“She’s not wrong,” Riven muttered around a bite of bread.
We shared a quick laugh before the mood shifted.
Ferrula leaned back, crossing her arms. “Let’s get one thing clear,” she said, leveling her gaze at him. “If you ever try to controlme, I will gut you in your sleep.”
Tae held up both hands, deadly serious. “I’d rather die.”
We blinked. He wasn’t joking.
“I’ve only used it to save myself,” he continued. “Or someone else. Never to manipulate. Never to toy with someone.” He glanced down at his plate. “The crown’s not thrilled about it, either. They only let me stay in the guild because I agreed to keep it classified.”
Jax leaned forward, rubbing a hand over his jaw. “I disagree with them.”
We all looked up.
“I think you shouldstrengthenit,” he said, pointing his fork at Tae. “It’s a rare gift. Could be a real weapon against the fae if it comes down to it.”
Tae gave him a skeptical look. “You’re volunteering to let me try to crawl around in your skull?”
Jax smirked. “Why not?”
Tae shook his head immediately. “No way. Ihateusing it. It doesn’t feel right. It’s like pressing into someone else’s soul.”
I leaned forward. “Where did it come from? Your power.”
Tae hesitated. Then said, “My mother.”
I blinked. “She was a…”
“She was a commoner. No powerful bloodline, not that anyone could tell. My father… he was shocked. I think part of him never really believed she had anything in her blood. But there it was. A small, glimmering bit of mind magic. It passed to me, and… well.” He gestured vaguely to himself. “The rest you’ve seen.”
Naia sat forward, her expression thoughtful. “I agree with Jax.”
Tae raised an eyebrow.
“You don’t have to like your power,” she said. “But youdohave to make it strong enough to help us. You could be our last defense in another fae attack. That’s not just rare… it’s essential.”
Tae looked around at all of us. The quiet trust in our eyes. The understanding.
He exhaled, slow and unsure.
“I’ll think about it,” he said.
And for now, that was enough.
The table had gone quiet, the weight of Tae’s admission lingering in the air like smoke after a fire. His shoulders were tight, his usual charm dulled, and I knew that look, knew the guilt hiding behind his careful half-smile.
He needed a way out. A shift.
So I gave it to him.
“Well,” I said, setting down my spoon with a deliberate clink, “since we’re all trading secrets over breakfast, I might as well tell you where I was yesterday.”
Cordelle looked up from his notes, and Ferrula arched an eyebrow.
“You weren’t with Zander?” Naia asked.
“No,” I said. “Kaelith took me to the Hatchling Isle.”
