On the ledge, Alessa followed Renata’s directions and lightly pinched one strand.
“Pull. Gently.”
The web shifted shape but remained intact as Alessa drew the string down.
From the corner of her eye, Alessa caught Dante watching as the indignant spider stopped working and scurried into the corner.
“Now, return it and release without damaging anything.”
This part was more difficult, requiring Alessa to roll her fingers to detach without snapping the thread, but soon the web was back in its original condition.
“There, you see?” Renata smiled. “A Fonte’s power is intertwined with their soul, and if you try to pull it free, you damage the connective fibers. You need to draw just enough of their gift to meet the part of you that controls your own power, then release. It isn’t a fight, it’s a give and take.”
Alessa frowned. “I think I understand.” Maybe.
“I know you’re nervous. I’ve been in your position.”
Not exactly.
“Finestra?” Tomo called out. “I told the Fontes that I will demonstrate first.”
Renata stepped down with a thump.
Alessa had assumed they’d draw straws to decide which of the Fontes would go first. Not Tomo. He hadn’t said anything about volunteering until they had a room full of witnesses, and now Alessa and Renata couldn’t argue without revealing their fear. They had no choice but to follow his lead.
Renata gave a jerky nod and turned to Alessa. “Strategy?”
Renata might never have truly understood Alessa before, but now someone she loved was threatened. Her fear was palpable.
Alessa recited from memory. “Steady hands, slow breathing, light touch, inner calm.”
“How?”
“Fingertips only.”
“When you sense the power?”
“Control and contain.”
Tomo extended his hands, palms up, as Alessa walked over to him.
Every eye in the room followed the movement as Alessa removed her gloves. Her palms were slick with sweat.
She lifted her gaze but didn’t quite meet Tomo’s eyes. She couldn’t. The thought of watching his light go dark— No. She wouldn’t even think it.
He was waiting.
Everyone was waiting.
With a deep breath, Alessa reached her fingertips toward his.
Twenty
Chi semina spine, non vada scalzo.
If you scatter thorns, don’t go barefoot.
DAYS BEFORE DIVORANDO: 27
The wind whistled outside as night fell, but the air in Tomo’s room tasted as stale as the crypt.
Propped up in bed on a pile of pillows, his eyes were black pools of shadow against his ashen skin.
From his bedside, Renata turned as Alessa entered on whisper-soft feet. “He’s resting,” Renata said in warning.
“I won’t stay. I just needed to see…”
“Come in, child.” A wan smile spread across Tomo’s face and he released Renata’s hand. “Put on some tea, won’t you, love?”
Renata shot Alessa a sharp look as she left the room.
“Sit, sit. Leave your guilt outside,” Tomo said. “I’m a weak old man, and I was overdue for one of my spells. A bit too much excitement, that’s all.” He patted the bed beside him, but she perched in a brocade chair instead. He might want to show that he wasn’t afraid of her, but she was afraid of herself.
“You aren’t old, Tomo.”
He smiled. “Age is relative. When I was your age, I saw a man of forty as a day shy of a hundred.”
“I’m just thankful you’re okay. I thought—” She squeezed her eyes shut against the memory of the color leaching from his face. “You were very brave to volunteer.”
He tutted. “I only made it worse. Renata said you had to call off the remainder of the lesson.”
“Everyone was worried about you. We’ll start fresh in the morning.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be. Get some rest. I can manage without you.”
His eyes drifted shut. “I know you can. You’re meant to bring people together, Alessa.”
With the echo of her name in her ears, Alessa slipped out of the room, wiping her eyes.
“Will he be okay?” Dante asked.
“I don’t know, but if the Fontes weren’t terrified before, they are now.”
“Did you even touch him? It happened so fast I couldn’t tell.”
“Barely. It doesn’t matter. Today was supposed to reassure them. Instead they saw the last Fonte suffer a heart spasm the moment we touched. I’ll be fortunate if they show up for tomorrow’s training at all.”