“Our son told us a little about you, that you are from the Mortal Kingdom and that you were held prisoner by King Dolian,” Sadryn says, his hand wrapped around his wife’s and resting on the table between them. I nod my head as I work to swallow down the thick knot in my throat at the mention of my uncle. “My condolences to you. I can’t even begin to imagine how difficult that was.”
“It must have also been challenging to discover you have magic,” his mother adds, her voice gentle as she studies me. “Training for those with magic begins at eight years old in our kingdom, so I can only imagine how terrifying it was to feel something so unfamiliar for so long.”
I simply nod again, my hand assuming a death grip on Nox’s. It is strange to talk so openly about my magic when I’ve kept it hidden for so long. In the course of three months, I had gone from one person other than myself knowing to innumerable more. Nox, my uncle, the members of the King’s Guard, now his parents… It is disheartening trying to reconcile the fact that Alexi died so that this part of me could stay hidden.
“For the sake of honesty, I’m going to be blunt, Rhea,” Sadryn says, leaning forward and placing his elbows on the table. Nox tenses, the movement more felt from where I hold his hand than actually seen. “Did Nox explain magical signatures? How we can sense the magic around us?”
“Yes,” I croak out, heat flooding my cheeks. Nox’s thumb gently drags across the back of my hand.
“The magic in our kingdom is dwindling, for lack of a better word. Each generation of mage has become weaker with it, and while I won’t bore you with the details of the other changes that have been happening, the point I’m making is that, with the exception of our son, no one else has a signature as strong as yours. It’s going to draw attention and questions.”
Nox sits up straighter, his free hand forming a white-knuckled fist on the table. “They will not have access to her.”
“That isn’t what your father is saying, my star.” I smile at the term of endearment Alexandria uses for Nox, and he gradually relaxes his stiff posture. “We have something that we think can help.”
His mother reaches for a small black pouch hidden by a flower arrangement in the center of the table. Opening it, she pulls out a silver chain necklace with a small shiny black pendant dangling at the end.
“Do you know anything about dragon stone, Rhea?” she asks, holding the necklace up.
“No. I’ve never heard of it.”
Alexandria hands the necklace to Sadryn, the dainty jewelry nearly lost in his large hands. “We trade the Fae Kingdom for their dragon stone because it makes for incredible building material, as you can see by the walls and floors of this palace.” His free hand gestures to the space around us, the stone reflecting many glittering flares of light as if in gratitude to his compliment. “But it also is an excellent conduit for our magic. Dragon stone has the ability to hold magic that is imbued into it without the magic diminishing over time.” He reaches over and passes the necklace to Nox. “Only if the stone is broken will it release the power it holds.”
Nox holds it up for me to look at, and when I see what the pendant is, I’m unable to stop the smile that grows. “It’s a dragon.” Nox’s eyes move to my lips, his own curling upwards.
“The necklace is an heirloom, one that was passed down from the last queen of Void Magic. But we think if Nox spells it to dampen your magical signature, it should quell any inquiries as long as you’re wearing it,” Sadryn says.
I inspect the pendant, the tiny dragon carved in exquisite detail. It looks as if it is gliding through the air—its wings spread out wide with tiny linear divots chiseled into the wingspan. Its tail curves back and forth while its mouth is open as if in mid-roar. I run my thumb over it, marveling at the coincidence of getting something dragon themed given my deep fascination with the creatures.
“If my spell lessens how her magic is sensed by others, will it also affect howshewields it while wearing this?” Nox asks.
“Yes, it will put a damper on it,” his father answers.
“Is that a good idea? To have something that doesn’t let her access her full power?”
“Unfortunately, it is the sacrifice that must be paid in order to hide the magic she does have from everyone else. It’s the balance that is required,” his mother responds.
Nox’s jaw clenches tightly as he thinks over her words.
“Maybe, when it is just you and I, we could take the necklace off?” I suggest.
If our magic is so similarly strong, then he would need to be the one giving me more extensive training with it anyway. He runs a hand through his hair, the shorter strands up front flopping back over his forehead in a cascading wave.
“Alright. If this is the best way to keep anyone from looking too closely, then I agree with you, Sunshine. We’ll take the necklace off when it’s only you and me.” His magic rises to his palm, the dark luminescent purple mixing with wavy lines of pure black. It pulsates when he lowers the pendant until it’s submerged.
“Not too strong, Nox. We don’t want her to be completely cut off from her magic,” his father insists.
“Something like that is possible?” I ask.
“There is a way to temporarily block a mage from accessing their magic.” Seeing the look of trepidation on my face, Sadryn adds, “Though it would take a group of people to overpower either of you.”
Nox’s magic fades back into his palm, and his gaze finds mine again, tight lines framing the corners of his mouth. At my encouraging smile, he motions for me to turn around. I scoot to the edge of the wooden chair, twisting my body to the side and giving Nox my back. His hand gently pulls my long hair over one shoulder, and then he fastens the necklace around me.
A humming sensation blankets my skin, the feeling not unpleasant but still jarring. My magic rises in response, and for a moment, I wonder if the necklace is doing anything at all. Then, as if someone has poured water onto fiery coals, my magic settles within me. It’s still there, smoldering under the surface, but I can’t feel it as strongly.
I turn back to look at Nox. “It’s working. My magic feelsquieter.”
He doesn’t exactly look pleased by this update. “I can’t feel you as strongly now,” he says, his hand reaching out towards mine.
