Empowered (Unbound, Book 6)

Chapter Thirty-Three

"Can I come see the Kingdom?" Calin asked after a few seconds passed in silence. "I mean, it looked beautiful."

"It's only accessible by my family and those with our blood via the blood exchange. Zach says it happens so marriage can occur in the Kingdom so the union is magically solidified."

"So? We've already exchanged blood. Sounds like marriage has no bearing on entrance."

"I don't know if there's a ritual to it." I didn't want to do anything until I knew what to expect.

"Onyx is there right now."

"Yeah. Little bugger wouldn't stop playing with Opal. Zach trained her and she has my blood to get her in. I assume to sense magic and threats, and so she'd know me when Zach brought her and Opal to me and my mom."

"Opal comes back from the dead?"

"No. Zach. He took her spirit to the Kingdom so neither would be alone, but she can't leave. It's good for Onyx to see her."

"So now you are going to what? Save the people that go missing?"

"Oh, yeah!" I stood quickly, sending my chair behind me. I swayed slightly, light headed, and held the ledge of the table to get balanced.

"What?" Calin stood. "Do you need help?"

"No!" I blinked rapidly and then let go of the table and glanced at Calin. "The missing people! I went to get my computer and you distracted me! I told you it happens!"

"What—?"

"Come on." I grabbed Calin's hand and headed back to the library. "I can't believe I forgot. My computer better be on still."

"Relax. You would have been there for a while as it went through those updates."

"I blame you and those drinks."

"You're welcome?" Calin laughed, letting me guide him through the office and the false wall that led to the library in the closet.

When we entered the library, I dropped Calin's hand. I took out the flash drive as I crossed the room so it was at the ready. Sitting in the same chair I vacated to follow Calin to the kitchen, I pressed the space bar on my computer to wake it up a the same time as I put the flash drive in the USB slot.

"What is so important?" Calin asked, coming to stand behind me.

For once, I wouldn't have minded his calm, which would be as easy as a hand on my shoulder. Telling Calin that would definitely be mixed signals after asking Calin not to distract me. I bounced my knee until the computer woke and recognized the folder.

"Can I help?"

I glanced at Calin and back to the screen. "No. Yes. I don't know." I shook my head. "Why don't you sit?"

"You don't want me to see?"

"What? No. It's not that."

"Then what?"

"I'm impatient and I feel pressure or—I don't know—like I'm being watched."

"Okay." Calin raised his hands and stepped to the side so I could see him sit, lowering his arms until his palms rested on top of the table. "Better?"

No. "Yes."

"Can you tell me what you're doing?"

"I went to Devland's office today and he was in meetings, so I stuck around to wait."

"Okay?"

"His secretary was out, so I took the opportunity that presented itself." I looked up and held Calin's gaze for a moment.