Had Fisher told Ryder about the book? He wouldn’t do that, right? After seeing what happened at the workshop, he’d know better than to spill my secrets.
“What else have you lied about?” Ryder roared. “Do you evenhave Divine magic or was it your friends who repaired your field?”
“She does,” my father spoke up, and I shot him a look.
Ryder’s gaze darted between my father and me, attempting to read whatever we were wordlessly communicating.
“Audryn has the magic of the land,” my father said adoringly. “She was gifted it from her mother’s family.”
“Prove it.” Ryder kicked a boot at the pieces of mug splayed across the floor, sending a larger chunk into the wall.
“There’s been a ban for twenty years, any magic I've done was accidental and I’m not sure how—” I started.
“Stop lying!” Ryder shouted. “I am tired of all your lies!”
“What—” My words faltered and my stomach sank. “What would you like me to show you?”
“Get creative,” he sneered. “Use that mind of yours for once.”
I looked around the room, hoping to find something to squash his anger. If Ryder were to treat me as he did at the workshop, my father’s magic would rage and expose our family. My father adjusted his weight on the cane, causing the floor to creak. He needed to sit, and I needed to get Ryder the fuck out of my parents’ house. I moved toward the front door.
“Not in public,” Ryder spat, “unless you have a death wish.”
“My father needs to sit,” I pleaded. “I’ll do whatever you want, but please let him sit first.”
Ryder waved a hand. With wobbling legs, my father turned and limped the few steps, then collapsed down onto the sofa cushion.
“I suppose I can try to regrow the flower you destroyed.” I crossed the room to the clay pot. Carefully, I wrapped three fingers and my thumb around the stem and closed my eyes. I made a show out of conjuring my magic, pretending to struggle when all it would take was a small flick of a magical spark in the stem’s direction. If he knew I could conjure without touching the source, he’d understand just how powerful my abilitieswere. I flitted my eyes open weakly. “It’s been so long, I’m just not sure I can.”
My father watched carefully. He didn’t know Ryder as well as I did, which wasn’t saying much. But if I didn’t make it look difficult, he’d know I’d used magic my entire life, and I’d find my head rolling as easily as Kamden had.
Ryder only stared.
I directed my effort back to the stem and a couple of minutes later, a small bud sprouted. Though not happy with my weak ability, he seemed content enough with the result. Unsurprisingly, he told me he could’ve done a better job than I had. For the sake of leaving, I didn’t argue.
“Let’s go,” Ryder demanded.
I crossed the room and leaned down to my father for a hug. “I’m so sorry. Everything’s going to be okay, please trust me.”
“Now,” Ryder roared behind me.
“I love you,” I whispered.
27
RYDER
Having the sister of a traitor taking up residency within my father’s walls would be enough to cost me the throne. When the guard said he recognized the home and that it was associated with a member of the resistance, I didn’t want to believe it. But a second guard confirmed the affiliation, and I couldn’t refute it. The information might make its way back to my father, regardless of swearing each guard to secrecy, but I’d deny it if they opened their fucking mouths.
I had made a horrendous mistake by going to Elowen. Not only could I no longer keep my temper under control, but I indefinitely bound an imposter to the Sutton name. Jumping to bend magic before I had the full scope of the situation and her history was reckless.
Following through with the marriage would be my only choice if I wanted the throne. I’d been told the bond would come at a significant cost, but I hadn’t imagined it to be so ruinous; there was nothing left to do than to pay the debt I had incurred.
“I don’t understand what happened.” Audryn’s voice was softas the carriage rolled over the cobblestones. “Please, just tell me what I did wrong.”
Unmoving, I peered through the small gap between the curtain and the inside of the carriage. Being in the street with the commoners was something I detested, and my foul mood especially didn’t help. With everyone stopping to gape, it only slowed our travel.
“Tell me what happened and I’ll fix it,” she continued, her voice desperate. “This was supposed to be a good day.”
