Chapter 9.5

  A question blindsided River as he sat on the bed, too late for comfort. For a moment he was stupidly mad he hadn’t asked earlier.

  He sprang up, feet thudding on the floor, and hurried down the hall to Amalia’s room.

  He knocked—barely—then pushed in, not polite. Her eyes went wide: confusion, then a pinch of shock.

  He dragged in a breath and blurted, “Why could Lud use more than one affinity? I haven’t seen anyone else with just one affinity. He said it’s possible—just not efficient.”

  A slow smile softened her face. “First, please knock next time. Second… he was probably using an enhancement item. Those let us fake another affinity by converting our own to another. The conversion’s rough, though, and it won’t let anyone channel two at once.”

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  “That makes sense. Thanks.” His pulse eased, the frantic edges rounding off as the answer clicked into place. “What does it feel like when you try?”

  She hesitated. Her gaze going distant. “I don’t know. I’ve never actually tried.”

  River watched the air around her stir as if tried to gather, but it wouldn’t hold. It slipped and wavered, like steam cupped in her hands. Too slippery.

  —

  Amalia reached inward, grasping for fire. For a second, she almost felt it. Each step closer made it flicker and, annoyingly, disappear. She pressed too hard; the shape broke. Close, then gone. Again.