissed the tip of his nose. “Ah, the riddles again. Have I told you how much I’ve missed those?” The smile slipped from her lips as uneasiness climbed a notch. “I wonder how the others will take your being the leader. Oh, I know they know about this but once you actually become the leader it might be a different story. They’ve followed Falcon for so long. I mean he’s a force of nature.”

Jaxon rolled off the bed to his feet. “If you’re trying to reassure me, you could use some pointers on the encouragement process.”

“That’s not what I meant and you know it. I’m just saying there’s going to be a void here.”

His eyes were smoldering when he looked at her. “Not as big a void as you might think.”

Tess huffed out a breath and tipped her head to one side. “We should go. It sounds like Falcon’s in a fine temper.”

Jaxon pulled her to her feet. “In a temper? Why?”

“I can’t really hear. Just a feeling I get but I’m sure it has something to do with Braeden.”

Jaxon muttered something Tess couldn’t hear but she nudged him anyway. “He is still your brother,” she reprimanded him with a bite to her voice.

“Yes, you keep pointing that out to me.”

“I shouldn’t have to point it out to you. Oh wait, my clothes.” Tess tried to pull her hand free from Jaxon’s but he sighed, blinked and clothed her, whisking her to the Assembly room.

* * * * *

“Good. Now that we are all here, we can begin.” Falcon didn’t waste time with preambles. “I have just discovered the vortex Braeden created was a portal to an alternate dimension. He and Athena are trapped on the opposite side.” He folded his hands atop the table. “It will be up to us to conjure the proper spell to get them out of there. Or I should say, up to the rest of you.” He pushed himself to his feet but didn’t move around the table. “The time has come for me to step down as leader of the Assembly.” Silence followed the announcement. No one moved. Even breaths ceased. He nodded. “Good. I have your attention. That will make things decidedly easier. I know this seems to come at a bad time with Andion’s untimely death and Braeden’s ill-timed departure but I feel the Fates are leading me away.”

Falcon smiled a little and walked around the table then but only as far as the chair Jaxon occupied. “As you all know, they have informed me Jaxon is to assume my rank and position. I am sure no one here has issue with his new role. No? Marvelous. There are one or two small matters which need to be taken care of before I take my leave.” He moved away, glided across the room to an ancient mariner’s trunk squatting in the corner. He removed the lock with a touch of his finger and dipped his hands inside.

Falcon carried the globe to the table and set it in the center. It rocked against a wooden slat before settling down against the knotty pine “As you know Andion’s magic has been locked away since his death. You also know if we do not use his magic before the mantle of my leadership is passed, it shall be lost to us forever. Andion was a powerful wizard. It would be a shame to let his knowledge and wisdom go to waste. Which is why I have decided to pass his gifts to Tess.”

Tess’ eyes widened, her mouth gaped open slightly. “Wh-what? What are you talking about?”

Falcon beamed at her as if he were preparing to bestow a treasure upon her he was sure she would cherish for all time. “This is the only way you will truly become one of us.”

She didn’t move. “I’m not sure I want it.”

“What do you mean you do not want it?” Jensen snapped his disapproval. “How could you not want such a gift?”

She flicked him a glare. “Because I have seen what your ‘gifts’ cost. You aren’t able to lead normal lives. You must constantly be on your guard, waiting for the next coven to attempt to overtake you. Your children grow up to be wizards who fight the same battles you yourselves have been unable to win. Why would I want to subject my child, my future children to such a life?”

Jaxon covered her hands with one of his. “It is true we do not lead lives your people would call normal, Tess, but with the acceptance of Andion’s magic, you will be better prepared to protect our children, our future. You will have far more independence than you have been given so far, and is that not what you wanted? With this power,” he gestured toward the globe, “you will be equal with the wizards around this table, capable of such magic and spells as they. And you will have an equal say in what goes on inside this room.”

Tess felt the psychological tangle and knew he was playing on her emotions, her sense of duty as well as her need for independence. She supposed she should be irritated with him but she knew Falcon’s gift was a great honor. Just as she knew she was going to have a hell of a time getting used to being a wizard. And here she’d just gotten used to being the wife of a wizard. She eyed the globe, tilted her head and cast a glance at Falcon. “So what’s involved here?”

“Nothing painful if that eases your mind.”

“Tremendously.”

“Then you accept the gift?”

Her teeth worried her lower lip. She looked at Jaxon who nodded in encouragement and gave her answer. “Yes, I do.”

“Stand in the center of the room.” Falcon’s voice became businesslike, clipped, emotionless. His hands curled around the globe and as her shaky legs carried her toward the edge of the table, he began to murmur in a low, hypnotic tone.

A hush fell over the room, so thick and oppressive she felt the need to draw in a deep, restorative breath. The foundation began to rattle in time with her teeth. She clenched her jaw to still the chatter. The light disintegrated and darkness swept over the room. Tess couldn’t see more than an inch in front of her nose.

A glass shattered and an eerie violet light flowed up from the center of the table, arced in the air over her head. She closed her eyes and clenched her hands into fists at her sides. “For your sake, you better have told me the truth about this being painless,” she muttered.

“Just relax.” She recognized the deep timbre of Jaxon’s voice, reassuring, comforting.

How many times had she heard that from him? And how many times had it made her feel better? She smiled a little, felt the heaviness of her hair lift away from her neck. She sucked in a breath as deep purple fog swirled at her feet, cascaded up her legs, enveloped her. Her skin tingled. Warmth stole over her body, a pleasant, calming heat. The mist gathered over her head, forming a perfect triangle of light and energy.

The wizards’ voices united in a symbolic chant, words that would change her life forever. Sparks ignited the air, sizzled, nose-dived toward her feet and she was floating, gently, her feet inches from the floor. The Assembly stood in a perfect circle, hands joined, arms upraised. And then the heat died, the electricity waned and she was standing back on the ground, hands at her sides, her breaths coming in short, uneven gasps. She wasn’t sure what to do next. The lights blinked on and still she stood, blinking and staring first at Falcon then at Jaxon.

Jaxon moved first and reached for her hand. “Are you okay?”

She managed a step before stopping to look down at her feet. She didn’t know what she had expected to see. They still looked normal. “I seem to be. Is that it? Is it over?”

He guided her back to the table. “It is over.”

“So what happens now?”

Jaxon smiled and tweaked her chin. “You tell us. Feel any differently?”

She frowned, lifted her shoulders. “Not really.” She curled her hand, opened it. Her breath hitched in her throat as a tiny lightning bolt bounced against her skin. “I just thought about lightning.” She watched in awe as the bolt grew in size, lengthening to extend over the width of her palm. She curled her fingers around the shaft of power and raised it. “This is amazing.”

“This is only the beginning but remember what I told you. A wizard’s thoughts can be dangerous.”

“Then I suppose you’d better be careful from here on.” Her words served to break the silence as all the wizards united in laughter. “So what else can I do?”

Jaxon leaned in to kiss her. “Honey, it would be easier to tell you what you cannot do because your impossibilities just became possibilities.”

Falcon cleared his throat to draw their attention back to him. “Now that we have settled that, Jaxon, I believe it is your turn in the circle.”

Jaxon helped Tess to her chair and spoke directly to Falcon. “No.”

An eyebrow peaked as Falcon considered his protégé. “No? You are refusing to accept your position?”

He came to stand beside his mentor. “No, but if the mantle must be passed, we will do it without ceremony. This is not a happy occasion for us. No one here wants you to leave.”

Turning slightly, Falcon gripped his shoulder. “But leave I must and the ceremony is a requirement.”

“Then change it.”

“You are challenging our way.”

Jaxon stood his ground. “You can pass the role another way.”

“Son, if the ceremony is necessary,” Jensen began.

Jaxon held up one hand. “No, this is difficult enough. A ceremony will only prolong the agony of what we cannot prevent.” He looked Falcon squarely in the eyes. “I am asking you as your friend. Please forgo the passage ritual. We can exchange places with a simple handshake.” He grinned a little although Tess knew he was close to tears. “I have been reading.”

“So it would seem. Very well. If no one has any objections, we will proceed in a different manner.” Falcon extended his hand. “As it was first handed to me by my father in years past so shall I now hand you the place of honor. May you lead wisely, protect your people and ensure the continuation of the Assembly at all costs.”

Jaxon placed his palm against Falcon’s and a burst of light, so bright it made sight an impossibility, flashed. Thunder rumbled as lightning danced across the table, pricked the walls and touched the joined hands.

His back arched as the energy raced along his arm and down his spine.

Falcon’s voice was low, meant for his ears only. “May the Fates guide you.”

Jaxon’s hand dropped to his side. “And you. You will be missed.”

The moment ended. “You will have much to do to take your mind off my leaving.”

“My first order of business will be to drag my brother’s sorry ass out of the alternate dimension.” Disgust laced Jaxon’s voice.

The wizards chuckled.

Falcon’s hand fell to Jaxon’s shoulder. “You must always remember that with this role comes the burden of equality. You must strive to be fair, to lead with your head and not with your heart. But, most importantly, at this moment you must remember that no matter what any member of this Assembly does, short of taking the life of another wizard, their place is here.”