Chapter 42: Viviana

Nothing like two long distance mental conversations in one day that couldn't have been more different from each other. While Reena and Mathias had come knocking, Viviana's little visit was about as far from polite as you could get. There wasn't much I could do to prevent her from breaking through the shielding I'd been building around myself using the only power available to me. But that didn't stop me from trying to push her away. My futile act only ended in weakness, the barrier of protection falling in a rush of exiting energy while she succeeded in siphoning off it in a wave of devouring suction and helped herself to some of my stored magic from within the locket she still controlled. On purpose. To remind me she could.

Thank you, she sent with the kind of brightness that meant she was highly amused by the fight I put up and encouraged more of the same. I needed that boost. How accommodating.