The Dark Calling (The Arcana Chronicles #5)(15)

I nodded. “Please, try to get through to her. Aric’s patience has a limit.”

Yesterday, Lark had gotten snarky with him for the first time in, like, ever.

Aric had summed up the incident: “As her arsenal grows, so too does her attitude.” At times, I heard animal sounds on the mountainside that I couldn’t place—sounds that filled me with fear.

Just as they had Gran.

Now that Circe was weakening, Lark grew braver, especially after she’d used her faunagenesis to revive a sparrow a few days ago.

Amidst all the Arcana powers I’d witnessed, Lark’s resurrection ability was crazy even for me. I’d watched that bird’s first twitching movements in awe, only to shudder at the chilling blankness in its eyes.

She’d told me that she planned to send her wolves out to raid a Flash-fried zoo, scavenging for assorted bones: “I’m thinking about cooking up a bear. Wouldn’t a grizzly be wicked? Or maybe something for the moat to keep that water witch on her toes.”

But I’d also gotten the strangest feeling that Lark had already been doing this feat in secret.

Finn said, “So I’ll talk to Lark, and you can dialogue with Death about things. He hates that you’re hurting.”

Then maybe Aric should do something about it? I’d ask him again the next time we were together.

“You wanna hear something weird, blondie? I know we’re in a messed-up situation, but I’ve never been more stoked about life than I have been over the last two weeks.”

“Not even when you were living in Cali before the Flash? I know you dream about surfing.”

With a sappy look on his face, he said, “I dream about Lark a gazillion times more.”

A gust rocked the castle, rattling the windowpanes. A deep, percussive sound thundered from what was left of the river. Ice cracked, but no SLOSH came after it.

I swallowed. Circe’s domain here had frozen solid. Maybe we were all headed for a coffin of ice. What had Matthew once called the changing weather? Snowmageddon. “Finn, what if the world doesn’t come back? How will we explain the sun to this kid? Or what a day used to look like?”

“That’s what I’m here for. Follow me.” He rose, then hobbled into the adjoining den. Pointing at the couch, he said, “Pop a squat.” When I did, he channeled his inner ringmaster to cry, “Prepare to be astounded! And dazzled! By the greatest illusionist ever to live!” He waved his hand, and a new scene surrounded us.

Suddenly we were on a beach under the sizzling sun. “Malibu?”

Sly grin. “You know it.”

“This is amazing.” My greedy gaze took in all the details—the gulls, the foam on the waves, the haze rising off the shifting sands. “I could stare forever.”

Finn dropped down on the love seat, resting his crutch between his legs, but the scene continued. “Lark and I are gonna be your kid’s favorites. After pony rides and illusion-filled bedtime stories, we’ll fill ’em up with sugar then hand ’em a kazoo.”

As if he’d conjured her, Lark padded down the stairs in fluffy bunny slippers and flannel pj’s that matched Finn’s. A train of woodland animals followed her. She sat beside Finn, gazing at the spectacle. “Whoa. The details are unreal. Bigger waves, baby!”

“My girl wants bigger waves? Then we’re gonna get totally tubular here.”

Not long after, Aric entered. His eyes began to glitter when he saw me. He wore his chain mail, looking glorious. Once he took in the scene, he said, “Make us feel it, Magician.”

“Can I do that?”

“You know how the incantation begins, and you know what you want.”

The Magician closed his eyes and muttered some chant. Soon the crashing surf began to shake the room, drowning out the sounds of the blizzard. A balmy breeze carried the salty mist over our sun-warmed faces.

Careful not to get too close to the others, Aric sat on my other side. He took my hand in his, threading our fingers together, his lids going heavy from the mere touch.

As we gazed at a fiery red Pacific sunset, peace settled over the four of us, a rare sense of harmony among Arcana. I only wished Circe could have experienced it. If a breakfast had made her envious, what would this missed experience do to her?

I finally understood how I’d been able to lure her to land in the past . . . .

At my ear, Aric said, “Some wonders still await us, love.”

Hope was a sprout reaching for the light. Once Paul was gone, we could regain all we’d lost.

Finn slipped his arm around Lark, looking like he was about to burst from happiness. He sighed, “I freaking love you guys.”





6





As I got back into bed, Aric stood by one of the windows, gazing out at the lightning-lit night.

He wore only low-slung leather pants, his tattooed chest bare. He looked like a god in the silvery flashes.

Still searching for Kentarch?

He turned to me. “I need to talk to you about something.”

I sat up against the headboard. “Me too.” I waved him on. “You go first.”

“I realized something tonight.” He sat beside me. “There are no wonders I wish to see without you by my side. Yet I feel like I’m losing you. I can’t . . . I cannot lose you.”