“Wanna go snag a bottle of wine from the kitchens and sit by the pool?”
A smile spreads across my face, and I say, “Absolutely.” I turn my back to the wall of weapons and immediately head toward the exit.
Nestled in the middle of the forest, the pool looks as if it was carved by the Mother herself. Natural cobblestones lead from the main path, widening to create the floor of the terrace before dipping beneath the crystal blue water. Deep, wide steps cascade into the water. On the opposite end, a natural stone alcove houses a smaller body of water, steam floating just above the surface.
Next to the pool is a lounge area filled with comfortable chairs and couches made of natural wood and cream cushions, all surrounding an unlit fire pit. A small stone pool house stands at one end with an outdoor fireplace and cozy seating, covered by a roof overhang.
“What’s that?” I ask, pointing to the smaller but steaming pool.
“It’s magically spelled to mimic a hot spring. We call it the steam bath.”
My jaw drops. Yes, I can get used to this. It’s a little chilly outside, so we remove our shoes and place our feet in the steam bath instead.
“Okay. Magic. Tell me about it,” I say, looking at Elle. She’s sitting across from me, her own feet swirling in the steaming water.
“Would you like the exact definition? Or can I assume you already know what magic is?”
I level a glare at her.
She holds her hands up in mock surrender. “Sorry, I couldn’t resist. In all seriousness, though, there are two branches of magic: elemental and Fae magic. Elemental magic comes from the earth, and only the hybrids can use it, while Fae magic is specific to the Fae. Because the hybrids are part Fae and part Woodland, we can use both.”
She gestures to the bottle of wine in between us. “Do you like your wine cold or warm?” she asks me.
“Cold.”
She picks up the bottle. As she does, a frosty layer forms on the glass. She holds it out to me. “Would that be Fae or elemental magic?”
“Elemental. That was easy,” I say, accepting the bottle and taking a sip. “I know how to do that already, though.”
She glares at me. “You told me to act like you were a beginner, so that’s what I’m doing!”
Now I’m the one holding my hands up in surrender. “Sorry, sorry, you’re right. Continue then.”
“Thank you. Anyway, Fae magic includes things like portal magic, glamours, and telekinesis.”
We both pause to take another drink from our bottles. The sounds of the forest surround us as squirrels jump from branches and cicadas buzz in the dimming light.
“It’s getting dark quickly. There are candles throughout the pool terrace. I want you to light them,” she says simply. She’s right. The sun continues to slip further and further below the tree line, taking its warmth with it. It will be completely gone soon, leaving us cloaked in darkness.
I’ve lit candles with magic before, but only one at a time. Lighting a single candle is easy. All it takes is concentrating on the wick and thinking of a single flame. Only a small burst of magic is used, and it’s easily controlled. But to light multiple candles that I’ve never seen…I’m not sure if that’s something I can do.
“Where are the candles?” I ask.
“Feel for them. You can find them. Use your elemental magic. Locate them and light them.”
I turn her words over in my head. How can I use my elemental magic to find the candles? Holly said something similar earlier about casting a net and seeing if anything snags.
“Your magic is just an extension of you. You are your magic,” Elle whispers.
I send out a light breeze, trying my best to compel my magic to find the candles. It feels wild and uncontrolled, like it’s alive and dancing through the air.
I’ve never let this much magic loose at once. Every time I’ve used my magic before, I’ve released a small and concentrated burst with a purpose. This is different. It feels like I’m stumbling through the dark for something with no idea where it is.
But Elle is right. I am my magic, and right now, I feel anxious. My magic is responding to that and feels frenzied.
Closing my eyes, I slow my breathing, trying to calm myself and, therefore, my magic. I focus on feeling what the breeze feels. I sense as it brushes up against objects, but they’re just objects. I can’t tell what they are. I take a deep breath, calling the breeze back to me before casting it back out again over the terrace.
Light is an element, too. I assume I’d be able to sense a source of light, even if it’s not actively providing light. This time, I shift my focus to find things that are associated with light. I envision the breeze as a hazy, slow wave of magic floating across the candles and lighting each one. I imagine the wave of magic brushing past each candle, leaving each one lit in its wake and slowly lighting the terrace, filling it with the glow of soft candlelight. I picture the pool bathed in the glow of the candles, the reflection of each solitary flame as it dances on the water.
