As the rain pours around us, I wonder how I could have ever lived without magic like this. Imagining a life without magic makes me feel hollow inside. Before, it just felt like something I could do. Now, it feels like a living extension of me. Like another limb.
As I reach for my magic, it comes easily and swiftly. I have to tamp down the rush of power that comes. It grows stronger every day, and sometimes, it just wants to be let out.
I force it down, only letting out a small amount. The forest has grown dark around us, so I create small orbs of light to float around the space. At first, I only make a few, content to watch them lazily float around.
Then I grow bolder and make them larger. As I release the largest orb, it drifts toward the edge of the translucent barrier, and I think I see a figure in the woods.
I jump. Asmo startles beneath me. His arms immediately grip me, and he tries to sit up before remembering where we fell asleep. The hammock beneath us wavers unsteadily before he realizes and stills.
“What’s wrong?” he asks, his voice commanding.
I glance back to the dark forest, but I don’t see anything anymore. “I—I thought I saw something in the woods, but I think I just imagined it.”
“Are you sure it wasn’t one of the guards?” he asks, his tone back to relaxed.
“Maybe…” I say, but I’m unsure.
He gently guides me off him, lifting me with ease. “I’ll go check. Stay here.” I shoot him a panicked look, and he says, “Mae, I’ll be fine. Do not leave the barrier. I’m not going to go far. I’m just going to check and make sure the guards are still present.”
I nod hesitantly and create a few more orbs, sending them to the edges of the barrier. It lights up the surrounding area considerably, and I watch Asmo as he walks about ten feet. My magic flares as he leaves my sight, and the orbs grow even brighter.
Squinting, I can see Asmo talking to two figures. He pats one on the back and turns back to our little bubble of heaven, eyes lighting up as he sees the light I created. I swear his pearly white teeth glimmer in the light of the orbs, and I want to roll my eyes at how perfect he is.
“Just the guards. Neat trick, though,” he says once he’s back in the barrier, pointing to the orbs. I visibly exhale, and he asks, “Want to come back?” He motions to the hammock.
I dim the light from the orbs and nod. I’m surprised to find there’s nothing more that I want to do right now.
He scoops me into his arms and lays down in the hammock, settling us back to our previous positions. We’re both silent for a while, content to listen to the soothing sounds of the rain and the thunder. His thumb strokes my arm lazily, and I think about how this can feel so right, but every other interaction with him feels so…messy, toxic even.
He startles me from my jumbled thoughts. “Can I ask you something?” His voice is soft and tentative like he might scare me off with whatever he’s about to ask me.
“Of course.”
He exhales and tenses beneath me. “Do you want to talk about what happened the other night?” I turn to him, about to ask him what he’s talking about. When I look at him, the question dies on the tip of my tongue. His eyes are soft, and the image of it jars me. I’veneverseen him look like this. He says, “After I was an ass to you at the coronation dinner. You hurt yourself.”
My walls slam down around my heart as I remember who I am and who I’m with. If I don’t end up with Asmo, and there’s a strong chance that I don’t, I’m not able to hand him the power of knowing that what he said contributed to me self-harming. He’s going to be the Serpent King. He is not just some random male I’ve been getting to know.
He quickly says, “We don’t have to, Mae. I’m sorry, regardless. I didn’t mean for that to happen.”
I don’t respond. Instead, I dim the orbs until they’re gone. I stare at the darkness, wishing it would consume me.
Chapter 29
Monday passes byin a relatively uneventful blur. I didn’t see any of the princes, much to Elle’s annoyance.You don’t have the time to waste on breaks when it comes to getting to know them.I fired a ball of water at her in response.
“Your Highness, it’s time,” the guard says, startling me from the memory. A portal stands open in front of me, wide enough for Marik and me to step through together onto Willa’s front lawn.
“Where are we?” Marik asks beside me, eyeing me cautiously.
I told Marik we were going out to dinner but didn’t tell him where. He had made it clear that he wanted to meet Willa, so I thought this would be the best way. Willa also has no idea she’s meeting Marik tonight. She thinks I’m bringing Cally instead.
The moment I see my childhood home, I’m reminded of the sheer magnitude of the way that my life has changed. I always assumed I’d bring a serious boyfriend home to meet Willa, but I never pictured it under these circumstances.
For the last two weeks, I’ve felt so distanced from my previous life. It’s hard to think that less than a month ago, I was going to work every day, my biggest concern being what to have for dinner.
I reach for Marik’s hand as we step toward the house, giving it a quick squeeze. He returns it and throws me a quick smile.
“I’ll be here, Your Highness,” the guard says from behind Marik and me.
