Raiden placed the full orbs on a special shelf in the supply cave. “If they hold until tomorrow, they’re good to go.”

As predicted, Leif and Skippy made plans to leave after breakfast. Exhaustion clung to Kade and he headed to bed. Later, when I crawled under the blankets with him, he didn’t move.

Sleep came in snatches. Sad dreams of death and separation plagued my mind. I tossed and turned. Eventually, I abandoned the effort and slipped from the bed. I dressed and lit a lantern. Kade remained in the same position, still sound asleep.

“Opal?”

I jumped.

“Are you awake?” Ziven asked through the screen.

I peeked around the curtain. “What’s the matter?”

Ziven stood outside, holding a lantern. Concern creased his forehead. “I hate to bother you, but we’re making more orbs and need some guidance.”

“No problem, just let me leave Kade a note.” I searched for paper and jotted a quick message before joining Ziven.

He quirked a smile. “What did you write?”

“Just that I’m at the kiln. He worries too much.”

He led the way. Water coated the narrow path. I followed him with care, keeping my right hand on the rock face to steady me. Below, the storm-tossed waves crashed to the shore with angry whacks. Lingering clouds streamed past the moon.

Light spilled from the kiln’s cave. Before we reached the entrance, Ziven stopped and turned around. “I understand why Kade worries,” he said. “Even though you have powerful glass magic, you need glass in your hands for it to work. And you can’t live your life holding glass all the time. Right?”

I agreed, but slowed as uneasiness brushed my skin. Ziven was never this chatty.

“I’m surprised the Council even allows you to leave the Citadel.”

Alarmed, I stepped back. “Why?”

“They think your messengers are indispensable.”

“And you don’t?”

He shrugged. “Doesn’t matter what I think.” He continued up the path.

I relaxed, but kept my distance from him. Paranoid? Who, me?

“You mentioned needing guidance. What’s the trouble?” I asked.

He paused and half turned. “The trouble is you’re dangerous, and you cause problems. The Council refuses to do anything because of your messengers, but there are others who aren’t so inclined.”

Anger flared. “I meant with the orbs.”

“The orbs are fine.”

“Then what—”

Hands connected with my back, shoving me over the path’s edge and out into midair.

19

I SCREAMED AS GRAVITY PULLED ME DOWN.

I screamed as the beach rushed up to meet me.

I screamed until I realized I hit a cushion of air.

I stopped and bobbed about five feet above the sand before sinking to the ground. Reveling in the feel of solidness underneath me, I gasped for breath for a few quiet minutes.

The crunch of sand broke my euphoric paralysis. I scrambled to my feet, preparing to fight. Instead of Ziven coming to finish the job, Kade ran toward me, followed by the others.

He crushed me against him, the thumping of his heart audible. I soaked in the moment of peace before the inevitable questions.

I explained what had happened, guessing Zetta had snuck up behind me. Raiden, Leif and Heli raced up the path to confront Ziven and Zetta. Kade moved to follow, but I clung to him. We waited on the beach. The others conferred and speculated. Their voices buzzed in my ears, but I didn’t bother to listen.

“Now we’re even,” Kade said to me.

“No, you’re one ahead. How did you know?” Small tremors zipped through my muscles.

“I heard your scream and reacted without thought. I pulled the air before I even opened my eyes, hoping I covered enough of the beach.”

I had felt a little embarrassed about yelling so loud, but not anymore. “Thank you.”

“I couldn’t bear to lose you.” Then he scowled. “Besides, we’ll need you to train another set of glassmakers.”

“I’d like to talk to Councilor Stormdance about his interview methods before he hires the next ones.”

“I’ll make sure he receives your request.”

Gnawing on my bottom lip, I waited. Leif and the others should be back by now. Kade stared up at The Cliffs. His muscles tightened as if he fought to stay still.

“Go on,” I said. “Check on them.”

He sprang from my side. To distract myself from imagining various horrors, I thought about the murder attempt. Ziven had said I was dangerous. He claimed there were others. Who were they?

The list of people who knew about my siphoning powers was ridiculously long and probably growing longer each day. Just like null shields. At first, only a handful of people knew about the counterattack, but now it was common knowledge. Word about Curare had spread. Good thing the limited supply kept the drug from being the new weapon du jour.

Although…How had Tricky gotten it? The drug came from a vine growing in the Illiais Jungle. Yelena’s mother, Perl, extracted Curare and diluted it, creating an effective pain reliever. Daviian Warpers had stolen a shipment of the drug, and had been the first to concentrate it to use as a weapon.

Warpers again. Devlen must have given Curare to Tricky or told him where to find it. The temptation to test my Greenblade bees when I returned to the Keep played in my mind. I could send one after Devlen and another to Tricky. Imagine their surprise.