Page 11

Not that there had been an option for that before now, not with my father himself issuing the verdict that I would join this year’s Rite.

As the Votarists stepped away from us, they said in a unified voice that seemed to originate from nowhere, “May you be blessed by Freia in the heart of Magefall.”

I inclined my head as the others offered small bows. As the others replaced their hoods, the center turned their attention to the mages behind me.

“Mallory Baríd, mage of the House of Calyr.”

Mallory stepped forward, inclining her head, her hands clasped in front of her. The black stone of Mallory’s circlet glinted in the overcast light.

“Your Honored,” she murmured.

“How many omegas does Marish offer this year?”

“Seven, Your Honored.”

The energy rose between the Votarists, their excitement a palpable thing.

“What a blessing,” the Votarist murmured. “May they present themselves to the Goddess for the record.”

Mallory bowed and then turned, leading the Votarists through the main pathway of the camp toward the other side where the omegas were staying. Simeon joined her, his hands still in his pockets, but Phoebe stayed with me, her lips pursed in concern.

Hugh’s shoulders dropped once the group was out of sight, blocked by a row of tents.

“Fuck, that was more terrifying than I expected,” he muttered in Nyndrec, our native tongue. He flexed his hand, twisting it so that the dull, cloudy light of the day caught on the new tattoo nestled between his thumb and forefinger. I flexed my hand before shoving it into my pocket. There would be time to look at it later.

“With any luck, you’ll find an omega tomorrow, and you won’t need to do it again,” Arden said with a smirk, relaxed now that the Votarists weren’t watching him.

Hugh grimaced, glancing quickly at Elise beside me. “Was it easier this time?” he asked her.

Elise pursed her lips. “Different.”

Arden opened his mouth, but she cut him off, turning away from the group.

“Hopefully the Goddess shows favor, and I will not be compelled to wait another five years.”

The words were short, brittle. She walked back into the mess of tents without a glance back, her shoulders stiff. Arden grunted in irritation, but Hugh shook his head, then they were returning to their own tents, murmuring between each other. Once they were gone, Phoebe turned, her eyes soft as they evaluated me.

“Are you well?” she asked.

When I nodded, she pursed her lips, glancing around. She made a motion with her hand as she whispered something, and the air shimmered around us. The guards with us frowned, flicking their eyes between us and the surrounding ocean, but Phillip merely raised an eyebrow and returned to adjusting his weapons.

Phoebe ignored their concern, pulling a small, unmarked gold coin from her pocket. She set it in my palm as she explained.

“Warren told me you would need this tomorrow. It has a powerful shield enchantment imbued. It will block out everything, including watchful eyes and nosy ears.”

Worry settled heavily in my throat. What had the Diviner seen about the Grand Rite that would need me able to shield myself from the watchful magic of Magefall?

It was well-known that Magefall reacted poorly to the magics of the mages, those who had no innate ability but learned to control the elements of the world through intense study. My own magics, I’d been warned, might set Magefall on edge but would not draw the ire of its protective magic so long as I did not intentionally use it once on the island.

I held the coin in my palm, weighing it, even as I frowned.

“He did not tell me anything beyond that you would need it,” Phoebe said after a minute. “He said it was vital, so I built the item.”

Her gaze flicked over my shoulder. The spell surrounding us fell away at once, collapsing like a dropped curtain, and the sounds of our camp and the guards resumed. When I turned, the Votarists stood just outside the rows of tents, their hoods replaced. I couldn’t tell which one spoke.

“Kingdom of Marish, welcome to the Grand Rite.”

Without so much as a sound, between one breath and the next, they took a step toward the ocean and disappeared.