“Did you run into any trouble on the way here?” I asked Matthias.
He laughed under his breath. “Other than rogues in the middle of the woods, nightmares from the Whispering Caves, nearly starving when I lost my food source, and having my horse stolen while I slept?”
I cringed. “Yeah. Other than that.”
“Nope,” he replied, sitting straighter in the saddle. “Just peachy.”
Scarlata disappeared behind us as we guided the horses through the terrain. These horses were accustomed to traveling through the thick forest, but we would need to take frequent breaks so we wouldn’t exhaust them.
They weren’t the only ones who’d be worn out by the journey.
I let a few minutes pass before glancing over my shoulder. “Everyone okay back there?”
“So far so good,” Xavier answered.
Only silence from Rummy.Great.
The next few hours came and went without issues. My body easily adjusted to riding on horseback as we fell into a steady rhythm. Plus, I found the forest calming.
For so long, this forest had been creeping with the hungry ones—vampyres who fell ill due to the curse on these lands. They became savages, killing for even a single drop of blood.
But the hungry ones were long gone. We had Huntyr to thank for that.
A strange peace fell over the greenery.
“You said you encountered rogues? Were they fae?” I asked Matthias after a while.
He brought his horse close so we could speak. “I didn’t get a close enough look. They could have been fae or human. I don’t know. They were smart and sneaky, though, I can tell you that much.”
“And you couldn't stop them? Do you wield magic?”
Matthias straightened in his saddle, his posture tense. “Not anymore. That’s a large part of the problem in Pericius right now. Magic used to be wielded by so many in the lands, but not anymore. It’s not safe. Not with the king searching town after town for power that can be useful to him. He’ll kill anyone who he deems a threat.”
“Hmm.” It wasn’t the first I’d heard of leaders threatening or even banning magic use. Fae were natural magic wielders, but without practice, the skill deteriorated. Especially when the lands weren’t blessed by the goddesses.
“Why?” Matthias asked. “Do you all practice magic?”
Rummy laughed quietly behind us. I figured she’d be listening.
But I ignored her. “Some do, yes. But not us.”Not that they know.
I had somegifts, yes. Angels had advanced hearing, speed, and strength. Many of us all possessed special skills, like Wolf and his healing magic. But I choked down the truth, sticking to the story that I hadnospecial magic.
It was safer for everyone that way.
“You aren’t a fae, are you? You’re the angel of Scarlata?”
I choked back a groan. The angel of Scarlata? Goddess above, that was a horrible title. “My father was an archangel, so, yes, but I don’t practice.”
“Why not? Aren’t angels supposed to be insanely talented with their magic?”
All too aware of Rummy listening in behind us, I stilled. “Let’s just keep moving. We need to make as much progress as we can before nightfall.”
Matthias didn’t ask any more questions, and I thanked the goddess above for that. Since Scarlata had been growing, the question of using magic lingered in the air, following my every fucking move.
No, I didn’t use magic. Yes, angels were supposed to be incredibly powerful.
Even Wolf—who had been afallenangel—had an incredible ability.
