“Oh,” I say in surprise. “Do I just—” I awkwardly slip under his arms, trying to leave as much space between our bodies as possible.
“We have to be touching, yes,” he bristles.
I heave a sigh of annoyance, gingerly stepping into him.
“For gods’ sakes, witch,” he hisses impatiently, grabbing me by the arms and hauling me against him. I turn my head to the side, trying not to be crushed to his chest, trying not to inhale that campfire scent that will be my undoing. He takes my arms and wraps them around his waist.
Wonderful.
“Have at it,” he says above my head, clearly perturbed. I try to summon the shadows, but they move slowly, curling around our ankles and rising like smoke.
“Today, preferably,” he grumbles against me.
“I’m trying,” I snap, gritting my teeth. In answer, the shadows spread faster, engulfing us toe to top. It takes more concentration to extend them around two people. I envision where I want to go.
Familiar darkness swallows us, a black hole with no light. Furious wind tornadoes around us as I clutch Jace to me tightly. We cling to each other, our bodies fused together as the smoke retracts, revealing the small white stone temple at the edge of the gardens. We stand, bracing each other on the steps leading up to the towering door.
I extricate myself from Jace and laugh. “I did it!”
“Beginner’s luck.” The proud, crooked smile that grows on this face belies his dismissive tone.
“What are you doing?” he asks as I push open the door and step inside the stone structure.
“Taking a break.” My voice softly echoes off the cavernous high ceilings. “I’ve never been in here. It’s beautiful.”
The floor-to-ceiling marble houses nine alcoves altogether. They line the walls, lit by floor lanterns embedded in the stone. Each alcove contains a carved marble statue amid a shrine of fresh flowers, with symbols etched into the reflective walls below. Velvet-cushioned kneelers line the walls behind double rows of candles, glowing in their glass revivers.
On the far back wall are two shrines, larger and more grandiose than the others, situated above an altar. The alcoves are encrusted in black diamond, making the alabaster forms stand out in stark contrast. Exotic flowers and gifts made of gold lay at their feet. I drift down the aisle where two rows of pews are centered. I recognize these two as Urhlon and Aerill infae form. Aerill wears nothing more than a drape around her hips, a crown of stars, and a necklace of the moon phases. Her mate is imposing and stern-faced in the alcove beside her, wearing nothing but a crown of suns.
“The gods.” He sidles up to me.
“I gathered.” I slide into the first pew, and Jace follows.
“That one there”—he points to the adjacent wall—“that’s Silva. Mother of Witches.”
I glance over at her shrine. Her alcove is painted with the five elements. Silva stands tall and proud—a crown of laurel leaves around her head. Her face is the portrait of serenity.
“I haven’t prayed in a long time. I only really remember to do it when something bad is about to happen. But that’s not really fair, is it?” I smile sadly.
“At solstice,” I continue, staring at my hands, “when I denied Aerill, she told me never to call on the gods again. That they wouldn’t listen. Which sucks because if there was ever a time to pray, it would be now. I don’t know if I can do this. The shock of this new world, of magic, hasn’t even worn off yet. I feel like I’m going in blind.” I let out a long, slow sigh, the sound like air leaving a tire.
We grow quiet, and I can feel his eyes studying me. Then he says, “You’re ready.”
“I’m a baby witch. I’ve barely even scraped the surface of my magic.”
He shifts, angling himself to face me in the pew. “You’ll have time to master your magic.Afteryou bond Prophyria.”
“And if I fail? If I die before I have the chance?”
It’s the first time I’ve allowed myself to voice these fears out loud. I’ve had blinders on, refusing to admit to myself that what I’m about to do is life or death. Jace wraps his hand around mine, his eyes a searing gold.
“You arenotgoing to die. Do you hear me?”
“I don’t trust myself.”
My words are barely a whisper. It’s what I’ve felt every day of my life for twenty-nine years. It’s my darkest secret, one I’ve never admitted aloud. Jace’s face is stern.
“You’ve trained for this.I’vetrained you for this.” He slides an inch closer. “If you can’t trust yourself, then trust me. You can do this.”
