“Lucia.” Alexius reached for her and grasped her wrist. “This is too much for you.”
“You’re wrong.” She tried to pull away, but failed. “I’m strong enough!”
“Yes, you’re strong. But this is enough for now. I insist.”
Cleo watched as Alexius’s hand began to glow. Lucia drew in a ragged breath, finally breaking her concentration. The purple light in her eyes faded as she turned a furious look upon Alexius. But then, the next moment, she collapsed in his arms, unconscious.
The ring stopped spinning and its magical light went out.
The map disappeared as if it had never been there in the first place.
“You did that,” Cleo said, her voice hushed. “You stopped her.”
Alexius glanced at her. “She was harming herself, pushing herself too far. I couldn’t let that happen.”
Lucia began to rouse. She blinked and looked up at Alexius, who cradled her in his arms. “How long was I asleep?”
“Only moments. And before you ask: No, we will not be trying again today.”
“But we were so close! The water crystal—”
“Can wait until I deem it’s time to do this spell again,” he said, more sternly than any tutor Cleo had ever had.
Cleo leaned over and picked up her ring. She held it tightly as they all rose to their feet, Alexius assisting Lucia. She wanted to pinch herself, to know for sure that this had really happened, that it hadn’t only been a dream.
Earth, air, fire. She knew where they were and how to claim them.
Three out of four wasn’t bad at all.
But she knew she had to do something that couldn’t be postponed a moment longer.
“Lucia,” Cleo said, moving toward the princess. “I’ve seen for myself that what Alexius said is true. I don’t know how this ring came into my family, but now that I know what it really is, what it can do . . . I want you to wear it.”
She pressed the ring into Lucia’s hand. The other princess looked down at it with amazement.
Lucia could have taken this from Cleo easily, but it was best to give it up of her own free will before the sorceress had the chance.
It was the hardest thing she’d ever had to do.
Lucia looked at her, her blue eyes filled with genuine gratitude. “This ring is proof that we were meant to meet. It was fate that our paths crossed the way they did. You’ve proven yourself to be a true and loyal friend today. Thank you.”
Oh, it was definitely fate. Of that, Cleo had no doubt. “I ask only one thing in return,” she said.
“What?”
Cleo forced confidence, bravery. She would not show any weakness.
“That when you go to claim the first crystal,” she said, “you’ll let me join you.”
Lucia slipped the ring onto the middle finger of her right hand and stared down at it, transfixed.
Then she grasped Cleo’s hands in hers before pulling Cleo into a tight hug. “Of course. You’ll be with us, I swear it.”
CHAPTER 21
JONAS
AURANOS