“We know what Scarven’s been importing. And thanks to Silas, we’re starting to get an idea of what this fatesprig does.” Nox raised his glass to Silas.
Silas nodded. “It reacts strongly when exposed to Veridian blood. I’ve only tested it by dripping a couple drops of my own blood onto it. The veins in the leaves change color, indicating the composition of the plant physicallychanges. I can’t test it further without risking someone’s safety, but it stands to reason that the opposite would also occur: the fatesprig can change the physical composition ofourblood. Our magic.”
“So Scarven is using it for his experiments,” Tessa said slowly. “To manipulate magic.”
“That’s what we think, yes,” Nox said. “We just don’t know exactlyhowit changes magic. Does it take it away? Mutate it? Make it stronger? Can it be applied to weapons or released at a widespread level? There are still many questions, the most important of which being how much he has and how we can destroy it before he does anything catastrophic.”
“We can’t break into his labs,” Arowyn countered. “I haven’t been able to get through those wards his Alchemist has up. If this stuff is so important to him, he’s going to have it locked down even tighter.”
Nox’s next words made my stomach drop. “That’s where Devora comes in.”
“Me?” I asked, both eyebrows raised. “What do you expect me to do that all of you can’t?”
Nox set his drink down and crossed his arms, wrapping his fingers around his biceps. “Get close to him. Make him lower his guard. Get him towantto show you his secrets.”
I choked back a laugh, then sobered when I saw how serious he was. “That’s the best you’ve got? You want me to what,seducehim? This murderous Shifter who experiments on people for pleasure?”
“Notseduce, just…” Nox trailed off, licking his lips.
“Make him want you as his next project?” Arowyn offered.
I huffed. “Yes, because that’ssomuch better.”
“You told us his men think you’re from Mysthelm, yes?” Nox asked, and I nodded slowly. “If anyone were to recognize you, they would assume you’re not Veridian. They would assume?—”
“That she doesn’t have magic,” Everett finished, interest piquing in his features.
Nox nodded. “There’s a contingency from Mysthelm coming soon to visit the provinces. Clarissa organized it as a peaceful way forward since she took the throne. They’ll be in Drakorum in three weeks, and Scarven’s planning a ball for them. He expects me at his side, but he would never expectyou.”
He took a step closer to me. “You can disguise yourself. We’ll forge documents of passage to corroborate the claim. You’ll pretend to be part of the group from Mysthelm—a normal,magic-lesshuman. Get his attention and, trust me, he’ll be interested.”
It was suddenly too warm in the room. Heat crawled from my chest and up my neck at the look on his face. Did he really think I could do something like this?
“Scarven likes to collect things,” he continued. “Especially rare things.People. Someone hard to come by, such as a human from Mysthelm. Defenseless and magic-less, completely at his mercy.”
I licked my lips. “Only problem is that Iamdefenseless. I may as well not even have magic. I don’t see how I couldhelp.”
“So we train you,” Kieran said, moving to stand by Nox’s side. “This might actually work, Nox. Shadows are one thing we have not yet attempted.”
I shook my head and held my hands out, trying to wrap my mind around everything. “Wait. What’s so special about shadows?”
“There are multiple sides to all our magic,” Arowyn began, and I turned to the couch. “Everyone from each province has the same basic abilities. Here in Drakorum, they can shift, while those in Feywood practice Alchemy; those in Emberfell can create light, and so on. But sometimes, we develop…” She paused and twisted her lips. “Variations. Take me, for example. I’m a Strider, but I can also summon things.” She held out her other hand, and I watched with parted lips as a faint shimmer appeared above her fingers, followed by a hairbrush popping into existence in her palm.
I let out a breath. “Did you just?—”
“It’s from my room upstairs,” she said. “Not all Striders can do it, just like there are other variations among the provinces. Everett here is an Illusionist, but he can also dreamwalk,” she added, nodding to Everett. “He’s so good with the kids and their nightmares because he can literally enter their dreams to calm them down.”
“Those two aren’t the only ones with fancy tricks,” Tessa said with a wink. “That’s how I can shift into something as small as a cat or as big as a lion. It’s pretty uncommon, but some other Shifters can do it too.”
“We need to find out the extent of your powers,” Everett jumped in. “I’ve read about shadow wielding variants before. Some people can do what’s called shadow marking. There’s also shadow melting and whispering, I think. Any of those would be helpful here. You could melt into the shadows to get into warded spaces, use them to eavesdrop on conversations, things like that.”
“The perfect spy,” Arowyn finished.
Everyone turned back to Nox, whose lips curved into a sinful, devious smirk. “The only trickis finding out whatyoucan do.”
I blinked, still reeling from all the information. “And how, exactly, do you propose we do that?”
“I know someone who can help.” He looked around the room, those navy eyes dark and calculating. “Everett and Arowyn, pack your bags. You too, Shadow Wielder.”
