Why hadn’t I attended Moira?
I’d been asked that question over and over. By Jessiah. By Huntyr. By Wolf.
But they didn’t understand.
They never would.
“Moira isn’t for people like me. I have no interest in developing a magic I don’t have.”
Cornelius’s eyes flashed in a way I didn’t understand. Though the sun was setting and the lantern on the table was dim, it was impossible to miss. “What?”
“It’s just… You’re different, Rummy. I sense it. In fact, you just might be the one I’ve been waiting for.”
Chest tightening, I sat back. “What do you mean?”
He cleared his throat and shifted in his seat. “Have you ever heard of chaos?”
“Chaos magic?” I repeated. “No, can’t say I have.” The lie spilled easily from my lips.
If Cornelius noticed my deceit, he did not show it. “Blood magic, natural magic, and chaos. An entirely different type of power that can cause ultimate death and destruction. My father had a bit of an… obsession with magic. Different types of magic. Different types of magic users. He was searching for powerful wielders of chaos. Pericius has never had the types of magic restrictions the eastern kingdoms held. Vaehatis was the only land cursed by the goddess to stifle the magic use there. Likely because of the archangels.”
“You have no archangels here, right? Just fae?”
Cornelius nodded. “For centuries, only fae have inhabited Pericius. And all that time, we have practiced freely. It’s allowed us to cultivate a kingdom of diverse magic users.”
Unease coiled deep in my stomach. “Wow. That’s quite a feat.”
His eyes darkened. “It was a feat, yes, but my father could be quite jealous at times. He coveted what he could not have.”
“And what couldn’t he have?”
The intensity in his eyes as he zeroed in on me sent a shiver down my spine. “He wanted what I have, Rummy. He wanted enough chaos magic to connect to the dead.”
I nearly spat out my damn wine at his sudden admission. “You can connect to the dead? Are you kidding?”
“Yes, I can. I am not the only one with this gift, but I have yet to meet anyone who controls it as well as I do. There are other facets of my gift, of course, but that is the main objective. Chaos is very powerful. Very dangerous. I’ve been searching for others, but most who have the gift are ashamed. Hiding.”
Goddess above. “I’ve never heard of that before. Certainly nobody in Scarlata possesses a gift like that. Their gifts are mostly…” I flapped my hands, my heart pounding quickly. “Shooting beams of light. Healing wounds. Things like that.”
He laughed quietly. “Yes, that’s what I would expect in such a new kingdom. It will likely take centuries for magic wielders to strengthen their magic to a level like many of us here have.” He took his time swallowing another drink, and then, “Which is why I was so surprised to meet you, Rummy. I could sense you immediately.”
My heart clawed its way into my throat. “Sense what, exactly?” I croaked. “What do you mean?”
“Your gift, of course.”
I forced a soft smile. “I already told you, I don’t possess any magic.”
Cornelius leaned forward, his eyes electric. They locked me in their inescapable grasp. “But that’s not true, is it?”
Don’t say it. Don’t say it. Don’t say it.
This could not be happening.
I couldn’t have spoken even if I wanted to.
“Tell me, Rummy. How long have you known you’ve had chaos magic?”
Chapter 18
