“No. You agreed to let me take this slow. I am not ready to use my mágik for violence. I may not ever be. I only want to know how to control myself.” She was crestfallen, and the protests died on my lips.
“Yes, I did agree to that. Keep practicing your maneuvers,” I sighed. “We’re running low on food. I will remedy that.”
I knew I shouldn’t avoid her when we disagreed. I knew she would rather me stay and argue, but I couldn’t. Not when I did not knowhow I was feeling. The anxiety in my gut followed me as I walked away from her, feeling her gaze on my back all the way.
Chapter twenty-two
Harkin
Aday and a night had passed, and the world felt a little less tremulous. As dawn lifted her hazy head, my thoughts finally settled into place. I had a plan that might actually work for both Seren and me.
We had not spoken much the previous night. I had been stewing over how to convince her to give in to her mágik fully and how to gain her trust—in actuality this time.
A proper night's sleep had done wonders, and I felt refreshed. I stood in the clearing, waiting for Seren to emerge from the cottage and join me. The itch of impatience niggled me as the minutes crept past, achingly slow. I busied myself by studying the trees that lined our glade. A light dusting of snow blanketed the branches, crunching as I trudged through it.
Seren exited the cottage hesitantly, like she was seeking permission. From me? From herself?
She sidled up beside me as I looked confidently upon a large pine in my path. Seren whispered as if she were interrupting a conversation. “What are you doing?”
“Excellent question.” I shot her a tentative smile. “I was choosing your foe for the afternoon.”
“My foe? Are they in the woods?”
My grin grew wider. “Theyarethe woods. Specifically, this tree here. I heard what you said about using your mágik for violence. I understand why you won’t go down that path just yet, but we do need to continue your progress. I have devised a compromise for us.”
She raised her eyebrows, arms folded across her chest. She remembered her cloak this time. I itched to straighten the bow at her collar.
“Instead of hittingme, you’ll aim for the tree. You learn how to use your mágik in a different way, but there is no risk or intention of harming anyone.” I gestured toward the tree as if it were some great feat. I knew it was silly, but I couldn’t help adding a dash of showmanship. I ached to see her smile one more time.
Seren rolled her eyes but nodded grudgingly. She paused. “Wait. What if there’s a Tünécris living in this tree? I could hurt them.”
I looked at her incredulously.
“What? Earth sprites can dwell within trees, can they not?”
“They can…” I admitted grudgingly. “But I do not believe this particular tree is inhabited. You’re welcome to knock, see if anyone is home, if you don’t believe me.”
A scowl spread across Seren’s face as she regarded me. “It’s not funny.”
“It’s a little funny.” I let out a startled cough as Seren’s fist met my shoulder, aggravating the half healed wound at my ribs. I grunted in protest. “Fine. My apologies. Regardless of the humor—or lack thereof—in this situation, do you find the compromise suitable?”
She considered this for a moment, then another. “I accept this compromise. What should I do?”
“Gather the mágik as you did yesterday. Let it swell until it feels like a wave just about to crest.” Water swelled through heroutstretched fingers, growing into a large mass before her. “Good. Do you feel it pushing back against you?”
Seren nodded, her tongue pressed against the sharp point of her incisor as she focused on her control. I pulled my gaze away just in time to watch the mass burst apart, splashing us both with an icy spray.
We sputtered, brushing droplets from our cloaks.
I hardly managed to withhold my laughter. “Try again. This time, when you feel the push, you need to pull back, change its trajectory. Focus on directing it away from you and toward the tree.”
“Right. Toward the tree.” She seemed to be talking to herself more than me.
The mágik built up in her outstretched hands once more, growing larger and more powerful. With a flourish, she pushed her body forward. Her face fell as the mágik did, a puddle forming in the snow not a foot away. She paused, staring at the failed attempt then tried again with little change in result.
Seren growled in frustration. “Why is it not working?”
“You aren’t letting the mágik flow through you,” I corrected. “You’re trying too hard to force it instead of working with it.”
