She reached up as she had with her brother, brushing his lips first, then his eyes, his cheeks and finally his ear. Her lips trembled infinitesimally and for a moment, he thought he heard the words of a spell; but then she was kissing him once more, hard and passionately as if it would be the last time their lips would ever touch.
"We must buy Gard time, Callain. He must be far away before he feels the first blow."
"Ana?" Fear flowed through him at her words and at the tears that slowly dripped down her cheeks.
"I used the last of my magic creating the illusion, my mate. There was never going to be enough to do everything that needed to be done. Forgive me, my love. I saved the few that I could, and I knew you would never leave me."
The fear grew, turning into a deep dread. All around
