“I think you did exactly what you were worried about. You refreshed the protection between the spirit worlds and this one. I imagine that was a duty belonging to the Fae Queens centuries ago.”
“So it’s a good thing?”
“One can only hope,” Silas said. “Because it’s too late if it’s not.”
We left the full moon ceremony shortly after the glow of the ley lines began to fade. The vibrant display of power didn’t last long, minutes at most—a wondrous flash like a firework, and then a slow fizzle back to blackness.
I packed up my book and slunk away into the darkness with Silas. I didn’t have the energy even to say my goodbyes, but that didn’t matter all that much because half of the gnomes were snoring anyway.
“We’ll hunt at a different time,” Silas said. “You’re too exhausted.”
“We’ll hunt tonight. We’ve got a few hours until morning.”
“Alessia. Please. Pushing yourself to burnout is not going to help anyone.”
“Neither is lollygagging around. We planned to hunt; let’s hunt.”
“But—”
“Nothing has changed. If anything, maybe I’m even closer to accessing my magic after connecting with the spell tonight.”
I did feel drained and tired after the incident with the ley lines, but I was also stubborn by nature. The one person who might be able to help me was… not helping. I had no idea how long this would go on for, and I had every intention of plowing on ahead with or without Seer Goddard’s guidance. This was the only way I knew how.
“Silas.” I paused, then glanced over at him. “Can you see that?”
Silas turned his head to look forward. I could tell the second he saw what I meant. The river that split the island in two was glowing a striking blue-white. The rest of the ley lines had faded, but the water within the river’s edges was still tinged with power. It looked like magic itself was flowing through the riverbed.
“I can see it. I guess that explains why your magic is stronger when you’re touching the water. The river down the center of the island must be the largest ley line of all. The others are offshoots.Smaller and smaller. This, here, is the heart of magic on The Isle.”
I stepped forward, pulled to it. I kicked off my shoes, peeled off my socks, rolled up my leggings to my knees. The second the cool, enchanted-looking water rushed over my bare toes, I felt it.
Magic. Power. Rightness.
It flowed into me, through me. The magic was a caress and a reassurance. It felt like clean sheets on a familiar bed. Like fresh flowers on the kitchen counter. Like the smell of nostalgic cookies baking. A comfortable, sweet embrace.
I tilted my head back. The moon washed over my face as the water washed over my feet. I felt my crown glow. I couldn’t say how long I stood there, but when I finally opened my eyes and glanced at Silas, I felt whole again.
Replenished and complete. Reenergized and charged.
“Let’s hunt,” I told him. “I’m ready.”
Silas did not look like he wanted to argue with me. Instead, he unslung his pack off his shoulders and withdrew a bow and arrow, all of it a deep, poison black that could blend into the night, just like him.
“Let’s hunt.”
We made our way into the edges of The Forest, letting the silence settle around us until it no longer felt like an itchy sweater but a comfortable blanket. We let our eyes grow accustomed to the dark.
“What are we hunting?” I asked Silas quietly. “Do you have something in mind?”
“First, let’s just get comfortable with our surroundings.”
“There’s nothing comfortable about hiding in The Forest after dark.”
“Then get comfortable with being uncomfortable.”
I closed my eyes, even though there wasn’t much difference; it was dark whether my eyes were open or shut. As I perchedbehind a boulder and a fallen log, Silas felt like a granite statue at my side. That was when I heard the first whispers of darkness.
“Are you talking about the voices?” I opened my eyes to catch Silas staring at me. “What are they saying? I can’t make them out.”
