“What if it were?” she asked.
He edged closer. “I can help you.”
“How?”
“By giving you an...apiece of my heart to replace the loss of his.”
She shifted back. At that same moment, Kaelan stepped past the semargl, in Damion’s skin.
Endreas turned on his heel to face Damion. “You should’ve said your cousin was with us.”
She moved between them, drawing back her daggers, facing Endreas.
“I think it’s time you leave now,” she said.
“Magpie, if you’re—”
“I don’t need your help. And I don’t want a piece of your heart.”
“You’d rather go mad?” he asked.
“It must be like you said. It never took root. I’m fine.”
His eyes narrowed, searching her face. “I’m not willing to take that chance—”
“It’s not your choice,” she cut in.
His fists curled.
Kaelan pressed closer to Magda without actually touching her. Remote as his emotions had grown, she could still feel the burning hatred radiating off of him. It caused a fine sweat to break out across her back.
Endreas’s gaze flicked past her to Kaelan, who he thought was Damion, and then returned to her.
“This is serious—”
“The only thing driving me crazy right now,” she said through her teeth, “is the fact that you’re still here.”
“You’re far from the Spire. Lavana has the family hard at work, trying to convince the Crown to name her Radiant.”
“Well, I can fly,” she said, cocking her head back towards Gur. “Unless you’re planning on taking him back.”
Gur let out a creaky growl.
“He clearly prefers you to me,” Endreas said. “I don’t blame him. I like you more than I like myself too.”
“I doubt that,” she said.
“You won’t,” he said.
Kaelan stepped forward, aggressively, edging up beside her and bumping her shoulder. Magda pressed her hand to his chest.
“My cousin doesn’t approve of you,” she said to him. “No one will. You know that, don’t you? The Pixies will never accept an Elf as their ruler, even as co-ruler with the Crown.”
“You might be surprised.” He regarded Kaelan/Damion for a long moment.
Magda’s pulse revved into high gear. But if Endreas sensed Eris’s magic at work, he gave no sign.
Finally, he said, “Lavana has claimed Riker. So you will have a greater challenge now that you have no Prince. It is all the more likely you will have to fight.” His gaze raked over her. “I’m glad to see you’ve found some armor... even such as that.”
