Blood of Half Gods: Kallen's Tale by Bonnie Lamer Read Free Book Online

she asks.  I do not believe this is a rhetorical question. 
     
    Cupping her cheeks, I lean down and press my lips softly against hers.  “I know in my heart that I am who you want.”  I kiss her again.  “I can assure you, there is no room in my heart for anyone but you.”  I can tell by her smile that she believes me. 
     
    Standing up straight again, I say, “Now, I have to get us back on the road.  Do you want to lay down for a bit?  It might help with your motion sickness.”
     
    She sighs.  “Good idea.  Sorry you have to clean up after me again.” 
     
    I give her another quick kiss and grin.  “It is worth it to see you get jealous.”  She just shakes her head and I walk out of the room laughing. 
     
    I stop when I see the damage.  I shake my head as I study the wall that is now gaping.  Closing my eyes, I think of how the wall looked before Xandra’s jealousy and temper got the better of her.  I think of its light color and its smooth surface until my mind’s eye sees it clearly.  I open my eyes again and seek out the various pieces on the floor and on the ground near the carriage.  Pulling magic, I concentrate on the larger pieces first, willing them back into place.  Slowly, they heed my command as my magic works to make sure each is where it belongs.  The hole is bigger this time.  I have to pull more and more magic until it feels as if I will drown in it as I am still feeling the effects from before.  The larger pieces are easy.  It is the small ones that take more time and effort.  Each tiny little piece must be located and swirled into place; torn molecules mended.  My magic cannot be used as glue or else I would have to hold the magic in place the entire trip.  I will my magic to keep searching for every single piece until the tiniest speck has been salvaged.  By the time the last is in place, I feel as if I have been fighting a magical duel.  For three days.  And lost.  My mind is exhausted by the amount of magic I have had to use in such a short period of time.  I believe I will join Xandra and take a nap. 
     
    I head back to our room and stumble when the carriage makes a sudden lurch to the left.  I am drowning in magic again, but this time it is not my own.
     
    It is enough magic to drop me to my knees, gasping for breath.  It seems impossible to fight my way through it.  This much magic can only be coming from Xandra.  Forcing myself to my feet, I hug the wall as I fight the waves of magic wafting from our bedroom.  What could have happened in the last ten minutes that could make her lose control like this?  No one has passed me in the hall, so she cannot be angry with anyone.  Unless she is still angry with me for not telling her about Radella?  No, one thing Xandra is not is passive aggressive.  She would have told me if that was the case.  Another lurch to the left drops me to my knees again, but with great effort, I get up and push my way through the magical energy until I am at our bedroom door.  A journey that should have taken mere seconds has taken me at least five minutes. 
     
    There she is, curled up on the bed.  I start to say something when I realize Xandra is asleep.  She is asleep and emitting enough magic to overcome that of the experienced drivers of the carriage.  All of them.  How is she doing this?  Why is she doing this?  Is she having a nightmare?
     
    I inch my way to the bed and I shake her shoulder.  Nothing.  She does not move at all.  I can see her eyes dart frantically under her lids, so she has to be dreaming.  It must be a nightmare.  What else would cause her to pull magic in her sleep?  I try shaking her again, a little harder this time.  Nothing.  No mumbled complaint about being woken up, no movement away from my hand.  She just lays there.
     
    “Xandra, you have to wake up,” I say loudly, shaking her again, a little rougher this time.  “Xandra, you have to let your magic go!”  I am