“It’s in the red hair.” Arthur tugged on my locks, and I giggled.
“I’d like to see these communities someday,” I said. “They sound fascinating.”
“You would have to be welcomed in. Since you didn’t grow up there, you’ll have to prove you’re adept at Unseelie magic.” Faylin raised an eyebrow, and gods, it was stern and piercing. “Can youdoUnseelie magic?”
I blinked. Then I called out to the magic of the hearth. The brew within the cauldron stopped bubbling as I harnessed its energy to use as my own. I opened my palm to reveal dark birds made of shadow. They fluttered around the room, disappearing as their wings hit the sunlight streaming through the window.
Arthur appeared awed, while my grandparents nearly shook with delight. “Very good!” Vocheck praised. “An excellent illusion.”
“You’ve got my blood, all right,” Faylin confirmed with pride.
“I’ve tried Unseelie magic, but I’m not very good at it,” Arthur confessed. “That part of the gene pool didn’t go over well with me.”
“Unseelie magic is easy for me. Easier than Seelie, anyway,” I said.
“And we can teach you.” Faylin rapped the ladle against the pot. “From the old stories, we know that Unseelie magic will be very important to your quest as the Worldweaver. You will depend on it to survive. Maybe you can teach your brother how to pick up a few things, instead of just reading books.”
“Books are power. They contain information,” Arthur objected.
“Put them to use, then,” Faylin said, and Arthur scowled.
“This is a big family secret, Emma,” Vocheck said. “Faylin and I can teach you everything we know about the dark fae and their magic, but youmustkeep it hidden. You understand the danger if others were to find out.”
I knew too well. Unseelie magic was forbidden in Malovia. Merely being who I was born to be was a crime here. “I won’t betray your trust.”
“Of course you won’t,” Faylin said. “Family is everything.”
My heart warmed within my chest. For the first time since the prophecy had been spoken, I actually felt like I had guidance. I’d never gone at it alone, because I had my friends, but what I really needed were mentors to guide me along my path.
I’d finally found them. And though I didn’t know them yet, it felt like I did. Their experience and wisdom could be crucial to my mission. They trusted me with their secrets. Now I had to trust them with mine.
I crossed my legs and sat back as I said, “Have you heard about the Crystals of Harmony?”
My grandparents didn’t knowanything about the stones, or the Alicorn Court. But they did prove to be very knowledgeable about Unseelie magic, which I was sure would help along the way. Arthur and I had a bowl of my grandmother’s famous Irish stew— which was amazing by the way— before returning to campus later.
I had ice practice, so I said goodbye to Arthur and headed out to the rink. I did my warm-ups, but Lady Magdalina wasn’t here.
It was highly unusual for my coach to be late. She was always right on time, and with the national competition only two weeks away, she was grilling me even harder than normal. I practiced my program for half an hour, and she still hadn’t shown up. I skated carefully, as the small wound the assassin had given me had just healed and I didn’t want to rip it open right before the big skate.
“Your coach bail on you?” Amantha asked as she stretched out at the boards. She was the griffin girl I usually practiced with. She’d been here an hour longer than me and was wrapping up her ice session.
“Yeah…” My voice drifted off as I looked around. “It’s odd.”
“Maybe she’s still dealing with your dear old mother-in-law,” Amantha teased. Word had gotten round campus about Lady Magdalina and Queen Antonia fighting, though nobody but Ethan, myself and our inner circle knew about what.
I scowled. “She’s not my mother-in-law.” Wasn’t yet, anyway.
Amantha frowned. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have brought it up.”
“It’s not your fault.”
Ethan had told me Lady Magdalina had put a hex on Queen Antonia for attacking me. So far, Lady Magdalina had mentioned nothing to me about it. Ethan had been very worried, but still kept his distance. I tried not to let the loneliness eat me up inside.
After fifteen more minutes of skating around and falling on my jumps, it was clear I was on my own today. “I don’t think she’s gonna show.” I dropped my shoulders. Why wouldn’t Lady Magdalina contact me about missing my lesson?
“That’s too bad.” Amantha jerked her head to the side. “Let’s get some slushies. On me.”
I left the ice and followed Amantha to the locker room. We took off our skates and headed to the concession stand, where she handed me a big cherry slushie from the attendant. When I took off the cap, the slushie formed into illusions of ice skaters dancing and twirling. I put the cap back on and drank the slushie down through the straw. A fluttering feeling erupted in my belly, like the ice skaters were still performing within.
