“We can’t. I wanted to do the same once we figured it out, but it would only bring attention to it, and we can’t let anyone, especially the witches, know that it is open. We would only endanger the humans further.”
A rag appeared in my hand as I spoke, summoned without thought. I started wiping the table, dabbing at the scalding puddles still hissing against the wood. Flynn’s eyebrow arched, a flicker of surprise breaking through the storm of his expression.
“It’s not all gone,” I muttered, sensing his unspoken question. “I still have some basic magic. I can shadow, and the castle lets me use its magic. But my gifts? They’re gone. Completely.” The words tasted like ash on my tongue, bitter and final.
Flynn’s lips curled into a snarl, his hand gripping the back of his chair so tightly I heard the creak of wood beneath his fingers. “Stupid. Idiotic boy,” he growled.
“The attacks on villages are becoming increasingly worse. More Daka have appeared, and the witches appear to be sending a message.” I leaned back in the chair and ran my hand over my face. “Another war is starting, and my brother has…”
“Endangered two fucking realms,” Flynn finished for me. He stormed over to his desk, his boots echoing loudly in the room. He started rummaging through the papers, and I stood, leaving my untouched mug of tea on the table.
“What are you doing?” I asked, coming to stand next to him.
“We need to gather the others for a meeting,” Flynn said, his voice heavy.
“They are already on their way.”
Flynn paused his rummaging and turned to me. “Then I’ll go to the door—just me.” He hurried across the room to his dresser, pulling out items of clothing. “I’ll be there in case your brother resurfaces. Make sure no witches come sniffing around.”
“Uncle—” I began, but he cut me off.
“You can’t go; it would draw too much attention,” he countered firmly. “No one would think twice about me. I can guard the entrance, and if your brother returns, I’ll handle it.”
I nodded, not arguing because this was what I was coming to ask of him anyway. Flynn seemed to grasp all that was left unspoken.
“I’ll have Julian send updates on any new developments,” I said, observing as Flynn retrieved weapons beneath the floorboards. “I’ll also arrange for the kitchens to prepare provisions for your journey. You’ll need to be cautious. Ensure that no one suspects what you’re doing or where you’re going.”
Flynn nodded. “I must leave as soon as possible, so you are now on vendor duty,” he said, smirking over his shoulder at me.
He paused and walked toward me, his hand clutching a small pendant around his neck. Since I was a little boy, I have never seen him without it. I saw him take it off once. I think I was eight, and I had wanted to put it on. He had caught me as I was about to grab it and snatched it back up, putting it back around his neck. He then proceeded to yell at me for almost an hour about touching other people's belongings.
I smirked at the memory as my uncle approached, and Flynn put his hand on my shoulder. His eyeswere steely yet full of sorrow.
“It’s not your fault about your magic,” Flynn said softly, his voice steady but carrying an undertone of sympathy. “Your brother…” He trailed off, his gaze drifting momentarily before locking back onto mine. His face, usually so strong and composed, was now tinged with an unsettling pallor. “Yourbrother has much to answer for,” Flynn continued, his voice heavy with unspoken words. “But you need to stay focused on the bigger picture. You know what needs to be done. Your father would be proud of the man you’ve become.” He offered a gentle smile, his eyes crinkling at the corners.
He turned and started to walk back to his bed, which was now littered with piles of clothes. “But maybe next time, don’t wait so long to ask for my help,” he said dismissively.
“Thank you, Uncle,” I said, returning his smile. I paused at the door, taking one last look at Flynn before turning and leaving his cabin.
With the fog still heavy in the air, I walked back through the field. I made my way toward the village, walking toward the path I knew would lead down to the markets. They would open soon, vendors lining the streets with carts and people crowding the narrow walkways.
Blackrock was a small village, but it was home—my home. Stone and wooden structures of all sizes huddled together, their arched doorways standing open like quiet invitations. Everyone knew everyone, and there were no secrets here, though many tried to keep them.
Wooden bridges arched over the clear streams trickling from the river, connecting more homes and shops. Most buildings were draped in moss or pine needles, seamlessly blending into the surrounding nature. The cobbled streets were uneven and worn, but they didn’t bother me. They were as familiar as the rhythm of my own heartbeat.
I could still picture walking with my dad to the markets, his hand warm in mine, my mother’s soft laughter drifting beside us. The village was ever-changing, as everything is, but its heart—the people, the air, that cobbled road—remained the same.
I inhaled deeply, the cool, crisp air filling my lungs. The castle was still hidden in the fog, but I could feel it looming over me. Ipushed my problems to the back of my mind and braced myself for another long, grueling day with zero rest.
Chapter 13
Zara
A dark hallway stretched before me, its walls pulsing with shadows. My bare feet made no sound as I moved closer, drawn to the faint light flickering from beneath a cracked wooden door at the end of the hall. A cold weight settled in my chest, but I couldn’t stop.
My hands trembled as I reached out, fingers brushing the rough wood, and the door creaked open just enough for me to peer through.
A petite woman with yellow eyes and dark, inky hair stood over someone slumped in a chair. The figure was barely visible from my angle, and what I could see was blurred…distorted. The woman circled the chair, her back now to me, but it didn’t stop her echoing voice from reaching me.
