“I thought you were drowning,” said Amador. “Can you imagine if the queen died because of something I did?”
“My magic,” whispered Nix. She looked stunned. “It was like you were…consuming it. I’ve never felt anything like that before.”
“I was hungry,” I said. “Or the manananggal was.” Though at this point, I was starting to wonder if we weren’t one and the same.
I sat in the soft grass, my knees tucked up to my chest, while Nix and Amador went through more pages of the book, talking between themselves about the next possible solution. But the manananggal’s words still rang in my ears.You can’t kill me. I’m you.
“It was a good effort,” I said, making them both turn to me. “We’ll just have to try something else.”
Nix’s gaze danced across the surface of the water, her lower lip jutting out. Amador sighed and crossed her legs, wringing out her dress with her hands.
I scrubbed my hand down my face and tried to take a calming breath. “If Qian or anyone else from Jade Mountain sees me, I’m in serious trouble.”
“It’s my fault they’re here,” Nix said. “If I’d just stayed in my kingdom, they wouldn’t have come for me.”
“But then you wouldn’t be in my life,” I said. “And what would I do without you?”
Nix smiled sorrowfully, then said, “Maybe I should go back to Jade Mountain.”
Immediately, both Amador and I rounded on her.
“Absolutely not,” I said.
“You can’t!” Amador cried.
Nix’s lower lip trembled. “But I can’t find a way to help you. I don’t know what I’m doing. And with Qian here, I’m putting you at risk.”
She was trying her best to help me; I’d never blame her for anything.
When we madeit back to the grounds, I spotted Qian on the lawn, bow in hand once more. To my surprise, Lucas was with him.
Qian handed Lucas the bow, and Lucas stepped up to take a shot. They were shooting clay discs again.
I kept my head down, hoping neither of them would notice me, but as usual, Qian did. It was like he had eyes on me at all times.
“Your Majesty,” he said, smiling. Then his eyes fell to my soaked clothes. “Are you all right?”
“Fine,” I said. “Decided to go for a swim.”
Lucas took in the state of my clothes, too, his ears turning pink briefly before he yelled for the game master to pull, and the clay disc shot up into the air.
He let loose, and the clay disc shattered into pieces. Bullseye.
“Changed your mind about hunting?” I asked.
Lucas handed Qian the bow and swiped his hair back from his forehead. “Yes, my queen.” Formal as ever.
He was keeping his distance from me, even though I knew the truth. He’d put up his walls once again.
Qian hefted the bow and clapped him on the back. “Good shot, Sir Lucas.” They were acting friendlier toward each other, at least. Qian handed the bow to another one of his men before he walked up to us.
He dipped his head to get a better look at Nix, whose head was lowered in defeat. “You feeling all right, little sister? You seem a little peaked.”
Nix did look sick, but I imagined it was because of the enormous amount of magic she’d summoned into the spring. “I’m fine,” she said. Before Qian could ask more, she turned and left, Amador rushing after her.
I should have gone, too, but my feet felt glued to the ground. Nix must have felt like she was failing me—that she was failing her kingdom as well. It was a lot of pressure to put on one person. I didn’t know what to say to her that would make it all better.
Qian’s gaze caught mine, and he smiled. “Would you like to see if you’re a better shot than Sir Lucas?”
