Ascension (Guardians of Ascension #1)(68)
Author: Caris Roane

For some reason Alison recalled her dream of flying over a lake. On impulse she said, “Before you go, there’s something I’d like to ask you.”

“Yes, of course, anything.”

“Can you tell me about White Lake?”

“White Lake? You mean White Lake near the White Tank Mountains?”

“On the west side of the White Tanks?”

“Yes.”

“So it does exist,” Alison murmured.

“Why do you ask? What is it you want to know?”

“I’ve dreamed about the lake. I just wasn’t sure if it was real. There isn’t a lake here by that name.”

Havily’s lips parted and a frown furrowed her brow.

Kerrick returned to the table. He stared down at her, his emerald eyes flashing. “What kind of dream was it?”

“Earlier, when I woke up, I had been dreaming that I had wings—and it was so awesome to be flying. I was over a lake, and in the dream I knew the lake was called White Lake. I just wondered if it had any particular significance.”

Kerrick whistled.

Havily put a hand to her chest, her expressive fingers plucking at her ivory silk blouse. “What was the nature of the dream?” she asked. “I mean, what were you feeling in the dream?” Her voice had a hushed quality.

“Well, I guess I just felt very protective of the lake, like somehow this was my job, to protect White Lake. Also, I kept hearing the word guardian in my head.”

“Holy shit,” Kerrick murmured.

Havily glanced at Kerrick, but he just shrugged as though unable to give her direction on this one.

“The lake,” Havily said, “forms a Borderland between Second and Third Earth.”

“A dimensional Borderland?” Alison was shocked.

“Precisely. However, the Trough to Third is closed to us.”

“Like Second is closed to Mortals.”

“With the important difference that we know Third Earth exists.”

“Yet you have no contact with Third Earth or any of the Upper Dimensions. So how do you know any of them exist?”

“Because Third Earth wasn’t always closed,” Havily said. “Several millennia ago there was constant movement among all the dimensions. Then it was just shut down. No one here knows why. But that was a long time ago.”

“And you don’t have any idea what the significance of this dream might be? Why I might have experienced such protective feelings about the lake, the Borderland?”

Havily tilted her head. “Dreams are an important element of ascended life, and we never take them lightly. It sounds like you have a very real connection to the White Lake Borderland. The interpretation, however, shouldn’t be forced, and I’m absolutely certain you’ll discover the meaning in time.”

Havily stood up, taking her briefcase in hand. “Be at peace, ascendiate,” she said.

Alison rose as well. Havily extended her hand and with a smile, Alison took it in hers and gave a firm shake. However, the moment she did, Havily froze in place, her brows high in the air. Her lips formed a silent O.

Then Alison felt it as well, a strange vibration flowing up her arm from the hand clasping Havily’s. She experienced a connection with this woman, an inexplicable bond. Alison closed her eyes and a heavy sensation flowed through her mind, a prescience, then a specific image of Havily flying next to her over White Lake, her expression hard, determined, focused.

Alison gasped then released her hand. “Did you see that as well?”

“A vision?” Havily’s brows rose higher.

“I guess that’s what it was.”

Havily shook her head, smiled, chuckled. “You are powerful. As for myself, no vision, though I did feel a tingling in my hand and all up my arm.” Once more she tilted her head. “Ascendiate, I wish you the very best in the coming days and weeks. If you need anything, do not hesitate to summon me. Should you require a place to stay until you get settled, my home is open to you. I’ve left my cell number with you.” She gestured, again with her elegant lively hands, toward the lavender folder on the table.

She offered one last smile, lifted her arm, then vanished.

Alison turned to Kerrick. “I’ve noticed ascenders often lift a hand or an arm before folding. What is that?”

Kerrick shrugged. “Just a warning, I guess, like hitting the turn signal in a car.”

Alison laughed. “That makes sense. I suppose it’s nice to have notice before someone disappears.”

* * *

Kerrick refilled his mug and tried to quiet the hammering of his heart. This was getting worse and worse. During the time Havily had conversed with Alison and performed her job, his gaze had been all for Alison. He’d been struck by her kindness toward Havily.

This was Alison’s true gift, and it had nothing to do with preternatural power. She listened and she cared. Goddamn that got to him, worked in his heart like a miner after a vein of gold. And for whatever biological reason, the same sensation drove straight into his groin demanding possession.

Why the f**k couldn’t she have been selfish and small-minded? Instead, while she was in the middle of an experience that essentially meant she was battling for her life, she had culled from Havily a single stunning fact—Havily was passionate about making significant changes in hopes of altering the course of the war.

We need Alison, he thought. Hell, I need her.

Then there was the whole business about White Lake. He had lived too long on Second not to comprehend that the dream was significant, which meant her role on Second Earth would become increasingly important, another reason she shouldn’t be anywhere near a Warrior of the Blood. Christ, this whole thing kept getting more and more complicated. Fucking breh-hedden.

“You’re very quiet and you’ve been stirring a mug of coffee I happen to know has no sugar or milk in it.”

Even her voice worked over his body as though every part of her was designed to torment him. “Yeah,” he responded. “Just cooling it off.” A lie. He just didn’t know how to turn back to her without picking her up in his arms and carting her off to his bed. Like now.

“I’m smelling spice, lots of spice, sweet exotic Moroccan spice.”

He still didn’t turn around. He nodded and kept stirring.

“Did I do something wrong? I mean, I know I have a lot to learn. Do you think I offended Havily? Do you think talking about White Lake upset her?”

He let go of the spoon and the mug and turned to face her. “No, not at all. Havily looks delicate but she’s tough as nails, and no, you didn’t offend her.” He returned to the stool he’d inhabited earlier.