Swift Magic (The Swift Codex Book 2) Read Online Free Page B
Author: Nicolette Jinks
Tags: new adult, Women's Fiction, fantasy romance, Intrigue, shapeshifter, Drake, witch and wizard, fantasy thriller, wildwoods, fairies and dragons
appropriate power sources for it. Not many people went to the Wildwoods, and those who did had a permanent portal already. This was semi-permanent, or it would be when we got it going.
Eventually, we stood in front of an open portal. In the air was the mingled scents of our spells, my own honeysuckle and his nutmeg and black pepper.
It had been an hour that we struggled with it; most portals took half that time, but it depended on how often a particular point was being used. Ideal was moderate traffic activity, and few people felt the need to go into the Wildwoods, therefore we had to make a fresh path. Portals, I decided, were like roads. Best if used and maintained, but not to the point of being jammed.
“ Ready?” Mordon asked, frowning as he conjured a knife up out of a bag he had around his waist. He tucked the knife into his boot as he waited for me to reply. Never had I seen him so jumpy and fidgety before. I fingered the necklace with various trinkets that dangled about my chest, hoping that none of them would be morphed by fey magic and wondering if I should leave them or take them with me. I couldn't stand to be parted with them, so I kept them on.
I took a deep breath, and let my magic flow into the portal. My connection was not as good as it could have been, but the portal desination felt calm enough, with lots of low foliage and then nothing until it reached the treetops quite the ways up.
“ It's safe,” I said, though I wasn't sure why I thought it would be anything else.
Mordon raised an eyebrow at me.
“ I mean, there isn't anything waiting for us there but a bunch of plants,” I said again. He shrugged, as though he expected nothing else, then held out his arm.
The others chose this instant to come say good-bye. Lilly was all forced smiles and too many hugs. She almost made me want to cry. Barnes gave me a handshake and the advice, “Don't trust your sight, feyling.”
I smiled at him. “You don't think they can pull the wool over my eyes, do you?”
He shook his head. “I don't.”
My chest swelled with a little pride.
Then Leif, who had hung back, gave me a one-armed hug. It reminded me of what my brother would do, and when I pulled back there were tears in my eyes. I looked at the three of them, wondering how long I would be gone for and if they would bear any resemblance to themselves when I did return. I refused to think that years would pass while I was in the Wildwoods. I wouldn't think it.
Mordon guided me to the mouth of the portal, the swirling glassy surface which rippled when I stepped towards it.
With one last breath, I pushed my hand through the portal and walked forward through it.
It tickled over my skin, then was cool and wet as though water were running over my body.
I nearly relaxed, thinking that this wasn't so bad, then it transformed into something more forceful, a little more painful. Then something slapped my thigh, and biting pain spread through my leg. Panic spread through me.
I fell forward and tumbled every which way, side to side, head over heels, feeling stings and bites in a constant rotation about my body. I stretched my arms out, and discovered I was rolling down a hill; I grabbed for anything at all, but the roots and tender branches gave way beneath my weight. A scream reached my lips as I neared a ravine.
“ Fera!” the voice was distant, but I felt a jerk on my arms. “Fera!”
The voice was closer this time, and I focused on it, the falling sensation abandoning me as though it were a dream I was waking up from. I gasped, my eyes springing open to see the leaves of a fern waving in front of me, too close to focus on it.
“ Feraline!” Mordon shook me, jarring my head against my shoulders.
I winced, blinked, and stared at him. My shoulders were in his lap, my feet soaking in a creek bed, and all about us were ferns and moss that coated every inch of exposed
Eventually, we stood in front of an open portal. In the air was the mingled scents of our spells, my own honeysuckle and his nutmeg and black pepper.
It had been an hour that we struggled with it; most portals took half that time, but it depended on how often a particular point was being used. Ideal was moderate traffic activity, and few people felt the need to go into the Wildwoods, therefore we had to make a fresh path. Portals, I decided, were like roads. Best if used and maintained, but not to the point of being jammed.
“ Ready?” Mordon asked, frowning as he conjured a knife up out of a bag he had around his waist. He tucked the knife into his boot as he waited for me to reply. Never had I seen him so jumpy and fidgety before. I fingered the necklace with various trinkets that dangled about my chest, hoping that none of them would be morphed by fey magic and wondering if I should leave them or take them with me. I couldn't stand to be parted with them, so I kept them on.
I took a deep breath, and let my magic flow into the portal. My connection was not as good as it could have been, but the portal desination felt calm enough, with lots of low foliage and then nothing until it reached the treetops quite the ways up.
“ It's safe,” I said, though I wasn't sure why I thought it would be anything else.
Mordon raised an eyebrow at me.
“ I mean, there isn't anything waiting for us there but a bunch of plants,” I said again. He shrugged, as though he expected nothing else, then held out his arm.
The others chose this instant to come say good-bye. Lilly was all forced smiles and too many hugs. She almost made me want to cry. Barnes gave me a handshake and the advice, “Don't trust your sight, feyling.”
I smiled at him. “You don't think they can pull the wool over my eyes, do you?”
He shook his head. “I don't.”
My chest swelled with a little pride.
Then Leif, who had hung back, gave me a one-armed hug. It reminded me of what my brother would do, and when I pulled back there were tears in my eyes. I looked at the three of them, wondering how long I would be gone for and if they would bear any resemblance to themselves when I did return. I refused to think that years would pass while I was in the Wildwoods. I wouldn't think it.
Mordon guided me to the mouth of the portal, the swirling glassy surface which rippled when I stepped towards it.
With one last breath, I pushed my hand through the portal and walked forward through it.
It tickled over my skin, then was cool and wet as though water were running over my body.
I nearly relaxed, thinking that this wasn't so bad, then it transformed into something more forceful, a little more painful. Then something slapped my thigh, and biting pain spread through my leg. Panic spread through me.
I fell forward and tumbled every which way, side to side, head over heels, feeling stings and bites in a constant rotation about my body. I stretched my arms out, and discovered I was rolling down a hill; I grabbed for anything at all, but the roots and tender branches gave way beneath my weight. A scream reached my lips as I neared a ravine.
“ Fera!” the voice was distant, but I felt a jerk on my arms. “Fera!”
The voice was closer this time, and I focused on it, the falling sensation abandoning me as though it were a dream I was waking up from. I gasped, my eyes springing open to see the leaves of a fern waving in front of me, too close to focus on it.
“ Feraline!” Mordon shook me, jarring my head against my shoulders.
I winced, blinked, and stared at him. My shoulders were in his lap, my feet soaking in a creek bed, and all about us were ferns and moss that coated every inch of exposed