Part 53 (1/2)

”Could we go and find out? So I can tell Talia?”

Baleweg smiled. ”I'm sure we can work that out.”

”What about you and Emrys? Do you think the two of you will work things out?”

Baleweg's smile vanished. ”I'm not certain. Perhaps I can redirect his...

energies.” He didn't bother trying to hide his irritation. ”I am set in my ways and this new direction I've chosen might prove to be an ill fit.” He sighed in the face of Archer's knowing grin. ”Perhaps we were both on a path to destruction. In our own separate ways. Perhaps your wisdom in showing me this will be a blessing for us both.”

Archer nodded, ignoring the skepticism clear in his voice. ”I just hope you

don't live to regret it. He's... something.””Yes. He is that.” Baleweg cleared his throat and smoothed his robes. ”Now I believe it is time for you to embark on your new direction.”

The triangle opened before them.

Chapter 26.

Talia had no idea how long she had slept. The sun was streaming through the dormer windows when she finally opened her eyes. She felt as if she'd been hit by a truck.

She groaned as she rolled to her back. However long she'd slept, it hadn't been long enough. She looked at the clock. G.o.d, it was late. She had to get up and feed and water the animals. She went to stretch, but her fingers cramped. She looked down and saw the blue ball still clutched tightly in her fist.

Oh! Tears immediately sprang to her eyes as it all rushed back with painful, heart-wrenching clarity. She squeezed her eyes shut, wanting to go back to several seconds ago when she hadn't remembered. But it was too late.

The images came pounding at her, a.s.saulting her, and she was too weak to shut them off. Archer making love to her in that unbelievable bedroom.

Catriona telling her that they were sisters. Connecting with her, feeling the baby despite all that horrendous pain.

Connecting with Archer.

Baleweg holding her hand and telling her not to forget. As if she could.

Reaching for him, hoping that through him, she could help Archer and

Catriona. That final connection snapping, the last thing she remembered before she'd lost consciousness.

Maybe it had all been some sort of nightmare. A dream that she'd finally

awoken from. It was certainly fantastical enough.

The luminous blue orb in her hand said otherwise.

As did the snowy owl perched at the foot of her bed.

At the sound of her scream, which had been more a hoa.r.s.e croak, the owl

merely turned his head and stared at her with big, dark eyes. Archer was right.

It was there in the eyes. ”Ringer?”

The owl bobbed its head.

”Oh, G.o.d. You're still in Oz, Dorothy.”

Ringer lifted his wings, shook them out, and settled down again.

”How did you get here?” Then she remembered. The flash when Baleweg had backed through the triangle. ”Little sneak.” Her voice was very rough, her throat even rougher. She needed to take a warm shower. An aspirin or ten wouldn't hurt, either. But that meant leaving this bed, and she was pretty sure that wasn't happening yet.

”How are you at making tea?”

Ringer merely blinked.

”That's what I thought.” Talia looked toward the window, then at her clock.

Stella and the girls were likely already at work. She laid her head back on her pillow. G.o.d, she really was home. It was almost impossible to imagine going back to her regular routine, her normal life.

But it wasn't completely over. Baleweg had promised he'd come back and tell her what had happened. Her heart clutched as she thought of Catriona and the baby. And Archer. Whom she'd never see again. No. She wasn't ready to handle that yet.