Page 46 of Kell
Alana took off the backpack and pulled the claw from it. “I thought you might.” She held it out and began to whisper the spell for the temple to latch onto the artifact. After recasting the incantation without a response, she lowered the claw.
“What is it?”
She shook her head. “It’s not working. I can’t make the connection. I don’t understand.”
She felt her before she saw her. Alana smiled as she turned around to find her sister and Natalie approaching with Legion and Cole behind them.
“This will be the temple’s permanent residence. I am the source of Adara’s power. She needs me to anchor her here. You need to cast the spell, but I have to strengthen it and Natalie must bind her to our realm.”
“I thought Tempest had to do that.”
“Tempest will allow Adara’s power to enter here permanently. We are creating the foundation for Tempest to build on. We had hoped to wait as this will exhaust Adara, but with a foothold here the dragons can help... feed her power.”
“I thought another connection to the dragons was impossible,” Alana said.
“It is without the claw, but it has both dragon and druid magic. It will create the connection for us.”
Alana sighed. “It was never about siphoning the claw’s power. This one is to connect us to the dragons. You understand if we do this the dragons can never be free. If we die, then they will.”
Legion put his hand on Mara’s shoulder. “Yes. We understand the risks but without the druids we are nothing. We would turn dark and prey on humanity. I would rather see our race perish than become a nightmare of that magnitude.”
Alana nodded. “What do we do?”
Mara pointed to the center of the empty room. “You already started the merging process. Adara is strengthening the connection. We can’t contact her until we get a sign from her here.”
“What kind of sign?”
“I have no idea. You know how... elusive Adara can be.”
“I do,” Alana said as they all stared at empty rock. After a few seconds she touched her sister’s arm. “I’m sorry for what I put you through. I was scared and embarrassed.”
Mara took her hand and squeezed it. “Kell told us about Breggar. I am sorry you had to go through that alone. Mom should never have put that on you.”
“She was trying to protect you. I can’t fault her for that. It was my stupidity that landed me on Breggar’s radar.”
Mara pursed her lips. “Why did he put the rune on you? At fifteen you were too young for him to feed on.”
“The prick realized what I was, and he wanted me to track artifacts. He stole one from me before I realized how to use the pendant to my advantage and put his ass to sleep if he got too close. I believe he came to regret his decision to create that connection between us.”
“Legion said you learned to avoid him.”
“I did. I learned to keep moving, but never in a straight line.”
Mara hugged her. “I’m sorry. I didn’t realize you were on the run, but I should have.”
“That was my decision. This isn’t on you.”
Mara released her. “The important thing is we are back together, and we have the future to look forward to.”
Alana smiled. “Kell told me about the other dragon caves. We are going to explore them.”
Legion arched an eyebrow. “There are...”
Alana held up her hand. “Don’t tell me. Magic and sleeping dragons are just what a seeker needs to stay busy.”
Legion chuckled. “I was going to say there are a few things you can retrieve from them if you like.”
“This just gets better and better,” she said as a wisp of smoke formed in the middle of the room.