I stared at him for a moment. “Alright. Should I relinquish the lands and let the Lords fight over it?”
His expression grew somber. “I don’t want it,” he repeated, “but I will share it. With you. But doing so will send a message. We will be inextricably linked.”
“Do you or your people have an issue with a link to a Chimera?”
A sad smile. “No. If we share the land, they won’t be able to offer the territory to Dario or anyone else, but you will still be able to wrest control away from me.”
“Just in case you become mad with power?”
Rowan didn’t smile. “In case you decide you no longer want to associate with me.”
I blinked. “Why would I do that?”
He shrugged. “Did you ever think such would happen with Caelan?”
I frowned at him, but he was right. “Fair enough. I agree to your terms, Lord Rowan.”
We shook on the deal. “What’s next?” he asked.
“I’ll need to double-check for evidence of the spell first on both your territory and mine. Once I cleanse the land, then I’ll take your hand and share the link with you. I’ve never done something like that, but I know how to bond with the earth. Should be simple.”
Rowan’s eyebrows lifted. “What if something goes wrong?”
“I always figure things out, don’t I?” On that slightly ominous note, I grinned and closed my eyes. Rowan shifted closer to me, the edge of his thigh touching mine.
Once my gloves were off, I sank my fingers into the dirt, sending magic deep into the earth. Rowan had more faith in me than I did, but as I spread my magic farther and farther, I realized he was right to believe in me. Magic spiraled from my fingertips, so much I felt I could encircle the world if I needed to. I’d never needed to examine so much land before, so I’d never tried spreading my wings like this. I felt amazing.
Life bloomed under the earth, creepy-crawly things ventured closer, drawn by my power, long-extinct roots came back to life, reaching for the magic, flowers bloomed all around me and Rowan, the heady scent of honeysuckle and jasmine tickling my nose.
Rowan drew in a shocked gasp as I kept spooling my magic outward, cleansing his land of any corruption I found. And there were spots here and there, some linked to the spell’s influence, some not. His land was old, much of it untouched by the current generation of humans. Spots of old fae magic lingered, so I cleansed those as well.
A laugh bubbled from my throat at the power flooding my veins like the finest champagne. Was this how I’d always been meant to use my magic? Had I unintentionally amputated my power by being so diligent about sticking to my own lands? As I worked, I realized I had the ability to purify the world ifI so chose. I could bring back extinct plants and animals. My magic brushed over the long-forgotten remains of an enormous mammoth and a saber-toothed cat, and I knew in a few brushes of power, I could bring those animals back, give them another chance at life.
Resisting the urge to act as a god, I left those alone but couldn’t resist healing damaged seeds of rare and long-forgotten flowers, encouraging the growth of Columbia yellowcress and a few others. Smiling as I moved closer to the edges of his territory, I healed and cleansed a particularly stubborn piece of that spell, frowning when I realized how large it had gotten.
Magic like this was insidious. If allowed to continue unchecked, the Lords would be helpless to prevent its corruption.
A few other spots and a double check, and Rowan’s land was clear. I sent my power into the Great Plains area, seeking to heal and solidify my claim. The corruption was much worse on the other side of the border close to Thorvin’s territory. I cleansed my side and left his alone.
He was savvy enough to sense our presence last time we intruded on his territory, and I wouldn’t risk causing trouble for Rowan. He’d already stuck his neck out for me now that everyone knew what I was.
Once I triple checked for traces of old and corrupt magic, I reached out. Rowan’s fingers slid through mine, callouses brushing against my palms.
“Do not be afraid,” I murmured.
Rowan’s fingers tightened at the words. My voice did not sound like my own. I was deep into my power now, ancient magic crackling in my veins like wildfire. Danu’s presence surrounded me, though the goddess did not intrude in my mission.
“Evie?” Concern deepened his voice.
“Thank you for your faith in me. Do not be afraid,” I said again as I dropped into my full power.
A shout of alarm tore from Rowan’s throat as magic roared through both of us. I’d felt many kinds of magic before, dark and light, but Floromancy felt like sitting in a field of wildflowers on a cool spring day with the sun at your back. This was the magic of the world, the beating heartbeat of the earth, this wasmine. Rowan’s gentler fae magic mixed with my own, allowing me to soak the territory with our mingled power. Just at the edge, close to Caelan’s territory, I noticed an encroachment, someone trying to slowly make his mark on the land.
Dario.
With a joyful laugh, I ripped that piece of his power out and sent it sailing back into Caelan’s territory, careful to stay right at the border. Once Dario’s mark was gone, I poured more and more power into the earth, moving along the edges of all the borders to include Rowan’s territory.
“More,” Rowan murmured. “You’re doing something to my land. Something good. Claim more.”
