And Ace would die because of my inexperience and failure.
Rage filled my body, flowing through my veins and over my skin. Power pulsed and rushed over me. My fingertips tingled and my breath grew shallow as my focus snagged on the metal of our prison, on the lock that prevented our freedom.
With one final, desperate push, the metal groaned. A deep, aching sound vibrated through my bones and the bars, once stiff and immovable, shifted. Slowly at first, like the hesitant flow of molten metal finding its path. The metal curled around my hands as though the iron bowed to me. The jagged edges of the lock melted and reformed. Power surged within me with terrifying intensity. I was drowning in it—pulled under by the weight of magic I couldn’t control. My vision blurred and the cold burn of my power consumed me.
Ace’s voice broke through my haze, rough and urgent. “Mouse. Stop.”
I didn’t answer. I couldn’t. My magic roared now, wild and untamed, pouring from me freely like blood from an open wound.
The lock snapped open, and the magic fled. It slipped from my control and, like the ebb of a giant wave, withdrawing back inside me.
My stomach twisted again, and a wave of nausea flowed over me.
“You did it.” Ace straightened, his gaze flashed with excitement and something else. Pride? “You’re phaaning amazing.”
He leaned forward and gripped both my shoulders to pull me in. He planted a hard kiss on my lips.
The nausea rose, and I pushed him away in time to turn to the side and throw up.
Ace shied away. “Errr.”
I retched again, my whole body heaving from the intense withdrawal of magic.
“Can’t say I’ve had that effect on a woman before.”
“I find that surprising.” I wiped at my mouth and waited for the wave of nausea to fade. Once my stomach untwisted, I turned to face Ace. “Also, not everything is about you.”
He narrowed his eyes before waving at the lock. “It certainly felt like some of that was about me.”
My brother’s words came back to haunt me, I know what he means to you, even if you don’t.
I remained sitting, confusion clouding my brain. My lips tingled from Ace’s kiss, but my brain couldn’t process that at all, nor could I muster any energy to be embarrassed about emptying the entire contents of my stomach. I’d used my magic. But how? And why did it warp the metal?
“I don’t…I don’t understand.”
“I’ve given up trying to understand you a long time ago, Mouse.” Ace used his boot to kick the door open. He crawled out of the prison and turned to offer his hand. “But I always suspected you could manipulate metal.”
“How, Ace?” I slapped my hand in his and let him haul me out of the cage. My arms and legs shook while my vision swam, and my mind reeled. Another wave of nausea rolled over me. I swallowed and waited for the moment to pass before attempting to speak again. “How did you know?”
“Your affinity to metal. Most phaanons can’t touch iron, but you command it. I think that’s why you were able to blend in with the galeons so well and why they never suspected you. I think your brother will have a similar power if he ever bonds to a familiar.”
“I know you technically answered my question, yet I’m more confused now.” I licked my lips and glanced around the room. “But now isn’t the time for this discussion. We’re not free yet.” I reached forward and jabbed Ace in the chest. “The second we are, though, you’re going to answer every single phaaning question I have.”
His gaze darkened and a slow grin spread across his face. He caught my hand and squeezed. “As soon as we’re safe, Mouse, I’ll give you everything you want.”
14
My foot snagged on an upturned root, and I staggered forward. Throwing my hands out, I caught myself on Ace. He grunted and turned to grab hold of my arm before I teetered over. “What’s wrong with you?”
“I don’t think we have the time to thoroughly address that question,” I said as my head spun.
His grip tightened on my arm—not enough to hurt me, just enough to keep my attention focused on him. “Tell me.”
“I don’t know what’s wrong.” I spotted a mint plant by the path and plucked some leaves to shove in my mouth. They might not give me strength or emotionally heal me, but at least my mouth would no longer taste like vomit. The mint would also help clear my senses. “Either using my magic like that drained me, or it’s something to do with my bond to Nala. She’s not well, and that means the bond is not well.”
Ace swore and scanned the area. “They’re going to be after us soon. We need to make it to the forbidden forest.”
I nodded and lurched in the right direction.
