Chapter 212

• Lohan was indirectly confessing his love for me. Did he try to force a crossing to the other side just to see me and comfort me? That was too irrational for someone who always acted patiently and thoughtfully. I was immensely happy with these little clues he let slip about how much he wanted to be with me at that time.
• “Why does the eclipse cause this interference? And how did you find out you could cross over to the other side and back?”
• “It’s not the eclipse that causes the interference, but the interruption of the moon’s direct projection onto Earth. The portal was created for use on a moonless night because the moonlight must be aligned with the area of magical activity. Still, the magic on this side only connects to the other when that reflection is impaired. What the eclipse provided was a temporary boost that allowed the magical flow from this world to be elevated to the other. Only with access to that flow could I activate the portal on the other side without touching the stone. It was funny to think of him dialing the number, then answering and completing the call himself. Only magic could do something like that. “As for how I knew I would be able to return the first time, it’s simple. Before coming to this room that night, Horace told me the crystal ball showed I would be late for an important meeting the next morning, and that the council was angry about it. How could I get to the meeting if I couldn’t return? I wanted to find out.”