When my magic threatened to spiral too wide, Dominic’s emotional resonance pulled it back into focus. When his power wavered from exhaustion, my plant affinity fed him strength drawn from the earth itself.
This was what partnership truly meant, both of us working together, each contributing what the other lacked.
The fourth crystal cracked. The fifth.
Lady Featherby’s healing light pulsed brighter with each success, her confidence growing. “I can feel the plants responding above us. They’re reaching for the light again. They’re happy.”
Six.
The final crystal resisted longer than the others. Whoever had placed it had made it the anchor point for theentire network, the cornerstone that held everything together. Sour energy spiked through it, fighting against us.
“Together,” Dominic said, his voice strained. “All of us, now.”
I poured everything I had into the last crystal.
Dominic’s magic blazed bright, his love for his court and his people and his genuine desire to see them flourish. Lady Featherby’s healing power surged with determination to fix what she’d accidentally broken. Savory’s enhancement wove through it all, amplifying our efforts.
The final crystal exploded in a shower of light.
The dampening field collapsed, rippling outward through the court like a wave retreating from shore, taking the corruption along with it. Above us, plants that had been struggling could suddenly breathe again.
My knees buckled. Dominic caught me, pulling me against his chest while we both caught our breath. Lady Featherby sagged against the workbench, tears streaming down her face.
“It’s done,” I said. “We’ve saved our people.”
Savory landed on the workbench, ruffling her feathers.What was once poisoned may now heal.
For a long time, none of us moved. The chamber felt different now, emptier without the weight of tainted magic pressing down. Now it was just a carved-out space beneath a hill, stripped of the power that had been slowly killing Dominic’s court.
Lady Featherby straightened, wiping her eyes. “If you’ll trust me with this, I’d like to dismantle everything else here. This chamber should never be used again.”
“You have my permission. Then we’ll seal it completely,” Dominic said. “Fill it in, remove the access, and make sure no one can stumble into this space in the future.”
I took in the broken crystals scattered across the floor. “Nothing good has come from this place. Better to bury it and let it be forgotten.”
Lady Featherby nodded, fresh determination in her eyes. “I’ll take care of my part immediately, but you two have a festival to attend. Go. Let your people see their king and queen celebrating. I’ll join you when I can.” She managed a watery smile. “The next time I find a mysteriously well-equipped workspace, I’ll ask a few more questions before settling in.”
I smiled back. “That seems wise.”
Dominic took my hand, and we climbed back to the surface, Savory swooping ahead of us. My legs shook, but my heart felt light. The threat that had been hanging over this court was finally gone.
Music erupted from above. Laughter. The sound of people celebrating the joy they were finding in the plants and within themselves.
We emerged into twilight. The first stars had appeared, and the gardens had been transformed into something from a dream.
Every emotion-responsive flower blazed with color, pulsing with happiness reflected onto them from the gathered crowd. Blues and purples and brilliant golds swirled through petals.
Enchanted lights floated among the trees, and tables covered with food lined the main paths. Musicians played near the fountain, their melody weaving through conversations and laughter.
Court members in festival clothing moved through the gardens, exclaiming over the flowers and embracing friends. I spotted Lord Primrose and Lady Daphnie composing poetry for anyone who would listen. LordTurren stood in front of a reflective pond, posing while admiring his appearance. Lady Kenneth had gathered a group of young nobles and was demonstrating sword techniques with a decorative blade.
“Look,” Dominic said softly, gesturing toward the eastern path.
His mother stood among a cluster of revived plants, her hands glowing with magic as she encouraged them to bloom. When she looked up and spotted us, relief flooded her face. She started to approach, then stopped, uncertainty crossing her features.
Dominic squeezed my hand, then released it to walk toward her. They met halfway, speaking quietly. I couldn’t hear their words, but his mother’s shoulders relaxed.
I suspected they weren’t finished working through everything. The hurt and betrayal still needed to be addressed, and boundaries needed to be set in place. But this was a start, a recognition that family was worth fighting for even when it was complicated.
