The two of them are very close, but not in a way I would expect lovers to be. Still, I wonder how deep their connection goes, and it might be the wine speaking for me when I ask, “Have the two of you ever …?”
They share a knowing look. “I was wondering when this would come up,” Lavinia says, reaching a hand out to Raiden, who grabs it with a look that has my throat tightening. He pulls her from the ground, and she flops into his lap dramatically, throwing her arms around his neck.
The thing that's come to life inside me does not like that, but I ignore it.
“We are betrothed, after all.” Lavinia's voice is breathy, and there's a hint of mockery in there.
I think my mouth flops open, and my stomach drops into my feet, but the pair just laughs as Raiden pushes her from his lap to the floor with a thud, mussing her hair and rolling his eyes at the pout she gives him.
“You are impossible, and I don't know what I did to deserve such a fate,” he teases, but he's looking at me with a satisfied smirk.
“Alas, it's a love destined to fail.” Lavinia throws an arm over her face, feigning distress. “Raiden is, as you well know, an untamable beast. Besides, my heart will never settle for a forced love.”
“Not to mention you're not willing to give up your right to the Clestrayan throne just because Mommy and Daddy tell you to,” Raiden points out, and everything finally makes a little more sense.
“Ah, yes. There is that small detail,” Lavinia says, moving back to her chair.
Before she sits, she makes a funny sound, and her body changes before my eyes. She is an older version of herself and wearing a large golden crown and an outrageous ballgown.
The shock of it draws me forward in my seat.
In a voice much more mature than her own, and as if she has something stuck up her royal bottom, she says, “My dear, Lavinia, you shall never sit on the throne as queen in Clestraya. You must secure this alliance and unite the kingdoms. It is your life's purpose.”
She morphs back into herself and sits as if she hasn't just blown me away.
“What in the world was that?” I slur, rubbing my eyes in disbelief.
“What? Oh! That, my dear friend, is my secret weapon.” She puts a finger over her pursed lips. “But you mustn't tell anyone. Promise me?”
I'm honored that she would be so willing to share this with me, and a little curious at her mental stability because she hardly knows me well enough to trust me with such information.
I nod vigorously, but I have so many questions.
“Can I ask you some questions about your power? Really about power in general. In Lukasia, not many of us have gifts. And the little we do have is starting to fade. The elders don't talk about what things used to be like much, and I've never had anyone I could talk to about my own power.” I am aware that I'm talking too much, but I can't stop.
“Ask your questions!” Lavinia says. “This will be fun.”
I have to stand up to contain my excitement, and I'm pacing at the foot of the bed, trying to form the jumble inside my head into coherent words.
“Okay. First question. Where does the power come from?” I stop pacing and turn to face them.
They exchange another look, and Raiden answers, “Your bloodline determines your gift. The lineage goes like this: Gods came first, and they created the fae—without powers—and all the magical creatures of the land. Some of the gods eventually procreated with fae, passing their power down and creating demi-gods.” This confirms the stories I've heard, but it's nice to hear it out loud.
“Eventually, the bloodlines were so convoluted and intertwined, that every fae born was blessed with power. Sometimes it's stronger, sometimes it's weaker. Some have big powers, and some powers are much simpler,” Raiden finishes and pops another grape in his mouth.
I look to Livinia to see if she has anything to add, but she just nods enthusiastically, ready for the next question.
“Okay, Livinia, how long can you—I'm sorry, what is the name of your power?" I ask her, getting ahead of myself.
“I am a shapeshifter. It's a handy little gift. Helps me get out of and into all kinds of trouble. I think I can hold a form for quite some time, I've never tested it for longer than a couple of hours at a time, though,” she answers.
“Magic has limits and consequences,” Raiden adds.
“Okay, my turn for a question!” Livinia bounces in her seat and looks at me.
“Shoot,” I tell her, moving back to my own chair.
“How does it feel to be out of the Smog? Raiden says it's just awful.”
