Chapter 8

“Jasper?” I asked once, and when he did not respond I asked again. This must be the catatonia to which he had referred. Gently, I shook his shoulder and watched as his fist tightened around the stone in his palm. I shook harder, to no avail. The only solution seemed to be to physically pry open his grip. The task proved more exertive that I expected, and I exhaled with relief when the stone dropped to the cavern floor.

“Jasper?” I arched an eyebrow, curious as to how he would fair after being in such a state.

“I saw—” Jasper blinked rapidly as if clearing blurred vision. “That was amazing.”

I grinned, supposing that his experience had been similar to mine.

Jasper clapped his hands in amusement. “This magnificent thing invariably shows what your heart desires most,” he touched the fallen stone with his booted toe. “Lydia, my dear, we were back at the College in Cambridge, being awarded highest honors for our research.”