“What happened to his immunity?” Fisk asked. “Did you two do something to him?”

“No. Even if it was possible, we don’t have that ability,” Zethan said.

Fisk turned to him. “Did something happen to you? Do you know when it started?”

“I...” Valek pulled his thoughts together with effort. He searched his memories. During the raid on the pirates, he’d been fine. The trip to Icefaren had been quiet. And then...the shock of seeing his parents, the surprise of learning he had three siblings... No. He’d had his share of astonishments over the years without any consequences.

It had happened sometime that night he stayed by his brothers’ graves. When he’d talked to Zebulon, and Zeb had asked if he could handle it. Handle the fact his parents had moved past the death of their sons and resumed living. When he realized he’d been frozen in time.

The scene of Valek kneeling next to Vincent’s grave flashed in his head. That strange, light feeling that had cracked the cold, hard ice around him. Had it destroyed his immunity? Yelena speculated that his protection was a null shield that he had grafted to his soul when he witnessed his brothers’ murder. Did finally making peace with that part of his life release his immunity? And if so, what did that make him now?

“Yes, something happened,” Valek said to Fisk in a strained voice. “I can’t...” He held a hand up, stopping any more questions. Then he bolted down the road until they disappeared from sight.

Time alone might help.

He needed Yelena. Desperately.

Valek stopped and leaned against a tree. Emotions surged. His world spun as if he’d been set adrift. Was this how Yelena had felt when she realized she couldn’t access her magic? Perhaps someone had blocked his immunity? Not likely.

Muted steps sounded, and then a warm, soft nose pressed against his cheek.

Ghost No More upset.

Valek jerked as Kiki’s thoughts filled his mind. He stared at her.

She pushed on his shoulder. Go find Lavender Lady.

Yes. They needed to rescue Yelena and Leif. Can you hear me? he asked Kiki.

Yes. Ghost No More.

The horses called him Ghost because of his immunity. Another confirmation that it was gone, and in its place...

Magic, Kiki said.

Mine? Is that why I can hear you? Or is it your magic?

Both.

* * *

When he returned to the clearing, Fisk had packed his bag. All three of them turned to him, waiting.

“Where’s Bruns holding Yelena?” he asked Fisk.

“No.”

“No?”

“You can’t go in there like that.”

“Like what?”

“Open to magic. You need to learn how to block other magicians, or Bruns’s people will seize you as soon as you get close.”

“It’s important to block others,” Zethan said. “It’s the first thing Nell taught us, along with controlling our magic.”

“But I can still hear your thoughts,” Valek said.

“Yeah...about that.” Zethan grimaced. “We think you might be either very powerful or you’re pulling too much magic from the blanket of power and could...”

“Flame out and kill us all,” Zohav said.

Valek stilled. He hadn’t even considered the danger. What else was he missing? “Can you teach me?”

“It’s not safe here,” Fisk said. “By now Bruns probably learned of this location from Yelena. We need to return to my headquarters in the Citadel and plan our next move.”

Fisk was right. No doubt Bruns expected Valek to rescue Yelena and Leif. And he was in no condition to fight Bruns’s magicians.

“Can you keep it together until we arrive?” Fisk asked, misunderstanding Valek’s hesitation.

“I can explain how to build a mental barrier as we ride,” Zethan offered.

He’d have to keep a tight hold on the...magic. Too many people were depending on him. Valek strode to Onyx and mounted. “Let’s go.”

As the others prepared to go, Valek tried an experiment and sent his thoughts to Onyx, Go fast to Citadel?

No response.

Kiki? he asked.

He not Sandseed.

But he understands you.

Kiki speak horse, too.

Valek stifled a laugh. If he lost it now, he wouldn’t be able to recover his composure. He was already sure the repercussions from this...turn of events would echo for a long, long time. Mulling it over as they headed south to the border, Valek found a bright side. He’d no longer be trapped by a blasted null shield. Wouldn’t Bruns be surprised?

This time, he laughed aloud.

* * *

During the two-day trip to the Citadel, Zethan taught Valek how to construct a mental wall that would block other magicians from reading his thoughts and influencing him.

“You tapped into the power source instinctively, which is why you’re hearing our thoughts,” Zethan explained. “First you need to locate that link, that thread to the blanket of power.” He gestured to the sky. “For me, it feels like a current of air, connecting me, which makes sense since I can influence storms. Zo says it’s like a tiny stream of water. Block out all distractions and focus. Tell me when you’ve found it.”

Valek concentrated. He smothered his worries, strangled his anxiety and silenced his doubts. In the resulting calm, a river of energy flooded him. “Got it.”

“What does it resemble?” Zee asked.

“A...flow of...power, as if spraying from a pipe.” Valek struggled to describe the magic. “Almost like a bolt of lightning that doesn’t disappear.”