The Cypher Wheel Read Free Page A

well,” Faen said, feeling proud of
himself for the suggestion.
    “I can't pull it back, though,” Faedra cried. “I
can't let it go.”
    The glass was starting to bounce around on the
surface with the force of the boiling water. Steam was rising and
turning to smoke.
    Faen turned back to his Custodian, unwilling to let
this experiment fail. “Faedra, look at me.”
    Faedra returned her anguished gaze back to her
Guardian.
    “Breathe. In...” Faen took a deep breath in,
encouraging Faedra to do the same. The glass kept bouncing about on
the wooden surface. “And out...” Faen released a heavy breath.
Faedra did the same. “And again. No, look at me,” Faen said when
Faedra returned her worried gaze to the glass boiling over on the
bedside table, the odd flame dancing about from the splashes.
“Concentrate on me.” The moment he said it, he realized it was the
wrong thing to say. A wave of heat seared his insides and sweat
beaded on his forehead. The water in the glass reduced to a slow
simmer. “Okay, that was the wrong thing to say. Concentrate on the
glass, but look at me, and breathe.”
    The heat subsided within him and the glass started to
boil over again.
    Faedra kept her panicked gaze locked on her
Guardian's and followed his breathing.
    “I've got you,” he said. “I've always got you. We
will get through this together.”
    A tear slid down Faedra's cheek, evaporating into
steam before it reached her chin. Unblinking, she kept her gaze
locked, drawing the positive energy she needed from her Guardian.
After a few moments, the water bubbling in the glass started to
subside. When it settled completely, Faedra blew out a weary sigh
and allowed her head to fall and rest on Faen’s chest. He relaxed
when she did and wrapped his arms around her. He would stay right
here for as long as she would let him.
     
    ***
     
    The weekend came far too quickly as far as Faedra was
concerned. She was still having her doubts about this whole 'going
out in public' thing, but knew at this point that none of her
friends would let her back down now. They would probably drag her
out of the house kicking and screaming if they had to. She really
didn't want to subject them to that, so, grudgingly, she put on her
boots and jacket before exiting through the front door.
    “You’ll be fine, darling,” Henry said, as he waited
by the door. “Now go and enjoy yourself, you deserve it. You’ll
have Faen with you.” He gave a nod to Faen who was already outside
waiting for his charge.
    Faedra gave her dad a weak smile and then huffed out
a breath. “Well, let's do this, shall we?” she said to Faen.
    “Bye, Dad. See you later.” She gave him a quick hug
before walking towards the car with her Guardian. She hadn't driven
her car for six months. She was hoping it would still start. Her
dad had kept it turning over regularly and took it for the odd spin
to keep it going, so it should be okay. Faen got in the passenger
seat and was putting his seat-belt on as Faedra put her keys in the
ignition. Before she had a chance to turn them, the car engine
turned over and whirred to life. Faedra pulled her hands away from
the steering wheel and held them up as if she had a gun pointed at
her.
    “What the...?” she turned to Faen and gave him a
questioning look. Faen finished clicking the belt into place and
gave her a reassuring smile. “I didn't even turn the key and the
engine started.”
    “I saw that,” he said.
    “That's it? That's all you have to say?”
    “I think you were probably hoping the car would
start.”
    “I was, but... how did you know?”
    “Faedra, you are going to discover all sorts of
things that you can do. For a while, they will probably surprise
you.”
    Faedra rolled her eyes at her Guardian's stoic
response. At least one of them was staying calm and controlled. She
knew she was unlikely to be that side of the equation for a very
long time.
    With a sigh of resignation, Faedra put the car in
reverse,