“Fuck… How have they managed to hide something like this from Rafael and I?” He swore, clenching his fists. “The Elders, my mother, they’re soulless—they’ve lost their damn minds. Killing faeries because of who they choose to love? Hunting hybrids? I can’t even imagine what they’re doing to humans if they’re treating faeries this way.” He spit on the ground as his cheeks turned blood berry red.
He shot a stream of water at a nearby column until the force of the flood uprooted it and knocked it over. I joined him, sending ice crystals towards the column, coating it in a heavy frost. I kept going until thick cracks began to form in the marble—until tiny fissures exploded into a million shards. Channeling emotion into magic… it was cathartic, but I could feel the danger in its embrace—lulling me in, demanding I give more and more of myself.
Louis coached me as I alternated between wind and ice, aiming at his shield of water. Wind seemed to channel from a place of sadness, eager to join with ice. Sadness and anger were an undeniably compatible pair. Misery loved company, after all. I’d spent too much of my youth defeating one, only to battle the other. And now they were taunting me—swirling around in an icy gust, as I struggled to find control.
Next, I practiced shielding, which required more mental discipline than I currently had. Louis sent a stream of water at me, while I tried and failed to block him. Too soon, I was soaked and frustrated. I hadn’t managed even one shield, besides the one I hadn’t meant to make. I scowled at the youngest Ruhn brother, wanting to give up.
Louis patted my wet head. “Look at the bright side, someday you’ll be able to use wind magic to dry yourself off. Wind wielders can even learn tofly. If I could choose another element to wield, it would be wind. It can be an invisible weapon, your greatest defense, or even a pair of wings.” He was trying to cheer me up. And itwasexciting to think about what I might be capable of one day. But today, I just wanted to go back to bed.
By the end of the lesson, I was lost in my thoughts—standing alone in the middle of a frozen tundra where no one could reach me. A dull edged knife seemed to be imbedded in my chest, slicing deeper whenever I thought of Galen. He’d infiltrated my mind to the point ofobsession. I couldn’t concentrate. Despite the energy I’d expended, I had no appetite.
I hoped he was alright. After one-hundred and fifty years with Sylvia as his mother, how could he be? The terrors he must’ve experienced as a boy—at the hand of his own mother. It made me realize that there were worse things than losing a parent; at least I knew what unconditional love felt like. My mother’s death had shaped me, but it was her love that had truly defined me. How had Sylvia shaped her son? Had her lack of love defined him?
I needed to see him. What was he doing right now? Working, I supposed. Always doing what he was told. As Robert and I walked back to the castle, I could no longer resist. I had to at least ask. “Will you take me to Prince Galen?Please.”
I knew I was going down a path of no return, but perhaps I’d been wrong to push him away. He needed someone. And the truth was, Icouldn’t fight this any longer. I was lonely. I needed someone too. I neededhim.
Robert answered, “Anytime you request to see him, I’ve been instructed to bring you to him straight away—on Prince Galen’s orders. Follow me.”
He led me to the back of the castle. My pulse raced as he unlocked a door on the outside of the building and it swung open into complete darkness. My vision slowly adjusted and I saw a set of spiral stairs descending into the inky depths. I followed close behind him as we climbed lower and lower, until there was no natural light left. I knew what horrors lived at the deepest levels of castles. He was leading me to the dungeons.
Dusty sconces lined the walls, cradling frail, flickering candlelight. Shapes formed in the shadows, making me see things that weren’t there. The air was musty, growing cool and damp as the temperature dipped. And still we went lower. Claustrophobia gripped me, squeezing my chest until I was gasping for air. I concentrated on one foot in front of the other, counting the beats of my drumming heart.
What was Galen doing down here?
I was clinging to Robert by the time we arrived at an iron door. I braced myself as he unlocked it, ushering me into a jarringly bright room. Fires lined the walls, burning along the stone floors. I could only assume earth magic had created this gigantic lair. It was odd to see such an expansive space underground.
No prisoners in sight; only Galen, shirtless and glistening, as he dueled with another male. There were no weapons, just fists wrapped in protective layers of fabric. They moved like two primitive dancers: Swerving, side-stepping, ducking, and swinging. They were moving faster than I’d ever seen men move. But I supposed they weren’t men… they were faeries.
My stomach lurched as Galen turned towards me and froze. I watched in horror as he was struck in the stomach, causing him to fall backwards and skid across the floor.
He glared at his sparring mate as he stood up and brushed himself off. “Leave us, Frederick.” The man disappeared in a flash of black smoke. A shadow wielder.Louis had told me they were exceedingly rare; it couldn’t have been easy for Galen to find him.
“Hi… sorry for startling you.” I motioned to a violet bruise forming under his ribs, feeling suddenly shy. I hadn’t meant to interrupt his training session. He stalked towards me with nothing but a pair of black pants on. The light of the fire played on his olive skin, highlighting every hard line. My mouth went dry.
Crossing his muscular arms, he towered over me. I mirrored his stance, not knowing what to do with my hands. They wanted to reach out and touch his sweat-sheened chest.
“Hello, Marigold. You didn’t startle me. I picked up your scent as you were coming down the stairs. In fact, thatscentof yours has been driving me crazy, leaving a trail wherever you go. If you want to sneak up on me, you’ll have to learn how to shield. You should also be honing your senses—you wouldn’t want a predator catching you unaware again.”
I gave a nervous laugh. “I doubt I’ll run into another pack of wylks anytime soon.”
“I wasn’t talking about the wylks.” He gave me a beguiling expression that caused my heart to beat so erratically, I was sure he could hear it.
I cleared my throat, trying to regain composure. “You forget, I’m part-human. My senses will never be as sharp as yours.”
“Ineverforget what you are.”
My stomach dipped as our eyes met. “Does it disappoint you—that I’m human?”
“No,” he said, circling me like a shark. “But it would be easier to courtyouinstead of Isla, if you weren’t. And you’d be less distracting.” He came into my personal space. The sweat-laced scent of cloves hit me in a crashing wave. Leaning down, he softly kissed my neck. The tickle of breath was a phantom breeze, sending chills down my spine. He lingered, before pulling away with a heavy sigh.
“You’rewet.” He smirked.
“Excuse me?”
“Your hair, your clothes. Is it raining? Did you fall into the lake?” He held a lock of damp hair between his fingers.
“Training. Louis. Water.” I’d forgotten that my hair and clothing were still not dry. The more I wielded my ice magic, the less I noticed temperature changes in my own body. I was shivering, but not from the cold.
