The experience was like having something warm at the center of her palm.
Alison closed her eyes and sighed. Her shoulders even dropped a little. “Oh, that’s wonderful. So that’s what everyone else feels.”
“Yes, it is,” Grace said. “I’ve felt it from you many times, like soothing warm waves just easing over the mind. That’s what happened when you came to help me at the Seattle warrior games.”
Alison opened her eyes. “Wow. And thank you. I actually feel more relaxed.”
“So you think this is it, then?” Grace asked. “That I can acquire abilities?”
“I do.”
“So, now what?”
“I think you have to work this out with obsidian flame.”
Grace realized she had taken the first step toward forging the obsidian flame triad. For just a moment, she wondered if she should go forward. She felt as though she had come to a crossroads—but she could still retreat if she wanted to. She could return to a former life and ease back into her more spiritual pursuits.
Yet even as the thought went through her mind, she knew she couldn’t. In the same way that she was the sort of person who could commit happily to life in a convent for a hundred years, she knew she wouldn’t go back. She had made her decision while on Fourth Earth to embrace her calling as obsidian flame, and so she would.
She mentally contacted Fiona and Marguerite and arranged to meet them in half an hour at the Militia HQ workout room. With the arrangements made, Grace walked Alison to the landing platform. She was headed to Endelle’s office and would let Endelle know the results of her time with Grace.
After Alison left, Grace hunted Leto down to tell him her news. She found him in a quiet corner of one of the lesser-used rotundas. He had James’s papers on his lap and his phone in hand. “How’s it going?” she asked.
He looked up at her and smiled. “Incredible. It didn’t even occur to me how things would be for my warriors when I left.”
For his warriors. Grace loved the sound of that.
He leaned forward slightly and took her fingers in a light clasp. “How’s it going with Alison?”
“I think we’re done.”
“You’re done? So soon?”
She nodded then told him what had happened. Leto’s brows rose. “You can acquire any ability?”
“That’s what it feels like to me.”
“Huh. Like the ability to fold masses of people?”
This time her brows rose. “You mean like warriors?”
He nodded slowly.
“Oh. Well.” She squeezed his fingers. “Looks like I have some work to do with obsidian flame.” She told him where she was headed. “You can let Thorne know what’s going on as well. I know he has a role in obsidian flame so we might need him. I’m just not sure.” She glanced behind her.
“I will.”
“Walk me to the landing platform?”
He rose so fast from his chair that she took a step back and laughed. He put his arm around her and squeezed, then put them both in motion. She felt very young right now, like she was just a girl with her boyfriend and he was walking her to class. It was a nice feeling and in this moment, not far from the truth.
Her class, however, involved obsidian flame.
Once near the platform, Leto kissed her. She let the kiss linger.
I don’t want to let you go, he sent, his lips hovering just over hers.
I don’t want to leave.
The kiss deepened until she was swaying. Finally, she had to push him away.
He drew back and smiled ruefully. She always forgot how beautiful his eyes were until she was this close. They were the color of clear blue water. She gave him another quick kiss, and because she had the feeling if she didn’t just take off, she’d stay for another hour with her hands fondling his biceps, she ran up the landing platform ramp.
He waited where she had left him, smiling and looking better than ever, more relaxed, more at ease.
She waved as she dematerialized and was still waving when she arrived at Militia Warrior HQ.
The Militia Warriors on duty looked at her with serious expressions then nodded as she started down the ramp.
She hadn’t been to HQ in a long time and had to get directions to the workout room. In the past couple of years, the complex had been expanded; it actually took her several minutes to walk the distance to the room. No folding whatsoever was allowed within the complex. In previous years, before the addition of the current state-of-the-art security system, death vamps had been known to fold inside the facility and take the lives of dozens of Militia Warriors, often before anyone even knew what was happening.
Now the whole complex was locked down tight.
Once at the workout center, Marguerite waved to her from across the room.