“The magic that’s malfunctioning, what’s wrong in Vistos—it’s all connected?”
“It is.”
“And you can fix it?” I asked, hopeful and scared.
“We can fix it.”
“If you absorb my magic, what will be left of me?” My hands trembled with the magic inside me stretching.
“You will finally be free.” When she stood at my side, she placed a soft hand on my shoulder. Where so many feared me, she offered comfort. “If that is what you choose, I wouldn’t absorb it all at once. You can give it to me, little by little. Enough that it’ll ease your burden without harming you.”
I swallowed past the thickness in my throat and nodded. The thought of being free of my magic, of simply being me, was almost unbearable. Both a dream and a terror.
Who would I be without my magic? WhatcouldI be if I were free from it?
Zaicha squeezed my shoulder. “We have a chance to heal all the realms, Finley, and in doing so, you will finally be free.”
Hope soared, fragile but fierce.
“Yesterday, I felt the attack on the hatchling before it happened.” My hands shook at the memory, at the helplessness of fighting the unknown.
“As did I.”
“Could you not stop it or . . . contain it the way you’ve done with my magic?” I watched the emotions that flickered across her face.
“No.” Her lips pulled down as her brows drew together. “I cannot help the people or dragons of this realm. At least not yet.”
“But you can help them?” I waited for her to nod. “Will you speak to King Elias and Kassidy about this?”
Her eyes darkened. “If you wish me to speak to Kassidy, I will do so. But first, I want you to reflect on my words and make a decision. Then we’ll meet with her together.”
“Will you not meet with my king?” I asked, my pulse quickening at the heat behind her eyes.
“I have no love for the fae.” Her canines lengthened, slipping past her parted lips.
I lifted my chin. “I am fae.”
Her features softened with her hesitant smile. “You are so much more, Finley. If it is important to you, your king may also be present. Until then, will you permit me to teach you about your magic?”
I nodded, and for the first time, I permitted myself to imagine a future not bound in duty or fear, but by choice. A lifewhere my magic no longer ravaged and consumed me. A future where I stood at Brenton’s side.
Unburdened. Unapologetic. Mine.
Ours.
But then footsteps padded toward me, as silent as a hunter’s breath. My muscles coiled, and in a beat, Zaicha disappeared.
Inside me, my magic hummed, for the moment content to lie still.
I turned at Everly’s approach, my brows pinched together at the sword she wielded. She drew out a long breath before she put her blade away.
“I thought I heard someone else,” she said, her shoulders losing some of their tension. Then her attention dropped to the charred grass at my feet. “What is this?”
I rubbed my neck but kept my attention on her. “I was training.”
She nodded, understanding softening her features. “Since our magic became unpredictable, I often train in the mornings. Perhaps, we could train together?”
I narrowed my eyes, searching for deception in her tone. “I don’t think that would be wise.”
