A knock sounded at the door, and Aranare appeared, leaning casually against the frame, his eyes sweeping over us. “Good morning, Mom. Are you lassies ready to train with me?”
I stood, legs stiff from sitting on the cushion, keen to work up a sweat in combat.
As we followed Aranare out of the bookshop, Louisa caught my wrist. “Good luck... with everything,” she whispered.
I nodded, and a sob curled in my throat. “You’ll check in on Granddad?”
“I promise,” she said, giving my arm a quick squeeze. I smiled, and in that moment, Louisa and I understood each other. I was doing this for my grandmother, Iona, finishing what she and Louisahad begun.
“Can we do magic-wielding now?” Skye whined from the grass where she had sat for the whole combat lesson.
Aranare let out a low chuckle. “Alright then, let’s start with shields.”
She scrambled to her feet, and we took our positions facing Aranare. He folded his arms as he did every morning, his brown hair stirring in the early breeze, his expression smug with a hint of a smile.
This time, I noticed his allure as it rolled out from him, winding through the air and brushing against my mind—the scent of wood and something like honey.
My pulse faltered as I felt the tug, like an invisible hand drawing me closer, whispering promises against my skin. Skye swayed slightly beside me, eyes half closing, as if caught in a perfect dream.
A flash of defiance sparked in my chest, slicing through the haze. I gritted my teeth, reaching for my power and anchoring my mind’s shield. Beside me, Skye shook her head, blinking the fog from her eyes.
I met Aranare’s gaze, my chin lifting. “You’ll have to try harder than that.”
His smile only widened, a glint of challenge in his eyes. “Your turn,” he said, voice a velvet purr.
Skye glanced at me, and Aranare lifted a brow in invitation.
I shot her a conspiratorial grin. “We’ve got this.”
With a slow inhale, she closed her eyes, centering herself before releasing her breath. I followed suit, reaching again for the orb of power inside me.
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw a ripple of warmth bloom from Skye, soft and golden, like Aranare’s had been, twisting through the air like the first winds of spring.
Aranare’s body tensed. His smile faltered for half a second, eyes darkening as Skye’s allure brushed against him. He gave a low growl of approval, his gaze locked on her now, more focused, more fierce.
Distracted, I inhaled and tried to summon my power again. I felt it stir, a silver spark inside my chest, and I pushed it outward, but it flickered, like a wave that never reached the shore.
“Well done, Skye. Almost, Morgana.” Aranare threw me a sympathetic shrug.
I clenched my fists at my sides, frustration burning hotter than my embarrassment. This was our final lesson before heading underwater.
“I need to help my uncle over at Bayside before we leave, but let’s finish with another try at your stunning magic. It would be good to master that before we go to Thálassa.”
I crossed my arms. “I don’t understand how this magic will be useful.”
“As it strengthens, you’ll eventually be able to shape it into weapons, but we’re not even close to there yet.”
I focused hard on Aranare, letting my magic rise, willing my frustration not to bleed into it, but unease twisted within me. “I’m sorry, I don’t think I can.” I was terrified I’d turn him to dust instead of sending him to sleep, and that fear might be shaping my magic.
“You’ll never get there if you don’t try. I trust you.” Aranare nodded in encouragement, and he and Skye stepped back, waiting.
I scrunched up my eyes.Stun, not end. Stun, not end.
I opened my heart, and the silver orb flickered. Taking deep, steady breaths, I let my heart pump the power through every inch of me. I forced the fear down, because that’s what tended to make things go haywire.
“King Neptunus. Parker. Teachie. Rackham.”
They’re the only ones I want to end. Not anyone else. Not Aranare. Not Skye.
