He chuckled. “Well, you did. But you’re a complication I’ll gladly sort out.”
“I can’t be separated from you again; I’ll suffocate.”
She felt his chest deflate beneath her, and she searched his face. “What?”
“My love.” He stroked her hair. “You cannot come on thismission.”
She started up. “Don’t say that. Why would you say that?”
“Val, you can’t control your magic.”
“No, but my old magic is all withered and weak now. I gave it up, and Vander … I do have spring magic. I do. Like Sybil said I did.”
He knitted his brow.
“No, I mean it,” she said. “After what happened in Cobblepine, when I lost control … it terrified me. I can’t see my magic as I did before. I can’t hate my father like I want to because I …” She covered her face with her hands. “I’m afraid I’m turning into him.”
“Hush.” He drew her against his chest again. “No, you’re not.”
“You told me to let it go, but I didn’t listen …”
“Enough of that. Tell me about this spring magic.”
She beamed like a child who has just learned how to do a cartwheel. “I can’t command it yet, but I’ve grown flowers and trees—lovely trees, not thorny gnarled ones like before.”
“You grew daisies at our wedding. Do you not remember that?”
“Honestly, I was so excited about marrying you, I forgot all about it. I promise, I won’t do any dark magic on this trip.”
Evander still looked doubtful. “I’m going to have my hands full keeping these conscripts from killing Haldir, and I have to keep little Giles alive, which is a towering feat. You know what awaits us in Barrimore.”
She brushed his hair from his eyes again. “You’re using my magic as an excuse. Really, you’re just scared of the Crag.”
“Aren’t you?”
“Terrified,” she said. “But better to face it together than alone. You’ll need help. I can help.”
“I don’t know … It’s so dangerous.”
“And you think I’m safe in my father’s house?”
Hegroaned. “Alright. You win.”
“Good,” she said, tapping the end of his nose with her finger. “I always will, you know.”
“That is true.” He smiled at her adoringly. “You could make me agree to anything, I think. Anything you want. I’m yours, body and heart, until the end.”
She frowned. “Don’t speak of endings. Let’s talk about that cottage by the sea. Because if I do have my mother’s magic, then Talwaith could be restored. I can make up for it. I can atone for what I did to Cobblepine.”
Evander’s smile froze, then faded. “If the invasion succeeds …”
“Then my father will possess Talwaith again. If he takes Talwaith and I have spring magic …”
“Cobblepine will have a home again.”
She nodded. “It’s a risk. And my father can’t suspect that my magic is changing. But if we help him with this invasion, and we succeed, we need only find my sister and see her on the throne.”
“How on earth will we manage that?”
