Softness underneath him made Gregory smile as he rolled to the edge of the bed. Sitting up, he faced the shadowy corner. “My Dark Heart, it’s wonderful to be here with you again.”
“It is my joy to see you, too, dear one. You have reached your eighth rank.”
“I thought you wanted our progress to slow down?”
“Over the next couple of weeks, you will be best served to be stronger. For your last few ranks of adept and into magus tier, you will see much slower growth so you do not break records.”
“I understand, but I’m closer to magus, and therefore nearer being able to see you and touch you.”
“Yes.”
The longing in Darkness’ voice made Gregory feel bad for mentioning it. “I’ve forgotten to write a letter. Things have been a bit chaotic.”
“I have informed them of what you have been doing. They are all supportive of you, and only wish for your safety.”
“Thank you.”
“There is not a lot new to report for most of them. I will give you the updates they wanted you to know above all. I cannot hold out to read the longer letters right now. I have to build more energy for the next rank.”
“Claudia…” Gregory murmured. “Because she’s in Buldoun, and we’re scattered to the edges of the empire.”
“Yes.”
“We understand, dearest. Go ahead, and tell me what you can.”
“Baylyss is holding on, but Dia will step in for her soon. Bishop will be the one to hold the academy and clan together until your younger wives-to-be can make it back there for their magus postings.”
“That still hurts to think about… Baylyss was key to the orphanage. I’m curious how the clan can let the three of them all be there just for that.”
“They would be taking care of the clan hall at the academy, as well as the orphanage,” Darkness told him.
“Bishop would be free to move around the empire for the clan that way.”
“Yes.”
“Speaking of the younger three, how are they doing with Mindie?”
“Wonderfully. She will have many stories for you when you see her in Krogga.”
Gregory swallowed, knowing what those stories would be. “I’m looking forward to hearing them, but even more to seeing my wives and friends again.”
“Yuki has been fine. They have cleared out a handful of bane beasts in the wilds, but nothing like you have had to deal with,” Darkness segued to help him. “She has made a few tough decisions in a couple of towns— people pushed things too far, so she had to intervene. Fair, but firm, is how everyone sees her.”
“I wish I could hold her and soothe her.”
“As she wishes she could for you, my heart. Jenn has pushed back two attempted incursions by Krogga. Neither was a big force, just a gathering of young men looking to earn fame each time. Her name is going to make it to the Kroggian capital before she does.”
“She’s okay?”
“As good as she can be. Physically, she is unharmed, but she carries some of the same pain you do.”
Gregory closed his eyes at the memories of the fight. “She doesn’t have Rafiq to talk to… He helps me with that.”
“She has taken to speaking with Petal. She has been very helpful in that regard.”
“I’m glad she has someone to talk to.”
“She will hold it together fine, and when she sees Yuki and the others again, those memories will fade under the love of the family, just as yours will.”
Gregory breathed slowly for a few moments to try to clear his mind.
“Claudia has had a contentious argument with Aliminus. He tried to force her to abandon her training on the brain path. She flatly refused, telling him to find a new apprentice if he wanted. He stripped everything he had done to help her, trying to force her to do what he wanted. All it did was make her dig her heels in more. She knows her path and will not waver from it. When they were tested during the winter solstice, he finally relented. Claudia is now the most powerful mage of her year in their college. The leaps and bounds she has had in aether have made him reconsider which of her training paths is responsible, and he is now hesitant to try changing it, even if he thinks it is wasteful. Aliminus is certain she is walking two paths, but cannot figure out which two are combined for her.”
“She’s okay?”
“Oh, yes. She is fine,” Darkness giggled. “She is very proud of her accomplishments. Every day, she idly twists her ring, thinking of being worthy of the family.”
“Is Griselda still beside her?”
“Her dutiful maid has faced down everyone— except the arch-mage, of course— for her mistress. Griselda might be as devoted to Claudia as Elsa is to you. You were perfectly correct in your prediction about her being the best person to have beside Claudia.”
“Good. She’s the only one who has no other wife beside her.”
“You will be speaking to her when you reach rank nine; Claudia will find her resonance in a day or two. She is very eager to see and speak with you and your wives again.”
“I’m eager to see her again, too. Maybe we can arrange to see her at least once a year in the future?”
“Hmm… maybe. With most of you in Krogga, it will be a little easier, as I do not have to gather all of you from so far apart.”
“Thank you, my dark heart.”
A soft happy sound came from Darkness. “You are always welcome, dearest one. Your younger friends are intent on matching your accomplishments for their tournament this year. Even their friend, Frederica, has been hard-pressed to match them, even with them sharing what they can with her so she has a chance.”
Gregory chuckled as he thought of Daciana, Nessa, and Victoria standing before the judges, wearing proud smiles as their medals and ribbons were presented to them. “They’ve always been determined in that regard.”
“True. I love you, dearest.”
Gregory eyed the shadows, seeing them gather. “Hmm? Is someone afraid I was getting too close the last few times?”
“Yes…” Darkness whispered. “I have been afraid, but also thrilled that you can push as you have. I will protect us both from what we want, even if I want to just open my arms to you.”
Gregory bowed his head. “I’m sorry, Darkness… I want to see and hold you. I don’t mean to cause you distress by trying.”
“No! No, please! Don’t stop…? I need to feel your need. It hurts— it cuts me deeply— but I need it. It helps ease the fears that have built over the long years since you last touched me. So please, never stop. I can and will banish the space if it becomes even slightly dangerous to save us both, but I need you to strive.”
Gregory swallowed the tears he held back by sheer willpower. The pain, need, and yearning in her voice clutched his heart. With all the love he felt for the woman of shadows, the one who had helped him know himself over the last few years, he flung himself into her corner.
“Yes!” Darkness sobbed. “Thank you…!”
Gregory pushed himself even harder, intent on closing even a few inches more with her this time. His whole body blazed with aether like a physical enhancement magi, snapping the first strands of coalesced shadow that tried to stop him. Seeing Darkness reaching for him, he pushed to reach her back. Her desire to touch him burned as bright as his own aether to reach her.
“I love you!” Darkness sobbed happily, finally stymying his advance a couple of feet away from her. If she leaned forward, she could reach him, and her hands shook as she fought to not give in to the desire. “I will always love you.”
Gregory flexed and he got another inch closer before his aether was pulled away from him. “As I love you, my dark heart. Soon… sssooonnn…” The last word trailed off as his body faded away.
Tears of sorrow fell as her love was pulled away from her once again. “Give us strength to wait, my love.”
The moment he was gone, she lunged into the spot he’d been, her arms wrapped around herself. On her knees, she cried at her own weakness and strength. She’d nearly failed them both when he’d found that little extra push at the end. The shadows vanished, leaving Darkness unshrouded as she sobbed alone in the empty room.
