Mine, something whispered.
My shadows curled in on themselves, exploring the water. The ends of one tendril wiggled across like it was trying to leap out at me. But when I looked down at my body, there was nothing there.
“It’s enchanted water,” Thecae explained. “It shows your magic, even if it’s not visible to the naked eye. Those areyours, Miss Sephorne.” I jolted at the name. “If there was ever any doubt of the power you possess, let go of it. Your shadows are a part of you whether or not you can see them. They’re simply waiting.”
“For what?”
“Foryou.”
He went quiet, letting me gaze at my shadows. A smile quirked one end of my mouth as I watched them. Small ribbons twisted together and floated beneath the reflection of my neck, while more billowed like clouds by my ears. I could almost feel them. Extensions of myself, in a way.
I reached out a finger to touch the surface of the water, and it rippled to the edge of the basin.
The shadows disappeared.
“It’s alright, Miss Sephorne,” Thecae said gently when I deflated and rocked back on my heels. “We have time.”
No, we don’t,I thought.
“I think that’s enough for this evening,” he continued. He rose to his feet and dusted his knees off, then held out a hand to me. “Would you like to come to the Noctus Vigil tonight?”
I took his hand and stood. “What’s that?”
“A ritual we have every full moon to honor our dead. It’s held in the nearest town, just outside the training grounds. All our trainers and trainees will be attending.” He paused. “Many there knew your parents, Devora. I think they would like to get to know you.”
The thought made my heart clench. I was desperate for any scrap of my past. Any scrap of my parents, of the life they lived—the lifeIcould have lived, if they hadn’t tried to escape.
Nox appeared at my side. Thecae shook his hand and said, “You’re welcome to join us, of course.”
“Thank you. We’ll think about it,” Nox said.
Thecae told us where to meet him and strode back toward the perimeter of the base.
I was about to follow him when Nox lowered his voice. “Are you sure going tonight is the best idea?”
I furrowed my brow. “Why wouldn’t it be?”
“We don’t know these people. It may not be wise to get too close to them.”
I pursed my lips. This man just couldn’t agree with me on anything. “Look, I’m doing what you want—I’m learning my magic so I can help you take down Scarven.You’rethe one who said I could find out about my family while we’re here.”
He rubbed his jaw. “We already know what happened to your family, Devora. What good will this do?”
My neck and cheeks heated. “I just found out theydied, Nox. I want to know how theylived. I want to go where they went, talk to their friends, see the province I was born in. Why are you trying to take this awayfrom me?”
“Always so defensive, darling,” he said with a low growl that both warmed my chest and ignited my anger.
“It’s hard not to be when I know how much you all dislike me.”
He let out a breath and closed his eyes. “It’s not that I want to take anything away from you,” he said slowly. “But sometimes we’re better off staying in the dark. Sometimes not knowing hurts less than the truth.”
I examined him carefully. Beneath the standoffishness, he actually seemed…concerned. Forme.
That was new.
“Maybe that’s the difference between you and me,” I said. “You have the luxury of choosing to be in the dark. I wasforcedthere. I have to know, Nox. Even if the truth hurts.”
“Fine,” he said, lips thinning into a straight line. “Then I’m coming with you.”
