Her expression pinched further—almost fearfully.
“Are you jumpy about strange fairies after Veloria?” I asked. “Or just him?”
She looked at me like it was obvious. “His magic is frightening, Jon. Locked doors are the least of our worries. That’s just basic warding. A powerful glamour fairy can completely ensnare the will of others with compulsion. Some can alter memories, too.”
The idea sent a shiver down my spine, but it wouldn’t be the first time that fairy magic had horrified me in its sheer power.
“Wouldn’t he have forced us to go along with this without pushback?” I pointed out. “Are you sure he can do all that?”
“I’m not well-versed enough in his affinity,” she admitted, absently tracing the mark on her cheek. “The Elysian council would never have permitted his type of glamour spells. He would have been branded at once if he dared to attempt anything.”
I frowned. “Aren’t affinities pretty innate? What if someone’s born as a glamour affinity?”
“Only a handful are trained safely. They’re expected to fortify the boundaries around Elysia that keep humans away. Nothing more. They must focus their attention on their secondary affinities instead. It’s less dangerous that way.”
Although I was certainly no fan of Ben’s, I couldn’t help but feel a little bad for him. “You told me that not using your ice makes you feel empty.”
“Are you really surprised Elysia would be so restrictive?”
My smile grew wry. “I’m only surprised thatyouwould be dead set on buying into restrictions. Doesn’t seem like you.”
Her lips parted in surprise. “Are you encouraging me to make friends with someone who knocked me out cold?”
“Hardly. But let’s be honest, you’ve made worse choices in friends. Aghostfor starters.”
She broke into a genuine laugh that made my heart jump. “Oh, Alice… I still dream about her sometimes.” Sylvia’s smile became tinged with melancholy. “Do you think dreams can be more than what they appear?”
“I think that’s almost exclusively true.”
She rolled her eyes. “I love traveling with hunters. You’re so delightfully superstitious. It makes things more interesting.”
The sound and sight of her grin was so out of place, yet aching with comfort. After last night’s shitshow, I wanted to protect that smile for all I was worth. But here we were, about to dive headfirst into a den of vipers again.
“Are you alright?” she asked, sobering when I couldn’t quite match her levity.
I dodged her gaze, once again plagued by the memory of caging her outside Veloria. I’d been frantic, desperate to protect her. But it had been monstrous nonetheless.
“I know I can’t ask you to hang back, but… The thought of there being people here who wouldn’t hesitate touseyou, I—” My hand drew closer behind her like a shield as Rhett’s face flashed in my mind. It was almost a shame the sirens had finished him off before I'd had the chance to end him myself. “I’d rip every single one of them apart before I let that happen.”
“And I’d help you,” she said, bracing her hand against my palm.
“However we play this, I just need to know you’ll keep a clear head and stay safe—whatever happens. You can’t vanish on us. Not again.”
Guilt flickered across her face. “I’ll do everything I can to stay focused,” she said. “More than the gem is on the line. Whoever Eros is, he can’t be allowed to ever set his sights on fairies again. Aelthorin is nearby. We need to make sure this madness doesn’t touch it.”
“We’ll keep it safe,” I agreed.
She brightened again. “Look at you—champion of the fairies and slayer of beasts.” Her voice lowered conspiratorially. “You don’t suppose there’s any fresh soil around here, do you? I’d kill for a minute to feel safe in our own little world with you.”
“After,” I promised. “And if all goes well, maybe the next time I’m holding you properly, it’ll be inthisdimension.”
6
Sylvia
The view of the greenery through the balcony doors brought comfort instead of unsettling me. The impossible sight meant the gemstone was still here, still within reach. It was a small comfort in the midst of such unsettling revelations about what would be happening under this roof in a matter of hours. Snow fell like a hazy mist in the distance, but there was not a scrap of white powder on these happy, verdant branches.
It was fully morning now, but my appetite evaded me. Despite everything I had been through since leaving my village, I couldn’t shake the voice in the back of my head that told me I had no right to be here amidst this dizzying plot of magic and monsters. Who was I to step into the role of some fairy savior? I was just a nobody from Elysia, outcast by my own people.
