Thordin\u2019s gaze strayed toward the windows as lightning lit the world outside a pair of heartbeats before thunder boomed.\u00a0 A gust of wind lashed rain against the far side of the cottage Matt and Hecate shared with their younger children.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s growing,\u201d he whispered, eyes growing unfocused for a moment as he cast his senses into the storm, fingers bunching in the fabric of his pants for a few seconds.<\/p>\n
Sif still hadn\u2019t joined them.\u00a0 Either her conversion with Neve was taking longer than anticipated, or she\u2019d stayed with the other woman a bit longer to wait for a break in the storm.<\/p>\n
A break didn\u2019t seem forthcoming anytime soon, as far as Matt could tell, but that wasn\u2019t exactly his wheelhouse, either.\u00a0 He leaned forward to rest his elbows against his knees, cradling the mug of tea Hecate handed him between his palms.\u00a0 \u201cWhat does it mean?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNot sure yet.\u201d\u00a0 Thordin\u2019s brow furrowed for a few seconds as he squinted, his gaze still focused on something beyond their sight.\u00a0 \u201cDo you want me to…?\u201d<\/p>\n
Matt glanced at Hecate, who winced, catching the inside of her lower lip between her teeth.\u00a0 The worry in her eyes, he knew, mirrored what was in his own.\u00a0 He exhaled slowly.\u00a0 \u201cAt what cost?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cShouldn\u2019t be one,\u201d Thordin murmured.\u00a0 \u201cMaybe an extra hour of sleep tonight or tomorrow morning.\u00a0 Not unless I have to do anything more than just look.\u201d\u00a0 He blinked once, then again, and suddenly he was fully there, turning a wry smile toward his worried friends.\u00a0 \u201cWon\u2019t know if it\u2019s more than that unless I take the look.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDo you think it\u2019s worth it?\u201d\u00a0 Hecate asked as she slowly sat down beside Matt.\u00a0 \u201cThe risk that you\u2019ll have to act?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWeighed against how quickly this is growing?\u00a0 I\u2019m starting to think so.\u201d\u00a0 The wry smile faded, his expression going slack for a few seconds.\u00a0 \u201cIt could be completely natural\u2014it could be nothing<\/em> to worry about.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOr it could be something subtle?\u201d Hecate asked quietly.\u00a0 \u201cA nudge, a tug, someone feeding it and guiding it with a light hand?\u201d<\/p>\n The wry smile returned and Thordin nodded slowly.\u00a0 \u201cIt\u2019s nice to know someone listens when I ramble on about it.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s been a long time since something like that happened,\u201d Matt said, looking away from Thordin and toward the window.\u00a0 He gathered breath to continue, only for Thordin to say what he was already thinking.<\/p>\n \u201cBut with recent events, we can\u2019t rule it out.\u00a0 Especially with the report from the Hunt, what happened to our guests, and the attack on Lin.\u00a0 We don\u2019t even know who\u2019s controlling them these days.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe don\u2019t,\u201d Matt agreed.\u00a0 \u201cIt\u2019s been a long time since it mattered.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBut it matters now,\u201d Hecate said, setting her mug on the low table that perched in front of the couch where she and Matt had settled.\u00a0 For a few seconds, she stared at the inlay of the wood, the delicate carving.\u00a0 It had been an anniversary gift from Thom so many years ago.\u00a0 \u201cIf the peace is truly broken, then someone is coming.\u00a0 Perhaps all of them will be coming\u2014and more.\u00a0 The old threats.\u00a0 New.\u00a0 Who knows what anyone\u2019s learned about us and this place in eighteen years\u2014and other places like this.\u201d\u00a0 Her gaze flicked toward Matt for a second, then to Thordin.\u00a0 \u201cIt\u2019s your choice, Thordin.\u00a0 Do what you think is best.\u201d<\/p>\n Matt nodded, reaching to the side to capture her fingers in his, squeezing gently.\u00a0 \u201cShe\u2019s right.\u00a0 And we\u2019re with you on it.\u00a0 Whatever you decide.\u201d<\/p>\n Thordin nodded, standing slowly.\u00a0 He set his mug on the table before he crossed toward the window, gaze already growing unfocused again.\u00a0 \u201cIf you see frost on my fingers\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ll pull you back,\u201d Matt said.\u00a0 \u201cNo one wants you lost out there, Thordin.\u201d<\/p>\n The ghost of a smile curved his lips and he nodded before he turned back to the window.\u00a0 He leaned against the sill, peering out through the glass at the raging storm.\u00a0 Then his eyes grew unfocused again as his friends watched, his senses thrown out and up into the storm.<\/p>\n Hecate\u2019s fingers tightened around Matt\u2019s.\u00a0 He squeezed back, perhaps harder than he intended to, gentling as he realized his knuckles had gone white.<\/p>\n \u201cAre you afraid?\u201d she asked in a bare whisper.<\/p>\n \u201cYes,\u201d Matt whispered back.<\/p>\n \u201cMe too.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Thordin\u2019s gaze strayed toward the windows as lightning lit the world outside a pair of heartbeats before thunder boomed.\u00a0 A gust of wind lashed rain against the far side of the cottage Matt and Hecate shared with their younger children. … Continue reading