“It’s your blood,” Jaxon said, plucking the amulet from her hand. He stared down at it, his voice a mix of wonder and calculation. “You didn’t ruin it, Starling. Youfixedit.”
“But that doesn’t make any sense,” Araya protested. “It’s not—no, Jaxon, wait?—”
Araya reached out, but Jaxon was already channeling power into the amulet. The runes flared to life, brighter than they had with any of the previous tests. The tendrils of shadow shifted, curling toward Jaxon as if drawn to him. He raised his hand, and the shadows responded instantly, coiling around his arm in a sinuous, controlled motion.
He moved his hand experimentally, and the shadows followed his commands, twisting and writhing in perfect sync with his gestures. He laughed, his delight palpable as he turned to Araya, his dark eyes gleaming.
“Do you see this, Starling?” he asked, his voice brimming with exhilaration. “It’s responding—obeying. We’ve done it.”
Araya watched him, her chest tight with dread as the shadows swirled around him. “Are you going to dispel them now?”
“Dispel them?” Jaxon asked absently, his gaze never wavering from the swirling shadows swirling.
“For the fae here,” Araya said. “Remember?”
Jaxon blinked, his gaze finally lifting to hers. “Starling?—”
But the runes on the amulet sputtered, the entire thing emitting a faint whine as they went out one by one. The shadows fell away, spreading back out into their natural pattern as Jaxon’s influence over them vanished.
“Damn.” Jaxon sighed, staring down at the depleted amulet. “That wasn’t very long at all.”
“We knew it wouldn’t be.” Araya wrapped her arms around herself, fighting the sting in her throat. “That’s why you should have dispelled them immediately?—”
He glanced at her, puzzled, then gave a soft huff of laughter. “Why waste it on scraps?” he said. “We can make more—and better ones. With whole bone next time, not just blanks.”
“But—” Araya started to protest, but Jaxon kept talking over her.
“And now we know it works.” Jaxon held up the cracked amulet, staring at it with open awe. “Your blood changes the reaction. That kind of resonance? It opens up at least a dozen new configurations. I need to test more combinations—your aether, Loren’s blood, maybe even direct contact with the shadows?—”
“You’re not hearing me,” Araya said, a chill rolling down her spine. “The people here—theyneedthe Arcanum to help them?—”
“And we will.” Jaxon turned to her fully now, the edge of frustration sharpening his smile. “Once we’ve perfected it—not before.” He reached for her, tilting her chin up to meet his gaze. “This is bigger than Ravonfar, Starling. We made progress here tonight.Realprogress. With Loren’s blood—and yours—we’re one step closer to controlling the Shadowed Veil. You’re as important as he is now—maybe even more so.”
Araya caught her breath. She had no doubt Jaxon meant the words as a praise—she should have felt honored, validated…but after seeing what had happened to Loren? It felt more like a warning.
“We’re going to change everything, Starling.” Jaxon’s smile widened as he stepped closer, cupping her face in his hands and pressing a kiss to her parted lips. “You and me—together. No one will be able to stop us.”
Araya forced a tight smile. “Together,” she echoed, willing herself to believe it.
Chapter
Twenty-Three
“They didn’t just react—theypulledtoward you, like your blood was some sort of key.” Jaxon gestured animatedly as he spoke, not seeming to notice that Araya hadn’t said a word since he helped her into the carriage. “In all my research, no accounts ever mentioned something like that?—”
Araya pressed her forehead to the cool glass, watching the city blur past as the carriage rattled over the cobblestones. Her hand throbbed where the shard of bone had sliced her—a mirror of the cut she’d gotten on that same beach with her mother so many years ago. The shadows had been there then, too. Her mother had hoped the humans wouldn’t chase them onto the beach because of them...but she had been wrong.
“—like there’s some sort of a link between you?—”
“What?” Araya straightened, her focus snapping to Jaxon.
“There’s something between the two of you,” Jaxon insisted. “Don’t bother denying it. It explains everything. Why you’ve been so reluctant to do what needs to be done when it comes to him, why you’re always defending him—but none of it is your fault, Starling. It’s just instinct.”
“Instinct,” Araya repeated, fear bitter on her tongue. “I don’t think so, Jaxon. What could a halfblood fae possibly have in common with a prince? I was only two years old when he was imprisoned.”
“It wouldn’t be the first time a king strayed, Starling.”
“You think we’rerelated?” Araya stared at him. “My mother was fae?—”
