“Focus on where you want the magic to go,” Nox instructs gently.
My shoulders rise and fall sharply with my next breath, but I do as Nox says. I imagine the white light filling the dark stone until it glows gray, and my magic leaps from my fingertips and follows suit, settling into the center of the onyx rock. My jaw relaxes at the small release of power, the rest fading from my hand before I hold the stone up and wiggle it in front of his face.
“Another one for the collection,” I tease, laying it on my bedside table where a gathering of dragon stone pieces that I’ve practiced with now sit.
“Well done, Sunshine.” He leans over and slides both hands around my neck until he reaches the back. “Now show me your shields without the pendant on.” He waits until I nod, then unhooks the necklace and removes it, setting it aside on the bed. I feel the surge within me, warmth quickly traveling up my spine and reaching the base of my throat before I’m able to hold it off. “Good. Breathe through it. Let your intention guide your power back into a relaxed state.”
My ears are buzzing by the time I feel that I have full control over my magic. “Why is it so much harder to control now than when I was in the tower?” I had been improving, even with keeping the shadow half untouched, but it felt as if my power was alsoadapting.The more I used it, the more it seemed togiveme to use.
Nox tucks a strand of hair behind my ear, his hand then falling to my knee. “From what you told me, you didn’t ever use it in the tower consistently like you are now. I think your magic became used to being repressed, so it’s requiring more effort to balance now that you’re drawing on it more. When I was first learning and exploring my magic, it took many months to control it at will. You’ve only been trying for the equivalent of half a summer.”
I nod my head, sure that he is right. I had promised Selene I would train with all of my magic soon, and I will. I just need more time. We continue practicing, Nox helping me build physical shields and then trying to break them with his own magic—a feat that ends up making me laugh as our magic seems to only want to twine together when they are near each other in this way.
When he feels as if we’ve done enough, Nox clasps the necklace back on me and pulls me to sit between his legs while we read from Elora’s book together.
Chapter Sixty-One: Bahira
I swing my speardown towards her face and Jahlee lifts her shortswords, crossing them overhead and blocking my weapon’s path. She’s been able to parry most of my attacks, a vast improvement from when we first started training. Kicking out towards her chest, I miss as she evades my boot, spinning with her swords glinting in the sunlight in front of her.
“Good,” I acknowledge, spinning my spear until the tip is pointing upwards.
“As good as you?” she asks, dropping her swords onto the grass.
I snort, blowing a curly strand of hair that has fallen out of my ponytail. “You’ve definitely improved. Well done.”
She huffs, giving me a weak thumbs up while reaching for her waterskin in the grass next to her. “So,” she says, the word drawn out, “how arethingswith my brother.”
I force my jaw to relax at the mention of Kai. Our walk back from Honna had been quiet as I processed the failed experimentation with his blood on the shifter. At least Kai had been able to speak with some additional families before we left, ones who claimed they were also denied aid by the palace.
“Fine. How are things with your aunt? Did she leave for Honna already?” Kai had only told her, Jahlee, and Tua about our departure north, the latter seeming indifferent about our journey.
“Yes, she left this morning. She is happier now that she’s talked with Kai and has his promise that anyone asking for aid will get it approved by the Crown.”
“Did she leave on foot?” I ask, taking a seat next to her and tipping my head back towards the newly risen sun.
“No, her animal is a hawk. She should make it home within a few hours if she stays in that form the entire time.”
“You didn’t want to go with her?” In our quieter moments, Jahlee had shared that there was more of the island she wished to see. How Kai’s fear of the rebels was valid, but that it left her feeling like she was a caged animal bumping into the walls of its enclosure. I thought she might take the opportunity to go with her aunt, if only for a small reprieve.
“No, she prefers to fly. I would have slowed her down with my mortal legs.” Her comment catches me off-guard as I tilt my head down to look at her. A moment passes before Jahlee tenses,her gaze flying up to meet mine as if she’s just realized what she’s said.
I decipher her words, pulling them apart until a realization lifts my brows high on my forehead. I think back to each time I’ve brought up her shifting, how she changed the subject. I remember the moment she got into an argument with the noble female, and I was sure tensions were strong enough that she might shift, but she didn’t. I recount what Sir Duarte said to her at the council dinner and how vehemently Kai defended her.
“You cannot shift,” I state gently, the corners of my mouth falling when she nods her head in agreement. “The blight. I had no idea it affected—”
“My ability, or ratherlackof ability, to shift has nothing to do with the blight,” she interrupts.
“You werebornunable to shift?”
“Surprise,” she says, forcing an upward tilt to her lips while wiggling her fingers in front of herself.
“How is that possible?”
Jahlee shrugs, letting her shoulders round as she stares just past me to the palace behind us. “I was born healthy and strong, but when I was well past the age that a child should be able to shift, it became painfully obvious that I couldn’t. It’s like the magic to do so justskippedme.”
Quiet stretches between us as I let Jahlee’s words settle within me. I understand inherently what it is to be born without something everyone else has. How isolating and lonely it can be. How frustrating and heartbreaking.
“I should get going,” she announces, hopping up to stand as she sheathes her shortswords. “There are people to torment and kings to annoy.”
