Page 165 of In Rising Tides

Lyra was struck mute, so she bobbed a nod.

“We’ll set a perimeter. Feel free to explore on your own.”

They spread out, giving her the illusion of privacy as she drifted farther under the giant archway and into the garden. Winding pathways were marked with jewel-colored stones, and she followed the path to the right around the garden.

Something sweet bobbed along the current, and she followed it until she reached the center. A large, silver stone was half buried in the sand. It was polished to a gleaming shine like a reflecting glass.

Lyra swam closer until she saw her reflection in the polished stone. There was something otherworldly about this place. Itreminded her of the Valewood, only in an underwater kind of way.

The glass shimmered, and she could have sworn she saw a flicker of the summer cottage. But she blinked and saw only herself.

She slowly raised her fingers towards the stone, and could feel her pulse beat slow and steady in them as she reached for it. Her heartbeat mirrored the current, and something powerful wound around her.

She could hear Wilder, his voice, and his scent as if he were standing beside her.

Miles and miles apart, and an ocean held above her, yet it still felt like he was right beside her, watching and waiting.

The stones in Jordania’s hand clacked together, but this time her eyes remained open.

Frustration shone there, heightened by the stiff set of her jaw and the way her lip lifted in a snarl.

Maelys fidgeted, scooping up sand and letting it sift between her fingers.

The wind swept past them, clinking Otto’s beads in his hair. He steepled his fingers in front of him, his eyes unfocused but not quite swirling with sight.

Wilder gripped Lyra’s necklace that hung from his chest. He had so badly wanted this to work, but with each failed attempt, he felt their chances of success slipping away.

“There’s got to be something missing,” Jordania said. “She’sthere. I can feel her, but I can’t tether to her.”

“Like a ship without an anchor,” Otto replied.

“Exactly.”

Her shoulders dropped, and she shook her head.

I’m not giving up on you.

Wilder willed his thoughts to reach her wherever she was.

Maelys sat forward, her lips pursed together. “What if you added an item of Lyra’s to the ritual? Would that help?”

Jordania cocked her head to the side. “Like a physical anchor?”

“Sure,” Maelys shrugged.

“It would give the magic something to latch onto,” Otto replied. “And would decrease the potential for something to go awry.”

Wilder looked at the sapphire shell he cupped in his palm before taking the necklace off and holding it out to Jordania.

“This was hers. She never took it off.”

Jordania reached to take it but paused, her gaze narrowing on the shell.

“This is the necklace I brought you.” Her fingertips grazed the shell, and she gasped. “It’s a conduit!” She snatched the necklace out of his hand and squeezed her eyes shut.“I can’t believe I didn’t think of it before.”

The words spilled from Jordania’s lips, ancient and mystical.

Old and young. Hers and many.