Gates of Rapture (Guardians of Ascension 6)

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.

Grace had missed her. Though they were opposites, a hundred years sharing a convent cell had created a warm bond. She would always consider Marguerite one of her closest friends.

Marguerite wore stretchy black pants and a crisp white maternity blouse. She was barefoot, leading with her belly, all full of Grace’s niece and nephew. Fiona was there as well in flats, jeans, and a tank. Her long chestnut hair was drawn into a ponytail. She looked beautiful.

“How pretty you look,” Marguerite said, holding her hands out to Grace.

She took them. “Thank you and so do you. Glowing, actually, although I have to say it’s still strange to see you with short blond hair.” For the ten decades Grace had been with Marguerite in the Convent, her hair had been very long and dark brown.

“So what happened with Alison earlier?” Fiona asked. “I know she helped me tremendously. What did you find out?”

Grace shared her experience.

Marguerite’s large brown eyes went very wide. “Any power?”

Grace shrugged. “That’s what I’m sensing. Any soul, any power.”

“Wow,” Fiona murmured.

Marguerite whistled then looked around. “Well, I guess this place is big enough for us to do some practicing.”

The room was huge, and Colonel Seriffe had cleared the space for them, moving all the machines and workout equipment to one side.

Grace laughed. “Well, l hope it’s big enough. I mean, what if we have enough combined power to blow the roof off?”

As if on cue, all three women looked straight up at an interlacing of steel girders, then back at one another. When Marguerite and Fiona laughed, Grace joined them, and something tight within her chest started to unwind.

“This seems so strange,” Fiona said. “Six months ago I was a blood slave. Now I’m here, with powers I’d never dreamed of.” Fiona could channel powers and enhance them at the same time. She could even be possessed by another person, which really enhanced the power level. She reached one hand toward Grace and one toward Marguerite. Even without touching their obsidian power flared.

Fiona jumped back and laughed. “There it is again, just like at the Seattle Colony.”

Grace rubbed her arms. “It’s always so strange. I wonder if we’ll ever get used to it.”

“Hey,” Marguerite said, her voice lowered almost conspiratorially. “Let’s try creating a circle like we did by accident before the warrior games. Remember?”

Grace nodded at the same time as Fiona. Grace put her hand on Fiona’s shoulder. Fiona did the same to Marguerite, and even without the circle being completed the vibrations were strong.

Marguerite’s dark brown eyes glittered with delight, which made Grace smile. Marguerite’s hand would close the circle but she aimed her fingers at Grace’s shoulder, holding back, then inch by inch crept toward her.

What a tease, but it helped to lighten the mood.

The moment contact was made, however, Grace flew backward, as did each of the women. Not far, but it was unsettling to sit up and watch Fiona do so as well. Marguerite had a little more trouble. She rolled to the side and pushed her heavy body up.

Once upright, Grace moved back toward the other women.

When they were together again and the same level of power surged even before they touched, Marguerite said, “I think we’re going to need Thorne here to anchor us. If it’s all right with you, I’m going to ask him to come over. Maybe he can get us started or something.”

“I totally agree,” Fiona said.

Grace nodded her acquiescence as well.

Marguerite strolled away, one hand touching her cheek as she moved. Grace could sense that she was communicating telepathically with Thorne. She even knew when the conversation ended.

When she turned back around, she called out, “He’ll be here shortly.”

Grace recalled seeing Thorne bent over the grid when she walked Alison to the landing platform. She wondered how he would feel about leaving his command center.

When Thorne arrived, Marguerite explained what had happened.

He glanced down at her belly. “Are you all right?”

“I’m fine. I’m tougher than I look.”

His expression softened, and he dipped down to kiss her. When he rose back up, he was all business. “Okay, well I never quite understood my role, but it seems that I’m an anchor here, at least for now. Why don’t you try touching again, but I’ll keep a hand on Marguerite’s shoulder.”

Once more, Fiona began and connected with both Marguerite and Grace. The power vibrated among them like crazy.

“This is really something,” Thorne said.

Sure enough, as Grace put her hand on Marguerite’s shoulder, closing the circle, the power surged. But this time the excess traveled through Thorne.

“Doesn’t that bother you?” Grace asked. He was lit up and glowing with the most beautiful silver aura.

“Not at all. In fact it’s pleasant.” He nodded a couple of times and narrowed his eyes. “So, Leto told me that you have the ability to secure the powers of others by doing some soul diving. Do I have it right?”

“Yes.”