Thaddeus didn’t seek me out that night. I’d tossed and turned, not only because my burdened mind surged like a tempest, but from the unfamiliarity of his absence from my bed. Although, I wasn’t entirely certain I wanted him to fill that empty space.
I was grateful I’d missed them at breakfast and secretly hoped Thaddeus returned too late from their daily errand of searching for the fae realm for us to train—I couldn’t, wouldn’t, share the spark with him again.
The weight of the tome on my lap reasserted itself, drawing me back to what lay before me. A delicate corner of parchment sat idly between my first and second fingers, their heat wrinkling it slightly.
Scanning the page, I found the place where my mind had abandoned the words and continued translating, forcing myself to concentrate.
I’d taken to scouring tomes for tracking spells like the one Thaddeus had used to find me countless moons ago. Nothing he’d tried had led them to the elusive magical object, and I wanted to try a different tact.
My goal wasn’t to merely find a similar spell and beg a boon from it—no, it was to understand as many spells of its essence as possible and discern if there were patterns, commonalities—a way to not just blindly say the words, but to understand how source power was transformed through incantations, verbal or not.
It was slow work, and possibly a fool’s errand, but I couldn’t help thinking that if my magic liked to be its own artist, this knowledge could provide the right colors and substrates for it to paint what I needed it to.
My untouched lunch warmed as it sat on the outdoor table, now flooded by sunlight. Leaning back in my chair, my eyes traced the intricate patterns of the gardens from the veranda. Thaddeus should return soon, and I’d failed to brace myself mentally. Instead, I tried to dispel all thoughts of him and had stooped to counting the hedge’s blooms.
The familiar sound of multiple hoofbeats drew near. Craning over the stone rail, I saw Thaddeus and Tarrin riding in tandem.
Worry slid through me. Where was Nevander? And why were they coming straight to the palace instead of stopping at the stables? I rushed down the wide sandstone staircase to meet them.
“What’s wrong?” I asked, my eyes flitting over them for any signs of harm as they approached the landing.
Without a word, Tarrin slid off his horse, handed his reins to Thaddeus and brushed past me, sending me a sly wink as he went by.Odd.What did that mean?
“Ride with me, Nyleeria.” It wasn’t a question, and Thaddeus’ voice held an edge of demand.
I crossed my arms, meeting his piercing gaze. “I’m not dressed for it.”
Thaddeus cocked a brow, and rightfully so. We both knew myattire had never been an obstacle before. In fact, I’d trained in this exact outfit many times.
“I want to show you something.”
I kept my feet firmly planted.
He dismounted, every inch of him the imposing ruler I’d seen at the Summer Court—only, now, he’d allowed frustration and anger into his eyes.
“Get. On. The. Horse. Nyleeria.”
“No.”
“Now.”
“I said no, Thaddeus.”
He took a step toward me, reaching to grip my arm, and I backed away, pulling from him before he could connect.
His eyes narrowed and a muscle twitched in his jaw. With forced calm, he said, “I need you to get on the horse.”
“I don’t care what you need,” I quipped, surprised to realize I meant it.
“Get on the horse. Now.”
“Stop talking to me like I’m one of your simpering soldiers. You don’t command me.”
He took a half-step forward, anger palpable. “I am the king of the human realm. Simpering soldier or not, I command everyone on my lands.”
“And if I were like everyone else, you could speak to me as you see fit. But I’m not. Unless there’s another who you take to bed, and who holds the fate of your realm within her. If there is, I suggest you go fetch her instead.”
Thaddeus shook his head with a quick movement, eyes widening, as if just realizing how he’d been addressing me. Softness returned to his eyes, and the mask of the ancient king slowly melted away.
