“What does it mean?” I asked.
“It means it is creating a power conduit that Riggs can use,” the Watcher said. “Which is perfect.”
I wasn’t sure why that was perfect, but it did sound useful.
“Okay. So Riggs gets the emotion thing, and the sword should facilitate holding the water in the air.” Cara faced up to me. “Now we just need to tap into your inner monster.”
Great. For that, I needed Caliel. Who was not exactly in a cooperative mood.
I tried logic.I need to learn how to do this, or I will not be a useful part of the team.
No immediate answer, but I sensed him stir. And then, finally, he said,Very well.
There was a shift within me, and I took a deep breath. Cast my mind back to the sheer desperation not only at the volcano but also when the Fire Drake’s inferno had reached for us.
This time, when the water droplets lifted, the monster was there. I felt the pain as the talons descended from my fingertips and icy-blue scales chased up my arms. I closed my eyes and summoned my fear. And with that, my determination intensified. I needed to save those boys.
To save Riggs’s son.
The frostfire erupted from me, bathing everything in pale-blue light.
“Hot damn, Breana,” said Riggs. “Or should I say ‘cold damn’?”
I opened my eyes. Ice was everywhere I looked—hanging as frozen droplets in the air, but every wave was also solidified as it cascaded toward the beach, and frost extended to the sand beneath our feet.
My shock sent Caliel scurrying. He pushed back on the monster, and it hissed at him, but allowed him to shove it back down deep.
It snapped off the power like a switch. The talons dropped away, as did the scales. Cracks appeared in the waves, and the water burst free. The ice melted off the beach, and with a sigh, Riggs let the frozen droplets fall. Then he looked at me, and grinned.
My heart did a complete somersault, and I found myself grinning back as my entire body lit right up.
I feel the need to expel gas. And not from your upper orifice,Caliel grumbled.
Don’t you dare,I growled back, only slightly panicked.
“Well. That was successful,” Cara stated, oblivious to either Riggs’s and my moment, or Caliel’s and my discussion. Or perhaps more likely, ignoring both. “The two of you make an excellent team. I can see that your combined powers will be very useful, with a little training.”
I wrenched my attention off Riggs. “Do you know what my monster is?” I asked Cara.
“I wouldn’t have, if it weren’t for Marcus,” she said. “We identified his as something that should have been wiped out in the Torshin-Dragon war, but apparently, Isobel found some.”
When I just looked confused, she explained, “A very long time ago, the Torshins used the raw power of the Elementals to inject into a distant relative of the Dragons, and they created a string of magically enhanced creatures called Drakes.”
Caliel went very still inside me as I stared at her.
She turned us back toward the gate, which on this end was framed by boulders. “Victor manipulates fire. Marcus the air. Your monster, my dear, manipulates water.”
Caliel bounced back to life.I should have seen it sooner. But I thought they were extinct.
Saw what?I asked.
That your monster is an Ice Drake.
When Riggs took my hand during the passage back to the academy, I sensed Caliel retreat deep inside me.
We emerged into the forest around the back gateway, but Riggs seemed reluctant to drop my hand.
Cara’s eyes lowered to it, and she said, “Might be an idea to work just as teammates, for the first while, anyway.”
