“Fates, am I going to have to separate the two of you?” I asked with an exasperated laugh. “Let me read in peace.”
Sighing, Nox said, “You don’t have to be so rude ab?—”
Before he finished his sentence, a flaming sheet of parchment appeared midair, floating down onto the table in front of me.
Arowyn promptly sat back down. “What’s that?”
I knew exactly what it was. Theodore was the only one who’d delivered a message to me this way.
Snatching it from the table and blowing out the smoldering edges, I scanned the familiar cursive, hurriedly tucked it into my pocket, then glanced at the clock on the library wall.
“Secrets are for the bedroom or the grave, darling,” Nox said, clicking his tongue and eyeing me curiously.
“It’s from my aunt. She and Beau want to have dinner tonight.” The lie slipped from me like honey. “Speaking of which, I should probably get ready.” As I spoke, I stacked my books and collected my various notes, anticipation coursing inside me at the thought of another magic lesson.
“I thought we were going to meet in my room tonight,” Nox reminded me. “I found that stash of Luxe wine Arowyn and I wanted to try, andyouagreed to be our sober caretaker.”
“Oh—right. I don’t know what time we’ll be done with dinner. How about tomorrow?” I asked, grabbing my bag.
I felt a slice of guilt at the disappointed expression on his features. I’d forgotten we’d made plans for the night. Nox was especially excited to try the palace’s favorite drink, the green wine Horace had told me about my first day here. But Theodore’s message said he wanted to meet in less than an hour, and I had no idea how long our lesson would last.
Arowyn shrugged. “Fine with me. Wouldn’t want to get in the way of whatever shady deal you’ve got going on tonight.”
I blinked at her, my lips parting. Before I could respond, she grinned at me lazily. “Kidding. Have fun with your family. We’ll try to save some wine for you.”
My heartbeat slowed and I threw them a quick wave, then checked my books out at the librarian’s desk and headed back to my room.
I was weaving so many webs of lies. Part of me wondered how much longer I’d be able to control it, or if I’d soon become ensnared myself.
“You’ve been practicing,”Thedore said, nodding his head approvingly at the apple I’d frozen midair. He plucked it from the empty space and took a bite out of it.
As he crunched on the sweet red fruit, I rubbed the drop of blood still blooming at the cut on my finger and muttered, “Voquer.” The apple flew from his lips mid-bite and into my outstretched hand. I tossed it and caught it again, crossing my arms and smirking at the look on his face. “These are spells I’ve known since I was eight, Theodore. I thought you were going to teach me somethingnew?”
He smiled, tapping his nose with a wrinkled finger then pulling his long hair back, securing it with a leather strap at the nape of his neck. “Very well. I assume you are familiar with common healing spells and tinctures?”
Nodding, I recounted the various herbs and oils I usually used for healing, most of which I’d seen on the shelves of his den we were currently practicing in. “Cedarwood for wounds, ginger for pain relief, carnations to restore strength.” I ticked names off on my fingers. “Fleawort, elderberry, a bit of lavender mixed with?—”
He cut me off with a chuckle. “You’ve made your point. Quite the studious Alchemist. You may understand the basic principles behind these charms, yes, but what about how itfeels?” He crossed the room to me, that intense passion kindled in his mismatchedeyes. “If you no longer rely on the nature around you to aid in the healing process, you must call on the power withinyourself. It’s more than these simple spells you’ve been practicing. Performing magic on another living being instead of inanimate objects is profoundly more difficult.”
Theodore held out his hand and sliced a thin mark into his scar-littered palm, letting the blood well as he murmured a spell. Out of nowhere, a small crow appeared in his hand. I jumped backward, surprised by the shrill caw as it flapped its wings but stayed in place, looking around at its surroundings with beady eyes. Theodore stroked its head and tittered to calm its anxious fidgeting.
“Wh—howdid you?—”
I didn’t get the chance to finish my question. Before I could blink, he took one of the bird’s wings between his other forefinger and thumb and snapped it.
I let out a sharp gasp and covered my mouth. Its shriek echoed in my ears, making my stomach roll with disgust.
“Come here, Rose,” Theodore said quietly. “You can heal it. Take its pain away.”
I shook my head, still processing what he’d done. “I—I can’t. It doesn’t work that quickly. Healing takes time. That bird will suffer for?—”
“That is how your magicusedto work.” He came closer and I sucked in a breath, my body going tense. “Trust me, niece. You can do so much more than you have ever dreamed.”
Swallowing hard, I cautiously stepped forward, my brow furrowed in concern. I’d healed minor injuries on myself and others countless times in my life, but it always took time. Nothing worked instantly; even the miraculous healing potion Leo gave me after the first trial took hours to work. Being able to fix a wound like thisinstantly? It was life changing.
I picked up the knife from the nearby desk and held it to my finger. The sharp sting had become second nature at this point.
“Feel the injury,” he instructed, cupping the bird in both handsand holding it out to me. “Imagine being able to see the shattered bones, the torn muscles. Look beneath the flesh and picture your magic,yourblood, coursing through it. Replacing weakness with strength. Pain with comfort. Broken with whole.”
