“To help me fight—without the gun or a knife.”
“That’s right. Without a gun or knife, but with power and light.”
“I will fight.”
When Bran put her fingers through the cuff, it shimmered over her hand, onto her wrist, settled there, firm and true. Annika did the same with the second.
“They’re beautiful.”
“Only you can take them off.”
She shook her head. “I’ll wear them always. Thank you.” She wrapped her arms around him. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. Let me show you how they work.”
“Yes, please.”
He lifted a hand, and formed a dark, spinning ball just above his palm, then sent it into the air. Then taking her arm, bent at the elbow, turned it toward the ball. “To start, you have to think, to aim, to be deliberate. But then it’ll be instinct. Deflect the ball.”
“Deflect?”
“Your light, Annika, against the dark. Use it.”
He helped her this time, this first time. The thin beam of light shot from her cuff, struck the ball.
“I feel it,” she murmured.
“That’s right. Do it again.”
She surprised him, lifting her other arm, and sent the ball wheeling.
“You’re a quick one.”
“I feel it,” she repeated. “But what if I make a mistake? What if it strikes someone? I don’t want to hurt anyone.”
“It only harms the dark, or someone with dark purpose. It comes from me as well, and I have a vow. Sacred to me. To harm no one. What I am, what I have, I won’t use to harm any but the dark.”
“It’s my vow, too. I take it with you. I will fight the dark.” She lifted her arms, shot out light from both so the practice ball winged right, then left.
“Yes, a very quick one. Destroy it.”
“Destroy?”
“I’ll give you another. Destroy this one.”
This light, brighter, sharper, struck the ball, and with a flash it vanished.
“If the things come back, attack us, I can do this. They’re evil, so I can do this.” Her eyes went hard, grim. “I can do this and break no vow.”
“You do this, as I do, to keep one. To destroy the dark, to find and protect the stars.”
“These are more than a gift. Even more than a weapon. You gave me purpose.” Those sea-witch eyes, usually so full of fun, met his with intensity and strength. “I won’t fail you.”
“I know it.”
“I like that they’re pretty.”
“Sasha designed them for you.” He conjured another ball. “Practice. I’ve got kitchen duty.”